Cultural Presentation - "Bulgarian Folklore Dances: from the Village to the Stage”

This presentation explores the transformation of Bulgarian traditional dances as they move from their original village context into contemporary staged and recreational settings. Drawing on ethnographic research, participant observation, interviews, and surveys conducted in Bulgaria and Western Europe, it examines the role of amateur dance clubs as key environments for the transmission of Bulgarian folk dance today. The analysis focuses on repertoire, teaching practices, and the ways in which traditional horo dances are adapted and reinterpreted in new social contexts.

Dr. Dilyana Kurdova is an ethnocoreologist specialising in Bulgarian traditional dance and its contemporary transformations. She is Chairperson of the Phoenix Perpeticum Foundation, where she develops international cultural and educational initiatives focused on intangible cultural heritage, participatory arts, and adult education.

Kurdova is Secretary of the Study Group on Music and Dance in Southeastern Europe within the International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance (ICTMD) and a Committee Member of the ICTMD Early Career Scholars Network.

Click any pf the photos (above) to view Dyliana's bio.