Bulgarian folk dance enthusiasts gather in Smolyan for a nationwide horo

The fourth nationwide Bulgarian horo will take place in Smolyan on September 13. Folk dance enthusiasts from across the country will come together and join hands in the Rhodope town, the organisers from the Hora za Horata Smolyan club said.

Every Sunday, people of all ages gather in squares and parks in towns across Bulgaria to dance the horo. The gatherings are a chance to meet, but also a way of passing the tradition on to the next generation.

Four years ago, this gave rise to the idea of bringing together Bulgarian folklore enthusiasts from different parts of the country once a year for a nationwide Sunday horo. The first gathering was held in Plovdiv in 2023, followed by Kazanlak and Pazardzhik, with Smolyan hosting this year’s edition.

This year’s horo will wind its way around Vazrazhdane Square, in front of the Kiril Madzharov – 1866 community centre, from 4.30 to 8 pm.

“The horo is not just a dance. It is about meeting and connecting, tradition and emotion, life and magic,” the organisers say.

Editor: Diana Tsankova