Bosilek Bulgarian Folk Dance Ensemble, the oldest all-women’s Bulgarian folk dance ensemble in North America, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Ensemble Bosilek was founded in 1979 in a lower Manhattan loft by four American folk dancers and Liliana Zafirova Búdy, a choreographer from Sofia then living in New York. Now, more than two-thirds of the members of Bosilek were born in Bulgaria.
Bosilek has been featured in performances in Bulgaria, Cuba, and many festivals across the United States (including the White House, Lincoln Center, Library of Congress and many more).
Mission
The ensemble aims to preserve the incredible vitality of Bulgarian folk traditions for future generations. Cathie Springer, Artistic Director of Bosilek, has this to say: "With the bright colors of our costumes and flowers, the variety of rituals and dances of celebration, and our music, we are able to bring to diverse American audiences a glimpse of the magical landscape of Bulgaria. The mountains and the valleys, the fertile fields, the sparkling streams and springs, with our calls, our songs, the sound of our shoes or bells, we can evoke sounds scarcely heard even in Bulgaria today".
Music & Choreography
Working with choreographer Iliana Bozhanova, since 1995, and with musician friends in Plovdiv, Bosilek has created a rich repertoire based on traditional folk dances, music and costumes from villages in the various ethnographic regions of Bulgaria.
The ensemble today
Members of the ensemble at present are: Cathie Springer (Artistic Director), Nina Belenozova, Zora Boyadizhieva, Bobbie Fuller, Daniela Grigorova, Katerina Houbanova, Velia Ivanova, Yana Kalinkova, Athena Lao, Christine Pardue, Tsvetomila Valcheva, Mariya Vasileva, Rumiana Williams, and Vlada Yaneva.
