Thursday October 1st
2009
8 pm - 10 pm
Iliana Bozhanova an
internationally acclaimed Bulgarian dance teacher and her accordionist Todor Yankov will lead the dancing at
Nutbrook I .F. D. G
Bulgarian Folk Dances &
Choreography
Iliana Hristova Bozhanova was born in 1961 in Galabovo, in the Stara
Zagora region of Bulgaria. She grew up in a family of musicians and
singers in South Thrace. In 1981, she graduated from the National
School for Art Instructors in Plovdiv. She completed her Bachelor's and
Master's degrees in "Bulgarian Folk Dances and Choreography" at the Academy of Music, Dance and
Fine Arts in Plovdiv, the oldest folk arts academy in the Balkans
and the most acclaimed in Bulgaria.
At the age of fifteen, Iliana became a member of the folk dance
Ensemble Rachenitsa in Plovdiv.Her experiences with the Ensemble, under
Artistic Director Dimitar Doichinov, inspired Iliana to devote the
major part of her life to Bulgarian folklore. Through the ensemble she
had the opportunity to perform Bulgarian folk dances in other parts of
Bulgaria, as well as in Greece, Serbia, Poland, Belgium, Portugal,
France, Italy, Holland, and Russia. She met many wonderful people
through this group, and it was here that she took her first steps as a
dance teacher.
Iliana's Work as a Choreographer
Since 1995, Iliana has worked with the Bosilek Bulgarian Folk
Dance Ensemble. At the invitation of Cathie Springer, the group's
artistic director, Iliana has created 15 choreographies for Bosilek,
using folk dance and ritual elements from regions all over Bulgaria.
The choreographies are: Enyovden, Pirinska miluvka, Babini unuki, Haide
bulki na pazar, Shopski tantsi, Varnenski tants, Maimari, Byalo,
zeleno, cherveno, Peperuda v Dobrudzha, Na firuglitsa, Trakiiki,
Kokonitsi, Gabrovski ritmi, Oro se vie. Fire and Magic
Iliana is appreciative of the opportunity Bosilek has given her to
create these choreographies and share the wonderful richness of
Bulgarian folklore, and for "opening the door to the world," as she
began her international teaching career.
