Jury

PhD Professor Anton Andonov

Mr.Andonov has graduated the National Dance School situated in Sofia, Bulgaria with a degree in Bulgarian folklore choreography. His professional career began in 1995 with him becoming an artist in Ensemble Trakia and later on continued with him being the principal dancer of the most famous dances of the ensemble. Since 2002 Mr.Andonov has been the balletmaster of one of the leading ensembles in Bulgaria. Respectively, he is a well-known professor at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv and up to this present moment he is the head of the Choreography Department. His professionalism and experience let him become a part of the jury of many international and regional festivals and dance competitions.

 
Denislav Kehayov, PhD

Denislav Kehalyov is a famous folklore singer and specialist as well as a Director of the United Municipal Academy of Arts. Mr. Kehayov is also the head of the Folklore Ensemble Slynchev Bryag  and ever since 2014 to 2022, he has been the director the Enseble Pirin – Blagoevgrad.

 
PhD Professor Nikolay Nikov

A famous folklorist, ethnologist and pedagogue. In 1978 Mr.Nikov graduated the Sofia University “St.Kliment Ohridski” with a degree in Philology and Pedagogy. He is well-known for his participation in various international symposiums and congresses in Bulgaria and in many other countries. A Doctor in the fields of music and dance and a Professor of ethnology, the folklorist is an honorable member of the Unit of the Scientists in Bulgaria.

Prof. Dr. Galya Petrova-Kirkova

Director of the Department at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts "Prof. Asen Diamandiev" - Plovdiv, Professor of Folk Singing and Methodology of its Teaching, Doctor of Musicology and Musical Art.

WORKSHOP LEADERS:

Emanuil Sindzhirliev

Choreographer and director with many years of experience as an artist in the Trakia Ensemble. He works on a number of stage projects and performances, realized in the Trakia Ensemble, Iskra Ensemble, Shumen Ensemble and others. He combines tradition with modern stage expression, creating impressive productions that preserve and present Bulgarian folklore in an innovative way.

Dafinka Damyanova

Folk singer, long-time teacher of folk singing at the National Institute of Folk Music "Dobri Hristov", Varna. Soloist of "Mysteries of Bulgarian Voices"