Draft Index of Bulgarian Dance Groups’ Names Across The United States and Canada

BULGARIAN DANCE GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES (ADULTS)

Algara  Bulgarian Folk Dance Club – New Jersey

“Algara” is a  Bulgarian female name from the 8th-9th centuries (according to various sources) that is again popular today.

Antika Bulgaria Folk Ensemble – San Francisco, California

The word itself in English would be translated as “antique.” According to the ensemble’s founder, Tanya Kostova, however, and her application of this title,“antika” is an old word, used in the past in some areas of Bulgaria for someone who is exceptional, extra-talented, gifted, fun, survivor… Also: unique, extraordinary (Antika is also the name of a Bulgarian cultural festival in San Francisco).

Balkanik Dance – Phoenix, Arizona

As explained by the group’s founders: “the male counterpart of “Balkanika” (source: Tanya Dimitrov)

BalkanikaFolk Performance Group – Denver, Colorado

The name is related to the group’s repertoire and various ethnic backgrounds of group’s members.

Balkanske Igre / Balkanski Igri  [Balkan Dances] Ensemble – Chicago, Illinois

The name is related to the group’s repertoire and various ethnic backgrounds of group’s members.

BIVA – Bulgarski Izvor v America – Sunnyvale, California

Meaning: “Bulgarian Spring in America,” written in Cyrillic only, БИВА (Български извор в Америка). “Biva (бива – in Cyrillic) is an old expression of an agreement for something to happen, to come to life, to become. The name is also  linked to the associated children’s group “Voditsa” (diminutive of “water”) at the Bulgarian School in Sunnyvale (source: Yulian Yordànov)

Bolyarka [from “boyar” but fem. (sing.)] – Winchester, Virginia

Bosilek  [Sweet Basil] Bulgarian Folk Dance Ensemble  – New York, New York

Bulgare [Bŭlgare] Folk Club  – Martinez, California

“Bulgare” is an archaic form of “Bulgari” (Bulgarians); this form implies relationship to  Bulgarian history and especially with the  Bulgarian National Revival  (18th - 19th centuries).

Bulgari [Bŭlgari; Bulgarians] Folk Dance Group – Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota

Bulgarian School "Bulgarian Language"  – St. Louis, Missouri

Bulgarian Spirit Folk Dance Studio – St. Louis, Missouri

Bulgarica Dance School  – Chicago, Illinois

Danka Group –  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Aleksandar Zankin named his group after Penka French’s mother, Danka (Jordanka). Patricia Penka French was the president of the BMNECC — the Bulgarian Macedonian National Education & Cultural Center in Pittsburgh. She was  recognized throughout the world as one of the truly great forces in Bulgaria’s cultural life and a founder of  major cultural events presented by BMNECC.

D.E.B.A.  Bulgarian Dance Aerobics – Orange County, California

Dilmana Group – San Diego, California

Druzhina [United Group of Friends] (group)  – Denver, Colorado

EliteFolk Dance – Tampa, Florida

This group’s members were  professional folk dancers in Bulgaria.

Folk Factory [Folk Workshop]  – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Gaytani [Woollen Braid] Bulgarian Dance Group – Denver, Colorado

Gorana Dance – New York, New York

The group’s leader, Elissaveta Iordanova, named this group after her grandmother, Gorana, who was the first person to inspire interest in Bulgarian folklore and traditions in her.

Gorana Junior – New York, New York

Izvor Ensemble [Fountain / Spring] –  Detroit, Michigan

Jarava Group [Glowing Embers] – Los Angelis, California

Hop Trop Group [Hop and Stamp] – New York

The name contains an illustration of how to dance cheerfully.

Hop-Trop  Folk Dance Group [Hop and Stamp] – Sarasota,  Florida

The name contains an illustration of how to dance cheerfully.

Hopa Trop Folk Ensemble [Hop and Stamp] – Seattle, Washington

The name contains an illustration of how to dance cheerfully.

Horo Ensemble – Chicago, Illinois

“Horo” is the generic term for the traditional (village) type of dancing in line while holding hands. Horo – Chicago’s repertoire, on the other hand, follows  folk dance  ensemble’s standards and aesthetics.

Horo Folk Dance Club – Sarasota Florida

“Horo” is the generic term for the traditional (village) type of dancing in line while holding hands.

Horovodna Sreshta [Horo Gathering] – San Diego, California

Kopriva [Nettle] Group – New Jersey (inactive,  2019)                                                             

Ludo  Mlado  Folk Dance Ensemble  [Crazy Young] – Boston, Massachusetts

Ludonogi [Crazy Legs] Group – Woodland Hills, California

Lyush  [Swing] Group –   Dallas, Texas

The idea originates from the particular movement – “swing” of Daychovo horo. It is also related to the notion of “waves” in life; coming and going away; source: Magdalena Marinova; group’s founder along with Damyan Marinov (The couple is not presently living in the States).   

Mesechina [Moon/Sun] Group – San Diego, California

The name was inspired by a folk song and memories, related to the group’s founder father, the musician Bogomil Zhivkov; source: Denitsa Bogomilova.

Motika [Hoe] Group – San Mateo, California

Nazdrave [Cheers] Folk Dance Formation – Seattle, Washington

Opa Hey LA [Cheerful invitation to dance] Group – Los Angeles, California

Inspired by the cheerful feeling of dancing and because of rhyming of “Opa Hey” with “LA.” 

“Otets Paissii” [The Bulgarian Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center –

BMNECC’s “Otets Paissii” Performing Ensemble – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pendari [Gold Coins Neckless] Dance Group  –  Washington  DC

Priyateli na Bulgarskiya (Bŭlgarskiya) Tants [Friends of Bulgarian Dance] Group – Detroit,  Michigan

Ripni Kalinke [Jump up, Kalinke] Folk Formation – San Jose,  California

Ripni Kalinke is a well-known title/refrain of a Rhodope song; the name of the group was also inspired by the fact that two beloved professional musicians from Rhodope, Maria Bebelekova (a singer) and Vasil Bebelekov (a gayda/bagpipe player) were living in the area and  were often invited to perform.

Rodni Ritmi [Rhythms from the Homeland] – Orlando, Florida

Rozhen [A peak in Rhodope Mountains] – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (inactive, 2019)

Rosa [Dew] Bulgarian Folk Dance Group – Atlanta, Georgia

Rosna Kitka [Fresh Nosegay] at Podkpepa Bulgarian-Macedonian Association – Portland, Oregon

The name is an expression of self-deprecating humor directed to the “freshness” of the “nosegays” because most of the group members are young only in spirit. Simultaneously, the ladies of the group do practice and perform with a nosegay in their hair and this makes them feel pretty and rejuvenated. Source: Luba Nenchev.

Rosna Kitka [Fresh Nosegay] Folk Dance Group – Sacramento, California

Sharenitsa Folk Dance Group [Many Colors] – St. Petersburg, Florida

Seattle Cheta at The Bulgarian Cultural and Heritage Center of Seattle – Seattle, Washington

The name of the group, on one hand, contains a broader connotation to Bulgaria’s heroic past (capturing the idea of the cheta / band with its high spirit). On the other, “seattlecheta” is a diminutive of a gang coming from Seattle. The notion of “moving” is  embedded in “cheta.”

Verea Ensemble  –  Chicago, Illinois

“Verea” is the old name (6th-7th century AD)  of the city of Stara Zagora, a birth place of the ensemble’s founder. This also gives its  name to the largest Bulgarian festival in the United States and Canada.

Vivanov Dance Group –  Chicago, Illinois

“Viva” + “Nov” (new) and, also an acronym of the group’s founder and leader.

XoroTroptzi  [Horo-Dancers] –  Los Angeles, California

The “trop”-part contains the idea of energetic dancing.

Zagora Club – Chicago, Illinois

The name is derived  from the city of Stara Zagora.

Zharava  [Glowing Embers] Group – Los Angeles, California

Zharava  [Glowing Embers] Folklore Formation  – Las Vegas, Nevada

Zhiv Ogan / Zhiv Ogŭn [Fire Alive] Group – St. Louis, Missouri

BULGARIAN DANCE GROUPS IN  CANADA (ADULTS)

Balkani  Dance Company – Montreal

The Balkans, meaning also “mountains” in Bulgarian

Bulgari [Bŭlgari, Bulgarians] – Montreal

Bulgarska Roza [Bŭlgarska Roza; Bulgarian Rose] Group – Quebec City

Dimitrovche Folk Ensemble  – Toronto

The group was named after St. Demetrius Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church in  Toronto; “Dimitŭr” is also the personal name of the ensemble’s artistic director.

Igranka School of Bulgarian Folk Dances and Traditions – Toronto

“Igranka” is derived from “igra” – a  way to describe “dance” in Bulgarian (in traditional context; sometimes “igra” is translated as “play” which doesn’t completely grasp the essence of “igra”). 

Haide na Horoto [Let’s Dance / Let’s Join Horo-Line] Group  –  Calgary

Hayde na Horoto [Let’s Dance / Let’s Join Horo-Line] Group  – Toronto

Horo na Megdana [Line/Circle Dance on the Square] Group – Toronto

HopTrop Bulgarian Folk Dances Club [Hop and Stamp] – Ottawa

An illustration in the title of how to dance cheerfully by hop and stamp.

Hopa-Tropa, Eha-ha Bulgarian Folk Dance Club – Kitchener

An illustration in the title of how to dance cheerfully by hop and stamp (with exclamation, Eha-ha).

Horo na Megdana [Line/Circle Dance on the Square] Group – Toronto

Horo na Megdana [Line/Circle Dance on the Square] Group – Montreal

Kitka [Bouquet] Group – Vancouver BC

Niagara Dance Club Shtastlivtsi [The  Lucky Ones] / “Shtaslivci” – on the club’s fb page –  Niagara

 The name “Shtastlivtsi” is also linked to the Bulgarian writer Aleko Konstantinov – Shtastlivetsa, who visited America (Niagara Falls and Chicago) in 1893 and who is a famous name in  Bulgarian literature classics.

Rodina [Motherland] Group – Ottawa

Trakya Folk Dance Club – Montreal, Canada

Thracian Region in Bulgaria

Zlatna Trakia Ensemble [Bulgarian Folk Dance Ensemble Golden Thrace] – Toronto

Created by Daniela Ivanova-Nyberg, July 2019, with the support of many  members of  Bulgarian communities in the US and Canada which is greatly appreciated.