50 stories - Folk Group Bulgari

Melbourne

Artistic Director Sonya Arabadjieva

„They gathered together,
The girls and young women…“

These lyrics came true as a prediction for us in Melbourne, and so folk group  Bulgari was born! We usually begin each of our stage performances with this song.

Mincho Kisyov:

"When you are born in the Rhodope Mountains - a place with centuries of history, folklore, traditions and customs, wearing a national costume is a conscious ancestral affiliation. My wife Sonya Kisyov and I have been with the group "Bulgari" from the very beginning, and me from even a bit more distant times - from a short childhood dream. I call our folklore "Teaching of the people", which for me is a kind of portal leading to a conscious life and the pursuit of peace.

A Bulgarian, wearing a national costume, travels through time, studies and preserves codes and secrets hidden in customs and embroidery. Beautiful costumes, happy smiles, the pride of calling oneself a Bulgarian are a catalyst for harmony, strong spirit and healing power. The Bulgarian "Teaching of the people" is a message for the whole universe – that is why I am part of the "Bulgari"group.

Boryana Chakalska:

"Bulgarian folk dances for me are a therapy against nostalgia for home, homeland and loved ones. Dancing healed my severely suppressed feelings and reduced sadness. My biggest motivation is to leave a bright mark for my heirs, a trace that will take them to Bulgaria, and will teach them the Bulgarian traditions and culture. This is my message to future generations, which will travel through time and space and reach those who are ready for it. It is also my small, personal contribution to enriching Australia's multinational culture in return for all the opportunities I have received here, and for all the people of Australia who have taught me so much and believed in me. "

Valentina Selenska

“I like Bulgarian folk dances, especially the ones from the Shopski region. I am captivated by the fast and dynamic choreographies. The dances are complex, unique, playful and temperamental. I love dancing. It fills me with positive energy, reduces the stress accumulated during the day, and makes me smile more. For a moment, I forget about everyday problems, fatigue and bad mood. The pleasure I get from the loud applause of the audience after each new performance is indescribable. Bulgarian folk dances - "the eighth wonder of the world", are our emblem and pride that we must preserve and pass on to future generations.”

Nelly Bangozov

“Bulgarian folk dances have a great charge and remind us of our roots. When I dance, I forget about everything else around me, something flickers in me, and I rush into the whirlwind of the dance.”

Galina Ilieva

”None of us can choose where to be born, and we believe that God chooses where we should belong. The way I feel Bulgarian folklore so close to my heart with its magic, reminds me of where my roots are, where I came from, the path I have travelled and which I keep on walking. When we all hold hands and dance a Bulgarian dance, we pass on strength and hope to each other, and good thoughts, so that our tradition will survive in the future.”

Tsvetina Arabadjieva

“For me, Folk group "Bulgari" is my second family. I left Bulgaria at the age of 13, but the Bulgarian language, folklore and traditions live in me thanks to my mother, for which I am grateful to her!”

Polly Smith

“It is important for me to preserve and spread Bulgarian history, faith, language, traditions, beauty and strength. Part of that is achieved through our dances, and that is why I have joined the group with my 11-year-old daughter.”

Miroslava Ivanova

“The main reason for joining Folk Group “Bulgari” is my desire to show my child, who grows up far from Bulgaria, the beauty of Bulgarian folklore. I was attracted by the warmth, patience and dedication that Sonya Arabadjieva has to all of us, but especially to the children. Trust in them gives them wings.”

Dorothy Petkoff

“I am half Bulgarian and I feel very fulfilled connecting with people of my cultural heritage in our dance group. This had been missing from my adult life for a long time. The first time I saw the group dance, words couldn’t describe how impressed I was with not only our culture on display but the choreography, the unity and teamwork, the energy and happiness on their faces, the professionalism and high standard. I didn’t just hear the music and the words of the songs with my ears, I heard them with my heart and they resonated with my soul. I was taken away and I knew that was what I wanted to be a part of, and that was how I wanted to express myself and showcase my Bulgarian heritage.”

Stephen Nicholls:

“I am not Bulgarian, which may shock some of you reading about a Bulgarian folk dance group. I come from New Zealande, which is also where I met the Arabadjievi family before we all moved to Melbourne, Australia. Through them, and through dance, I fell in love with the Bulgarian culture,which I have found to embrace community and family like nothing I have ever seen before. Now, when I am in costume and someone asks me where I am from… I proudly say “Bulgaria”.

Dear friends,

Only some of us have expressed their thoughts about our colourful palette-like story, a story we have been writing together with colours, music and dancing on the stages in Australia for the last four years. There are many festivals and cultural events in which we participate; below are some of the most significant for us among them.

In October 2019 we organized and held the First Bulgarian Festival of our communities, schools and folk groups, which was attended by representatives from Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra from Australia, Auckland from New Zealand, and of course by us - the hosts from Melbourne. The second festival will be held this September in honour of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of official diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Australia. In February 2020, we had the great honour of representing Bulgaria at the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra.

From 2019 until today and in the future we have and will proudly wave our national flag, dance with desire and enthusiasm, celebrate Bulgaria and our native folklore at all our countless performances, participations and concerts! For we are BULGARIANS!

You can watch and follow our patriotic activity on our You Tube channel - Folk Group Bulgari Melbourne, as well as on our Facebook page - Folk Froup Bulgari @ BulgariInMelbourne.

Email: [email protected]

instagram @ folkgroupbulgari