International Folk Dance Association   of University City presents . . .
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A Dance Party Featuring
Music by the Bulgarian Ensemble

Bulgarika

Saturday, October 1, 2011
7:30 to 10:45 p.m.
University United Methodist Church
6901 Washington Ave.
University City (St. Louis), Missouri
    (see Google Map and directions below)
Admission $10 (free if under age 18)

Also:  Bulgarian Singing Workshop at 4:30 p.m., same location — Admission $5
And:   Potluck Dinner at 5:30 p.m., same location — Bring your favorite dishes, desserts and drinks.

Join us for an exciting dance party featuring live traditional Bulgarian dance music by some of the most respected musicians from Bulgaria!

Nikolay Kolev (gadulka), Donka Koleva (voice), and Maria Koleva (voice) all graduated from the prestigious Musical Folklore High School in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria.  Nikolay is considered one of the world's foremost gadulka players; he formed the wedding ensemble Rozova Dolina in 1985, the prize-winning ensemble Balkanski Glasove in 1992, and has accompanied many well-known singers in Bulgaria.  Donka performed with the Sliven Ensemble for Folk Songs and Dances, was director of the Folk Song Chorus of Sopot, and has been a featured soloist on Bulgarian Radio and Television and featured on numerous recordings.  She has participated in many singing competitions in Bulgaria and Europe, and in 1997 her recording of Javore was named "Song of the Year" in the Bulgarian national radio competition.  Maria, daughter of Nikolay and Donka, made her first stage appearance as a singer at age 11 and received numerous awards as a teenager at music festivals in Bulgaria.  She has been recognized for her expressive singing and truly melodic and rich tone as well as her stunning performances of Thracian songs, and recently made her first recording with Bulgarian National Radio.

Since emigrating to the United States in 1995, the Kolev family has played an active role in fostering Bulgarian music across the country.  Based in New York City, they teach workshops and perform as a family as well as solo.

Ivan Milev (accordion) is a landmark figure of contemporary Balkan folk music.  Coming from a family of well-known musicians, he learned the intricacies of Bulgarian music from his father.  Throughout his 40-plus year career in Bulgaria he established new boundaries for the Bulgarian/Balkan folk repertoire, and his playing and charisma has won him many awards and wide popularity.

An additional performance on Sunday, October 2 is open at no extra charge to attendees of the October 1 dance party.  This performance will be held at 8:00 p.m. at a private home in University City.  Call the phone number below for details.

We have enjoyed having most of these musicians in St. Louis in the past, providing us with beautiful, traditional Bulgarian dance music, and this event is going to be an exciting one as well.  Don't miss it!

Location:  The church is on the northwest corner of Washington and Trinity, and can be reached from Delmar by turning south on Trinity next to the Lion Gates.  Parking is available in the church lot, and on Trinity and surrounding streets, but please avoid parking on the residential part of Washington west of Trinity.  Enter the church from Trinity by going up the steps, walking by the playground in front of the church, and going in through the door on your right.  This door will be locked, but there will be a special doorbell button to push in case somebody is not nearby to let you in.  (Note:  Most of the streets in this area other than the main streets are non-through, though the map doesn't indicate this.)

For more information, please call 314-726-5838.  For more on the ensemble, see http://balkandance.net/bulgarika.  To hear examples of the type of dance music that will be featured, tune in to Music from the Hills on Sundays from 4:00 to 6 p.m. on radio station KDHX, 88.1 FM in St. Louis, hosted by IFDA member John Uhlemann.  (You can also listen online — see www.kdhx.org.)