The history of Bulgarian folklore

dances
If you see Bulgarians dancing in the street holding hands and
forming big circles or rows, you have most probably come
across a horo, the national dance of the country.
Dancing horo involves learning a sequence of steps and
combining them with movements of the hands while folk music
is playing. Sometimes dancers
hold each other by their waists
or perform a “dancing
dialogue” standing opposite
each other. Fifty years ago or
so, dancing horo was a way of
courting. Looking each other in
the eyes during a dancing
party in the main square of the
village often meant that the
two people liked each other
and were going to get married.

Horo is not a single dance but

rather a collective noun for
the dozens of types of dances
typical for the different
regions of Bulgaria. Each of
them has its own rhythm and
other specifics like clothing
and instruments. Some horos are slow, while others involve a
lot of jumping and leg crossing.

Folklore regions
There are six folklore regions – Dobrudzha, Thrace, Sofia
region-Shopluk, Pirin, the Rodopes and North Bulgaria. In
Bulgaria, the most popular dances are pravo horo and
rachenitsa.

In Dobrudzha are typical

dances that are showing
their daily routine. Specific
dances for Dobrudzha are
sborenka, opas, rachenik,
ruka.

In Thrace
are typical
the gently

movements
for women, which show their beauty and fast for
 men, which show their strength. The specific
dances are rachenitsa, trite pati, buchimish and
dzhinovsko.

In Shopluk typical for the

dances are the fast and
playful movements.

Specific dances are

pravo horo, graofsko,
kopanitsa and
chetvorno.
In Pirin is typical
for women to sing

and for man to play

instruments. Specific
dances are
maleshevsko and
dzhanguritsa.

In Rodopes are typical

the non-measured and
 sad songs. Specific
dances are melnishko,
svornato and yenino
horo.
In North Bulgaria
people dance with self-
confidence and
freedom. Specific
dances are elenino, daychovo, gankino and paydushko.

Bulgaria is a small, but beautiful country with rich culture and

history.