Start of the new season 2023-2024!
All programs accept new members!
Current BCHCS Programs:
BULGARIAN VOICES OF SEATTLE
Bulgarian Voices of Seattle
6:45-8:30 pm
Crossroads Mall Community Room
16000 NE 10th St, Bellevue, WA 98008 Link to Facebook page here.
The singing traditions of Bulgaria are as rich and varied as its history. Each Bulgarian region has its own particular vocal style and songs. Women sang to express emotion, lighten harvest and other work, mark life’s important moments like weddings and births, seasonal rituals and names days. The songs speak of love, separation, nature, heroic deeds and daily life through poetic imagery, humor and pathos. Whether a dissonant song in call-and-response or a lush choral arrangement, Bulgarian songs touch the heart of any listener…
To join or for more information, please contact Michael Lawson at: michaellawson6@gmail.com
Link to Facebook page here.
BULGARIAN FOLKLORE ARTS:
Bulgarian Folklore Program for children “Medena Pitka”
Every Saturday:
MEDENA PITKA is a program that organically interweaves knowledge of traditional Bulgarian rituals and celebrations and practical knowledge of Bulgarian proverbial lyrics, rhythms, songs and dance. It introduces children to our traditional folklore in a way in which students learn by doing.
Folklorna Tantsova Rabotilnitsa – Weekly Bulgarian Folk Dance Workshop
Adults, youth and kids older than 8
Link to Facebook page here.The workshop is a joyful opportunity for the Bulgarian community to explore the richness of Bulgarian folk culture. It is directed toward people who have always been interested in learning more about Bulgarian music and dance but haven’t pursued it. The program also welcomes those who are newly attracted to the idea of exploring our folk heritage, including dance.
SEATTLE CHETA Performance Group – Bulgarian traditional music and dance
15300 NE 95th St, Redmond, WA 98052 8:00PM – 10:00PM
We take joy in bringing back to life old traditional Bulgarian songs and dances, among which Koledarski pesni and Koledarski Yambolski Buenek, performed by our men. This idea was initially introduced to the Bulgarian community after receiving a 4Culture grant for our “Together for Christmas” Bulgarian Show at Kirkland Performance Center in December 2013. The excitement generated by this teamwork became the foundation for our later activities.Performances
In December 2014, along with the Bulgarian Voices of Seattle Women’s Choir and Medena Pitka Children Folklore Group, we performed before the Bulgarian community in Vancouver BC, where 100+ participants from Seattle traveled to perform in our mutual Christmas performance.
As part of the BCHCS program for Bulgarian Folklore Arts, “Tvorilnitsa” weaves the connective tissue in the colorful tapestry of the program and the community through arts and crafts. In the past, the workshop has functioned as an ongoing project concentrated around major Bulgarian holidays like Surva, Koleda and baba Marta, and visiting the Bulgarian School in Seattle.Facebook pageFor more information on dates and times for the workshop, please refer to our calendar.
THE SOCIETY FOR POETRY AND LITERATURE
The Society for Poetry and Literature discusses themes and ideas mainly from the world of Bulgarian literature. These are viewed with regard to historical, political and cultural contexts in Bulgaria from different periods and in parallel with larger European cultural movements. Different authors and texts are discussed when the themes are suggested by members of the club. The Society also welcomes topics regarding works of non-Bulgarian authors.
The Society meets once per month.
Link to Facebook page here. To join or for more information please contact: Bulgarian Voices of Seattle Womens Choir director: Michael Lawson at: michaellawson6@gmail.comBulgarian Folklore Arts program director: Daniela Ivanova-NybergBulgarian Folklore Arts program assistant: Ana-Maria GeorgievaMedena Pitka Children Folklore Program Coordinator: Mila PopovaSociety for Poetry and Literature Coordinator: Daniela Ivanova-Nyberg
thisbaba
This Baba is a 30-minute documentary, a universal story of grandmothers from every country across the globe who are divided between here and there, isolated by a lack of English, stuck in suburbs, missing their friends and loved ones back home.
This Baba – Penka Encheva – had dreams of becoming a professional singer, but her path led her to another life, as a teacher. In 2010, at age 67, she came to America to live with her daughter’s family and help care for her two young grandsons.
As part of the project Songs of Our Families, “This Baba” was produced by Mary Sherhart and directed by Bogdan Darev.
Visist “this Baba” FB page here https://www.facebook.com/thisbabamovie
Visit www.thisbaba.com to find out where This Baba is screening next.
Penka Encheva & Friends CD
The 17-track CD features Baba Penka Encheva singing songs from her childhood with new musical friends she met in America including Vlado & Hristo Mollov, Michael Lawson, David Bilides, Jody Rush, Aleksandr Eppler and the Bulgarian Voices of Seattle Women’s Choir. Tunes range from slow ballads to spritely dances.
Produced by Mary Sherhart
Purchase Penka Encheva & Friends CD here
Special thanks to West Coast self-storage Bellevue for their services. https://westcoastselfstoragebellevue.com/