site.btaFestival in Palma de Mallorca Gathers 78 Bulgarian Folk Song and Dance Groups from Abroad

Seventy-eight Bulgarian folk song and dance groups from 17 countries took part in the ninth edition of the traveling festival "In the Square of the Other Bulgaria" in Palma de Mallorca. The Bulgarian expats joined two days of folk performances and festivities on May 11 and 12.

This year's festival was hosted by the "Bulgaria" Dance Company from Palma de Mallorca, headed by Stanimir Minchev.

"This year from the "megdan" [a traditional Bulgarian village square, where locals gathered to socialize and join festivities] we did in Palma de Mallorca, I had the impression that people were very motivated, in a very good mood, everyone wanted to have fun, meet new people, old friends. The feeling was great, there were so many people, so many folk costumes gathered in one place, it was amazing and beautiful," Stanimir Minchev told BTA.

The festival opened at 10:00 local time at the Trui theatre in Spanish town.

The programme in the theatre hall lasted until 19:00. Then, from 20:00 to 24:00, a dance party with the participation of guest choreographers, the orchestra from Bulgaria and a DJ took place in the La Salle school gym.

On 12 May, at 10:00, all the groups took part in the "Big Horo [traditional Bulgarian circle dance]", which took place in the square in the park in front of the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca.

"There were quite a few Spaniards among the spectators. Even many of my nextdoor neighbors came. It was great, the Spaniards were very happy with all the beauty that was created," Minchev said.

At a closing ceremony, the host of the next tenth edition of the gathering in 2025 was announced - the group "From the Spring" in Lyon, France.