Enthusiasts are expected from coast-to-coast, Canada, Europe, and Israel to enjoy pulsing Balkan rhythms and irrresistible circle dance grooves with three and half days of concerts, dance parties, workshops, and culture sessions at the grand 50th Anniversary Spring Festival of Balkan and other Eastern European/Mediterranean music, dance, and culture at the International House at the University of Chicago.
The Spring Festival is one of the largest in the USA featuring Balkan and Eastern European music and dance and is part of the Global Voice Performance Series at the International House. Not to be missed will the exciting „Shopsko Horo seen around the world“ – a recreation of the historic performance by the Ensemble Balkanski Igri, co-sponsor of the Spring Festival, when it was privileged to represent Bulgaria in the 1994 World Cup Soccer Championship opening ceremonies in Chicago’s Soldier Field before a crowd of 63,000 and a world-wide live television audience of more than one billion viewers.
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Quick Summary:
50th Anniversary Spring Festival of Eastern European Music and Dance
March 26-29, 2015
International House at the University of Chicago
1414 E 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
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Main Events:
Friday, 7pm, March 27, 2015, Concert & Dance Party, $30/$25
Saturday, 7pm, March 28, 2015, Concert & Dance Party, $30/$25
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Also happening at the Spring Festival:
Thursday, 8pm, March 26, 2015, Mini-workshop and Dance Party with Braca Tamburitza Orchestra, $20/$15
Friday – Sunday, March 27- 29, 2015, 9am – 5pm, Workshops in Balkan / Eastern European dance, music, & culture. $12/$10 per workshop
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Guest Musical Artists:
Balkanski Ritmi Orchestra (Bulgarian gaida/bagpipe, gadulka/rebec, kaval/shepherd’s flute, tapan/bass drum)
Braca Tamburitza Orchestra
Chris Bajmakovich & Muzika4U
Glasovete na Malkata Bulgaria (women’s choir in the style of Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares, directed by Temenuga Zhekova, former member of Bulgarian National Folk Ensemble „Trakiya“)
James Stoyanoff & Orchestra Balkana
Milos Segrt
Tatry Polish Highlanders
Zoya Sotirova (formerly with Bulgarian National Folk Ensemble Choir „Pirin“)
Temenuga Zhekova (formerly with „Kanarite“ and Bulgarian National Folk Ensemble Choir „Trakiya“)
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Also featuring in concert:
Ensemble Balkanski Igri (Bulgarian and pan-Balkan)
CCEA Dancers (Central Asian)
Dragon Team (percussion & dancers)
Dukati-Biseri (Serbian)
Ellas (Greek)
Horo (Bulgarian)
Kitka (Macedonian)
KUD Bosnia (Bosnian)
Maya, Tatiana, & Lucero Flamenco
Mioritsa (Romanian)
Orpheus (Greek)
Tatry (Polish Highlander)
Transylvania (Romanian)
Verea (Bulgarian)
Wici (Polish)
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Workshops in dance, music, & singing with master instructors and artists:
Kete Ilievski
Yannis Konstantinou (direct from Greece)
Nina Kavardjikova (direct from Europe, exclusive to the festival) – Ms. Kavardjikova was professor at the Plovdiv Academy of Music, Dance, and Arts & soloist with Ensemble „Trakiya“
Ahmet Luleci
Ventzi Sotirov – Mr. Sotirov was a former lead soloist with the Bulgarian National Folk Ensemble „Pirin“ and 4 times voted best dancer in Bulgaria
Petar Alexiev
Angel Dobrev – Mr. Dobrev was a gold medalist on the gadulka in Bulgaria
Zoya Sotirova – Ms. Sotirova was part of the famed Ensemble „Pirin“ choir
Temenuga Zhekova – Ms. Zhekova was part of the famed Ensemble „Trakiya“ choir as well as a singer with the group „Kanarite“
and others
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Info/ Reservations:
847-331-7842 or [email protected]
http://www.balkanskeigre.org/
Contact: John Kuo (English) 847-331-7842 Email: [email protected]
or Galia Kuo(BG) 847-858-9822 [email protected]
Download PDF-file 2015 Spring Festival PDF 11×17
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