The RitmiKKa folk dance troupe from Hamburg, Germany, is scheduled to participate in the 11th Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance traveling festival, taking place in Munich from May 15 to 17. Kamen Kunev, the troupe’s headmaster and choreographer, stated that the performance will feature a dance created approximately 60 years ago by choreographer Zahari Andreev, whose graduate Kunev is. Kunev emphasized that selecting this specific dance reflects a commitment to preserving the work of past performing arts legends, stating that such traditions must be supported.
According to Kunev, the dance evokes the spirit of a village square where people gather to dance in unison. He elaborated that historically, after working in the fields, people would congregate by a village fire to share music, songs, and dances. Participating in this festival with this choreography aims to demonstrate that unity in dance persists, even when members are living abroad.
Kunev added that the spirit of Bulgaria remains present wherever Bulgarians gather. The troupe will debut in brand new costumes, designed specifically for the festival by fashion designer Nikolay Kolev. Preparations for the performance required an entire season of intensive rehearsals, with meticulous attention paid to every detail of the dance.
The Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance festival supports amateur folk ensembles performing outside of Bulgaria. The initiative was established by the Ot Izvora group in Lyon, France, which hosted the first edition in 2015 and the tenth in 2025. The 11th edition in Munich anticipates attendance from over 100 dance ensembles and more than 4,000 guests.
The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is the official media partner for the event.
Topics: #dance #troupe #folk
What specific aspects of the performance will the RitmiKKa troupe showcase during the festival?