A short attempt on demystifying

The Bulgarian National Dances

So, is it just a bunch of people trying to loosen up their stiff legs or something more ?

- Most movements are leg movements- Simple horos have three dance steps;

the elaborate ones have more than three; - They can be played in a circle, in a semi-circle,

in a straight line, or in a snake-line;- Can be only male, or only female, or mixed;- With some horos there exist ‘fixed’ roles of

the dancers – the lead dancer and the tail dancer.

The ‘pravo’ or lined horo

‘Kruglo’ or Circular horo

The ‘vitoobrazno’ or snake-line

horo

Just one dance for a country ?Добруджанска етнографска областВарненско хороЗаруй боб (хоро)Лясата (хоро)Повлекана (хоро)Ръка (хоро)Сборенка (хоро)

Македонска етнографска областАрап (хоро)Гинка (хоро)Джангурица (хоро)Испайче (хоро)Кривото (хоро)Малишевско хороПущено хоро – още БуфскоСтаро банско хороШирто (хоро)

Северняшка етнографска областГанкино хороГрънчарско хороДайчово хороДунавско хороЕленино хороПайдушко хороСитно влашко (хоро)Шира (хоро)Чичовото (хоро)АпдайБуни колецБранковска ръченицаТракийска етнографска областБучимиш (хоро)Пазарджишка копаницаИхтиманска копаницаПраво хороТракийска ръченица

The horo as more than a dance.

“Every national dance which has been preserved […] bears a direct relationshipwith certain fundamental moments of people’s lives”

That is, the horo is a mix between the necessity of social interaction and the necessity of mythological practice.

Moments of being - moments of dancing

Social : -Celebrations-The so-called ‘subori’ or festivals-At the village square -At home-At the fields

Mythological:-Rites and rituals in autumn and spring-Dancing around churches-Firedancing

Last slide The horo is the epitomy of certain cosmological myths. The national dances used to be the embodiment of ‘living in the myth’ but in time they were stripped of their ‘poetic’ power and are now cherished, nourished for purely aesthetical pleasure. They are now ‘reflection of the myth’.

How many of you know how to dance some type of horo?

Today’s horo

How does today’s horo differs from the horo of the past?

How does it serve as an indicator of our national identity?

The national fairs in Rozhen, Zheravna, Koprivshtica

Thousands gather to show their pride and interest in our nations heritage

There seems to be this coming back to the roots in recent years? Why do you think this is happening?

The Philip Kutev and the Balgare ensemble

The Neshka Robeva Dance Shows

Any questions?

Thank you !