Live Bulgarian Music and Dancing

Come enjoy dancing to a band composed of traditional Bulgarian instruments (gadulka, tambura, and tupan) playing village dances. There will be teaching if needed to remind people of the dance steps. Let the party begin!

Bruce Sagan (Gadulka) will be joined by Nan Nelson (Tambura), Konstantin Marinov (Tupan), and Angel Dobrev (Gadulka). No experience or partner needed. Most dances will be either easily accessible or will be quickly taught.

Bruce Sagan has taught and played at a variety of folk music and dance camps and workshops, and has been music director for Nordic Fiddles and Feet and Stockton Folk Dance Camp. He has played for dances, workshops, and concerts in the United States, Europe, and Australia. He specializes in music from Scandinavia and the Balkans, playing fiddle, the Norwegian hardingfele, the Swedish nyckelharpa, and the Bulgarian gudulka.

He was awarded the Zorn Diploma in Bronze on the basis of his playing before a jury of some of Sweden's best fiddlers. After Bruce's trio, Veselba, opened for the Bulgarian group "Bulgari," their leader Georgi Dojchev told the audience that they were "the best group of Americans playing Bulgarian music."

Bruce has recorded 5 albums and in a review of his second CD the premier Swedish folk music magazine Spelmannen said that he played "som en inföding," i.e., "like a native." More information about Bruce can be found on his web page https://brucesagan.com/

Nan Nelson has been playing and singing a wide range of folk music for over 50 years. In her teens, she began exploring American bluegrass, old-time and other folk styles, and soon discovered Russian folk music, as well as other East European styles and traditions, and has continued on this path of discovery ever since. Along the way, she earned a bachelor’s degree in music education at the University of Illinois.

Since moving to Michigan in 1987, Nan has been a member of the Detroit Balalaika Orchestra, The Ethnic Connection (led by David Owens of the NAMA Orchestra), Bulgarian trio Veselba (with Bruce Sagan and Chris Rietz), among others. Teaching experience includes individual instrumental and vocal lessons, and workshops for adult participants and for middle school students.