Inexhaustible power and magical influence! Even such vivid epithets cannot fully describe Bulgarian folk dances. In them, the spirituality of the Bulgarians remained for centuries. They bring positive emotions and vitality, enclosed in unique musical rhythms. They are characterized by irregular rhythms, fascinating musical sounds and magnificent costumes.
general characteristics
The vast majority of Bulgarian folk dances are distinguished by the fact that the performers hold hands and move in a curved or straight line, facing the center of the dance space.
In the past, men and women danced separately, in accordance with the then decency rules, but now they are uniting.
There are some features of the position of the hands that are found in all Bulgarian dances:
- Dancers hold their hands at waist level. The hands of neighboring dancers are in the form of the letter V. The left hand is facing back, and the right hand is forward.
- Dancers hold on to the shoulders. The hands of neighboring dancers are in the shape of W. The left palm is lowered, and the right is pointing up.
- Hands are stretched horizontally to the sides and rest on the shoulders of neighboring dancers. Previously, such an element was used only by men.
- Hands are located on the belt of neighboring dancers. The right hand is placed under the left.
- The left hand is placed on the stomach and bent in the shape of a cup handle. The right one moves freely along the dancer's right hand.
Leg movements range from fast and complex to slow and steady.
Regional differences
Bulgarian folk dances vary depending on ethnographic regions - Moesia, Dobrudja, Pirin (Bulgarian Macedonia), the Rhodope Mountains and Thrace (Thrace).
Each of the options is different in costumes, rhythm and dynamics of movements, the features of the dance depend on the history and customs of the region.
One of the most interesting ways to determine the differences in the dance of each style in a particular region is to see how the basic choros dance in each region. In Trakia it is performed in a smooth, graceful style. In the area of Shop, it is sharper, it is complemented by small jumps and raising knees. In Dobrudja it is called danger, during the performance the knees of the dancers are always bent.
In Moesia there are a lot of swaying movements of the hands, performed simultaneously with the movements of the legs. In the Rhodopes, this is a simple dance with small restrained steps. Pirin's chorus is performed to the musical rhythm of 7/8. The steps are performed on toes. Men raise their knees high, while women barely lift their legs off the floor.
Performance variations
Bulgarian folk dances range from simple village dances with one repeating basic pattern to very complex choreographic compositions. Most dances are between these two extremes.
Usually a fixed number of options collected together is executed in an agreed order. Almost all Bulgarians know the basics of the horo dance. They dance wherever people come together to have fun.
Horo (choir)
This is the name of the Bulgarian folk dance-dance. As was believed in antiquity, it had magical properties. This dance is spread throughout Bulgaria. Performed on almost all holidays, it has many varieties, the nature of which varies from solemn to unrestrained.
They dance well in a vicious circle, in a serpentine or a straight line. The steps of women are usually simpler than the dance movements of men. The most common sizes are 7/16 and 11/16. The Bulgarian horo, like the Yugoslav clan and the Romanian choir, is one of the most complex European dances performed since ancient times.
