Dance group "Bulgaria" came second at a festival in Wales

The Bulgarian folk dance group Bulgaria, which is based in central England, came second at an international dance festival in Wales with 93 points. The group narrowly missed the top spot, which went once again to the favourites from Northern Ireland, who scored 97 points at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, held from 9 to 13 July.

Desislava Radulovska, leader of the troupe, shared the news on Facebook. The dancers performed a repertoire of authentic and stylised dances representing the Severnyashka and Shopluka folk regions of Bulgaria, wearing traditional costumes from both areas. The 20-strong contest ensemble comprised both children and adults, and included Bulgarians and international participants selected from the group’s schools in Nottingham, Boston, Doncaster, Stafford, and Coventry.

“The hot weather didn’t stop us — it only made our fiery Bulgarian spirit burn brighter,” said Radulovska. 'We danced in traditional woollen costumes in 30-degree heat and ignited a fire in the hearts of the audience. Many thanked us, saying that we were the true winners. They joined in and celebrated with genuine enthusiasm.”

Folklore Dance Formation Bulgaria is the largest Bulgarian folk dance group in the Midlands, with active schools in Nottingham, Coventry, Stafford, Doncaster and Boston.