SLAVIK – Slovak Folklore Society
The folklore ensemble Slavik is named after the nightingale, a small bird known for its powerful and beautiful voice. Slavik is a non-profit organization that was formed by Slovak immigrants in May 2011 with the aim to preserve and showcase Slovak folklore, focusing on folk dance, music, costumes, traditions and language. Although today’s performance is of the adult group, the society also includes a children’s group, allowing us to pass on our Slovak culture to the next generation.
SLOVAKSOUND
SlovakSound might very well be the only Slovak rock band living and performing outside of Slovakia that is made up of all Slovak born musicians and promoting Slovak rock music. The band was formed 6 years ago in Vancouver with an aspiration to bring Slovak culture through music to every home of Slovak expats in North America. They rearrange famous Slovak and Czech songs into their very own rock style.
The band consists of:
Matej Kockovsky (vocals)
Andrej Krestan (guitar, vocals)
Marek Olostiak (bass guitar)
Rasto Kral (drums)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slovaksound
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slovaksound/
Description of performance:
Slavik will open the performance with a traditional bottle dance from the “Horehron” region of central Slovakia. This will be followed by Matej Kockovsky singing “Ej horou horou” accompanied by Rasto Kral on the Fujara ( pronounced fuyara). The fujara is a long flute that was traditionally played by shepherds in Central Slovakia and is now inscribed in Unesco on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Next SlovakSound will perform a selection of Slovak rock songs. Slavik will conclude the performance with a unique combination of the traditional dance style of the “Zemplin” region of eastern Slovakiapaired to the opera music of “Questa o Quella” from Verdi’s opera “Rigoletto”, sung by Matej Kockovsky. Finally we would like to invite our audience to join us in a communal dance of “Čerešnička”.
Romanian Treasure Group
When Romanians ventured far from their homes, they carried cherished memories from ancient times—traditions, vibrant costumes, melodious songs, and the lively hora dance—transplanting these joyful reminiscences from their old homes to their new abodes in adopted countries.
In order to preserve these traditions and customs, to pass them down to future generations, and to share their rich culture with other Canadians, a team of passionate individuals joined forces to establish a group dedicated to promoting authentic Romanian folklore. This group came to be known as the Romanian Treasure Group.
Making their debut in December 2018 at the Winter Celebration Festival in New Westminster, the group mesmerized audiences with their captivating performances of Plugusorul and Capra. The overwhelming success and heartfelt appreciation they received resulted in invitations to twelve other multicultural festivals held in various municipalities across the Lower Mainland.
At each festival, the group’s performances were met with thunderous applause, accolades, and recognition from the media. Buoyed by the enthusiastic responses they garnered, the group continues to meet, diligently crafting new performances that they are delighted to share with all interested audiences.
Bulgarian folklore and traditions in Vancouver, BC, Canada-performers-20240531
Contact:
www.bcsbc.ca
Email: info@bcsbc.ca
Daniela, vice-president: vicepresident@bcsbc.ca
HUBAVITSI
Hubavitsi is a Bulgarian youth folk dance group with members ranging from 11-16 years old. We are part of the St. Cyril and Methodius Bulgarian Heritage Language School in Vancouver, British Columbia. We perform traditional dances from across the beautiful regions of Bulgaria as well as more contemporary renditions to continue to grow the love of dance and spread the beauty of our culture with our community.
Contact: Didi Krasteva
Email: diana_krasteva@yahoo.ca
ZORNITZA
Bulgarian Folk Dance Ensemble ZORNITZA
What started off as a small group of enthusiasts has now become one of the best ensembles performing Bulgarian traditional dances in the British Columbia area. Since opening its doors in 2021, ZORNITZA Dance Ensemble has managed to captivate the hearts of audiences with a variety of quality performances.
Being part of the ensemble allows Bulgarian youth and adults in the Vancouver area the opportunity to embrace their culture and heritage in a positive, supportive atmosphere. Participation in the group enables our youth and adults to gather, socialize, make new friendships, travel, have fun, and become part of the larger Bulgarian community in Vancouver.
Contact: Snezhana Ignatova
Email: zornitza.dance@gmail.com
Folk Misteria
Contact: Dimitrina Zarkova
Email: dimitrinazark@gmail.com
DAYANA
She is well known as Dayana. This is her artistic pseudonym. Her name is Diana Dimova. She played the accordion until the 4th grade. Later she graduated from the secondary school of music in the town of Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria. Diana then graduated from the university of Sofia and got her master’s degree. Her musical career began with the release of her first solo album “Right on Target” in 2006, followed by numerous concerts and performances in the country and abroad. Today she lives here in Canada with her family and 2 wonderful children, now she will present us one of her favorite folk songs recorded with her own arrangement and video called ” Singing Nightingale”
Contact: Diana Dimova
Email: dayanadimova@abv.bg
Nadya Shishenska
Nadya Shishenska has graduated secondary school ‘’St. St. Cyril and Methodius” where she studied Bulgarian folk music and songs for twelve years. She was also part of the youth folk ensemble “Tsviat” for nine years in her home town of Vidin, Bulgaria.
She has been performing on different stages and in different festivals in Bulgaria and abroad from the age of six.
She was a flight attendant in one the biggest airlines in the world Emirates in Dubai for seven years. At that time she became part of the folklore club “Zdravetz” where with other Bulgarian musicians created and recorded authentic music and songs that became part of the repertoire of the club.
The passion for travelling and the love for the Bulgarian folk music drives her to always find people like her who cherish and honour our Bulgarian traditions.
Contact: Nadya Shishenska
Email: nadyashishenska@yahoo.com
KUKER
Kukeri are elaborately dressed Bulgarian men, who perform
traditional rituals intended to scare away evil spirits. This Bulgarian tradition has been practiced since Thracian times and is of a Thracian origin. The costumes cover most of the body and include decorated masks and large bells attached to a belt. Around New Year’s Lent, the kukeri walk and dance through villages to scare away evil spirits with their costumes and the sound of their bells. They are also believed to provide a good harvest, health, and happiness to the village during the year.
The kukeri traditionally visited people’s houses at night so that the sun would not catch them on the road. After parading around the village, they usually gathered at the village square to dance wildly and amuse the people.
In Bulgarian folklore, the kuker is a one-of-a-kind traditional character, a distinct figure dancing in a unique way in which the performer follows his own rhythm. He executes specific moves, jumps and swings in relation to his intentions and feelings at a given moment during the presentation. Additionally, the musical accompaniment and the moves of the Kuker can differ, which makes the play a unique experience.
Please welcome our Kuker Hristo Popov who continues his father’s family tradition.
Contact: Hristo Popov (Chris)
Email: kuker.canada@gmail.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbjx0Rcl4aTDVWAgReCZnGg
What is this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukeri
KITKA
The folk-dance group “KITKA”, currently led by Sacha Kayriamova, was first established in 2003. Over the years Kitka has had many different members and choreographers, but their goal has always remained the same. They strive to preserve the Bulgarian traditions they cherish so deeply, and share them with the world through their performances. With every performance, the dancers from “Kitka” manage to win the hearts of the audience with their diverse folk rhythms, colorful costumes, and radiant spirit. Today, they will perform a medley of Bulgarian dances inspired by regions all across Bulgaria.
Please welcome the wonderful dancers from “Kitka”!
Contact: Daniela Dobreva
Email: bulgariandancekitka@gmail.com
Dr. Kosta Bozhinov
“Dr. Kosta Bozhinov is an accordion player, specializing in folk music. He holds a PhD in musicology and has recorded music for Hollywood movie productions and best-selling video games. Kosta is currently studying law at the Peter Allard School of Law at UBC.”
Contact: Dr. Kosta Bozhinov
Email: kosta_bozhinov@hotmail.com
Gencho Kalaykov
Gencho Kalaykov is an automation engineer with hobby drums. He discovered the folk drum davul for the first time here in Canada. He likes to accompany any acoustic music, especially Bulgarian folk, rock and jazz.
Contact: Gencho.Kalaykov@gmail.com
