A true celebration of Bulgarian identity and love for this country will be organized by our compatriots living in the London borough of Enfield. On March 22, they will launch the spring festival of Bulgarian folklore and traditions. The participating groups are 18 as the majority of them will present Bulgarian folk dances yet the audience will also be able to hear folk songs and instrumental tunes. Participants arrive from Paris, Lyon, Munich, Brussels, the city of Armagh, Northern Ireland, Brno in the Czech Republic, and elsewhere in Europe. Most groups are based in London as among the fans of Bulgarian folk traditions there are both Bulgarians and foreigners.

The organizers of the event are Marina Ivanova and Nikolai Valev from the Bulgarian Folklore and Traditions charity organization established several years ago. “We wanted to find something that could unite Bulgarians in London and have occasions to celebrate together,” says Marina Ivanova. In Bulgaria, she worked as a nurse and later graduated with a degree in journalism from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. As most of our compatriots who share an emigrant’s fate, she is now dealing with something quite different – she runs a small kindergarten. She has been studying Bulgarian folk dance and song actively for three years. Initially she enrolled in a club with one of the Bulgarian schools in London and she is now the head of the Bulgara dance club which is composed of dancers (children and adults alike), a folk orchestra and a small group of singers.

What does the program of the Spring Festival in London consist of? Why do more and more foreigners set up Bulgarian folk groups in different parts of the world and what about Bulgarian emigrants abroad? Is it the feeling of nostalgia or a desire for national identity that draws them to such clubs? The answers to these questions – in a phone interview with Marina Ivanova:

“You could say so – it is the nostalgia. I myself have always been interested in Bulgarian folklore. Here in London, my interest was kindled because of my daughter who plays the fiddle and dances. The first event organized by me was in support of singer and percussionist Elitsa Todorova and her attempts to organize a chain dance (horo) with 50,000 participants for the Guinness Book of Records. I had no time for publicity, yet managed to gather 250 people. With each year the number of enthusiasts is on the rise. There is also a growing number of Bulgarian schools in London, and they are the centers for the preservation of our traditions away from home. Folk dance clubs here are six or seven. With my club, Bulgara, we participate in many concerts. There are also Brits who joined the club as they are really attracted by the colorful costumes. We rehearse at the Bulgarian School "Rose Valley". This year's festival features some of the groups from last year, others I found with the help of the Agency for Bulgarians Abroad. I'm surprised by the huge interest on all parts. Unfortunately we even had to say “no” to several groups. Maybe next year we should think about more festival days.”

“These events are a great way for us to see each other, to have some fun Bulgarian style. And also make sure that our children do not forget how rich and colorful Bulgarian traditional culture is”, says Marina. After the longs hours of the dance marathon in Enfield, the avid “horo” dancers from London will be able to participate in another dance contest around May 6 when Marina Ivanova organizes the traditional dance on Saint George’s Day.

English version: Rossitsa Petcova