Hundreds attend Bulgarian festival in Cambridge
Hundreds of people flocked to a Bulgarian folklore festival in Cambridge on Sunday (July7).
The event, called “Cambridge Sings and Dances” and organised by The Little Bulgaria Initiative took place at Nuns Way Pavilion in Arbury, Cambridge.
The aim was to showcase “the vibrant spirit of Bulgarian folklore” according to organisers and featured a display of traditional Bulgarian dances, as well as a flag procession, a competition for the best cultural attire, and a bazaar selling traditional foods and handmade crafts.
Mihail Stoyanov, chair of the Little Bulgaria Initiative in Cambridge, said: “Our organisation is dedicated to preserving and promoting Bulgarian culture, traditions, and heritage within the Cambridge community. Our goal is to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Bulgarian culture through various cultural events and activities.”
The festival, which took place over six hours, attracted around 600 people. The event featured.30 traditional Bulgarian dances and choreographies performed by 14 folklore dance groups, of which three Cambridgeshire-based, nine from all over England, and two children’s dance groups. One of the children’s groups was from the Cambridge-based Bulgarian Sunday school, Vasil Levski, which educates more than 120 bilingual children about the Bulgarian language, literature, history, and geography. The festival also featured five folklore singing performances by young Bulgarian performers Mia Drajeva from Cambridge, Anna Simeonova from London, as well as the male folklore singing group Bulgarian Legacy.
Special guests included Lubka Stoycheva, the wife of the Bulgarian ambassador in London, the newly elected Mayor of Cambridge, Baiju Thittala, three-time Mayor of Cambridge and Grand Master of the Order of St. George the Martyr, Mr. Robert Dryden, Grand Prior of the Order of St. George the Martyr, Richard Brown, and Piero D’Angelico from Mill Road Traders.
The Mayor opened the event with a speech about Bulgaria’s 13-century history, traditions, and culture. He emphasised the importance of diverse communities and the sharing of cultural celebrations and traditions, highlighting the city’s commitment to celebrating its cultural mosaic.
