The memory of Bulgarian ensemble "Guslarche" brings dancers back from abroad

Gorna Oryahovitsa and the renovated stage of the Summer Theater in the city are preparing to host a large folklore spectacle that will bring together on one stage the great legacy of the children's and youth folklore ensemble "Guslarche". These are dozens of dancers, singers and performers of folk instruments who have been associated with the troupe from Gorna Oryahovitsa over the years. Although the ensemble has not existed for decades, the 60th anniversary of its founding is an occasion for the preparation of the upcoming large concert on September 12.

The founder of the children's and youth folklore ensemble "Guslarche" is Petar Zhisov. In 1966, he organized a choir and an orchestra, and a few years later a dance group, thus assembling an ensemble with singers, an orchestra and a dance group, which over the years won many prizes and became a representative children's and youth folklore ensemble in Bulgaria, tells us one of the former members - Diana Stoeva, who currently lives in Vienna and leads children's folklore groups there.

Established as one of the first children's and youth folklore ensembles, the goal of "Guslarche" was also to prepare personnel for the large folklore ensemble "Sidar Voyvoda", established even earlier, in 1956, in Gorna Oryahovitsa. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the 21st century, the functioning of these ensembles stopped.

The "Guslarche" Ensemble, however, left a lasting mark on the lives of the children who were just starting out in dance folklore at that time. Today, a dozen of them have created their own amateur formations and what was learned from the professional choreographers who once led "Guslarche" has its worthy successors. Even though many of the heirs of the 60-year-old "Guslarche" live abroad today, their memory is alive and they feel strongly attached to this ensemble, Diana Stoeva told Radio Bulgaria.

"As a little girl, I started dancing at the age of 6 with choreographer Nikolay Sabev. After a few years, I transferred to the choir and was fortunate enough to sing with the founder of the Guslarche Ensemble, Petar Zhisov. Without a doubt, he has left a deep mark in my heart. Despite the breakup, the members of the ensemble continue to get together and have their own group. Although the ensemble no longer exists, we celebrated its 50th anniversary a decade ago and the idea to unite for a joint concert in Gorna Oryahovitsa came spontaneously."

At the heart of each concert is nostalgia, which will once again bring together the performers who danced, played or sang decades ago. Now they will once again come out as a common formation of dancers from the country and abroad and will share memories of the Guslarche Ensemble, which once introduced young people to Bulgarian folklore. The first such concert was in June 2025. "Many dancers and musicians gathered and we showed strong affection for the ensemble and a strong love for Bulgaria," Diana Stoeva recalls.

"The children who came from Vienna had great performances dedicated to Bulgaria. I see the same with the colleagues from other countries, as the same desire is evident in their performances. The majority of the people from the ensemble have already broken this link and continued in other professions, but last year they got together, actively rehearsed, went on stage, brought the audience to their feet in the Summer Theater of Gorna Oryahovitsa and since then they continue to get together with great enthusiasm, with great desire. That's why the focus of the concert will be on the history and fate of the Guslarche Ensemble. We can invite everyone who loves the folklore group and has memories of Guslarche. The concert will be on September 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Summer Theater,” Diana Stoeva says.

Diana Stoeva will bring with her from Vienna the concert group of the dance ensemble she leads in the Austrian capital. They will present dances from the Northern folklore region of Bulgaria. Many of the dancers are graduates of the Bulgarian Sunday school "Prof. Ivan Shishmanov" in Vienna, and this will not be their first trip to Bulgaria.

The flame she sees in the eyes of the Bulgarian children in Vienna makes Diana Stoeva organize the concert in her native Gorna Oryahovitsa and encourage Bulgarians abroad to preserve and know Bulgarian folklore. Through travel and through activities with folklore rhythms, the love and connection with Bulgaria is transmitted and this gives meaning to the lives of many talented Bulgarians, who, although far away, never forget the steps, rhythms and messages that folklore is rich in.