Association of Bulgarian Folklore Clubs Abroad Seeks Visibility in Bulgaria

Diana Dukovska, Iva Vatashka

Radoslava Nedyalkova, Chair of the Association of Bulgarian Folklore Clubs Abroad, Sofia, November 11, 2023 (BTA Photo)

Sofia,

12.11.2023 17:31

(BTA)

Interviewed by BTA, Radoslava Nedyalkova, Chair of the Association of Bulgarian Folklore Clubs Abroad (ABFCA), said the Association is seeking visibility in Bulgaria. The leaders of folklore clubs abroad held their second meeting in Sofia on November 10-12. The idea is to hold annual meetings.

Nedyalkova identified three problems facing ABFCA: First, there are Bulgarians who want to engage in folklore but often there is no choreographer or music teacher to organize a club. Second, the clubs are short of money for renting a hall and covering at least the travel costs of a choreographer. Third, the organization needs to become more visible in Bulgaria if the clubs are to get financing.

On November 10, the ABFCA met with representatives of three ministries - of culture, education and foreign affairs - and with the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad. "We believe it is important that the State should recognize us as ambassadors of Bulgarian culture and folklore," Nedyalkova said.

The weekend offered something for everyone - organizational workshops for the leaders, sessions for the choreographers with lecturers showing various dance techniques. The idea is to help raise the qualifications of the teachers and to give the leaders a chance to exchange experience.

One of the workshops was designed to improve the leaders' management skills because "each of us, as a club leader abroad, has had to work with people, to take them somewhere, to organize them, without being an expert". Nedyalkova also said that it is important for the Association to keep folk singing moving forward, so a workshop with a focus on choirs was organized as well.

The ABFCA was established on November 28, 2016. The pandemic halted many projects, but since 2021 the Association has been strongly motivated to work.

Radoslava Nedyalkova said folklore clubs can apply to join the ABFCA by visiting its website and filling in a form. Then the Association contacts the club and explains what it can offer.

"So far 30 clubs have signed up, meaning they have filled in an application, paid a membership fee and are actively participating in the Association's activities. This is only our second meeting, last year there were 22 clubs and now there are 30 of us, so things are going well," Nedyalkova said.

/DD/