Peninsula Folk Dance Workshop and Party with Iliana Bozhonova and Todor Yankov

Join the Peninsula Council Folk Dancers for a Bulgarian Dance Workshop With Iliana Bozhonova and Todor Yankov, picnic supper, and dance party.

Masks are recommended, but not required. Up to date vaccinations are required. If you’ve already shown us your vaccine info, no need to do it again. If not, you can email it to us at pfdcparty@gmail.com or bring it with you.

Bulgarian Dance Workshop With Iliana Bozhonova and Todor Yankov

3:30-5:00pm

$10.00 Requested Admission

Iliana Bozhanova and Todor Yankov

Iliana Bozhanova

Iliana Bozhanova is a native of Gulubovo, Bulgaria, and comes from a family of musicians and singers in Southern Thrace. She toured as a principal dancer and singer with Ensemble Ruchenitsa of Plovdiv as a youth; graduated from the National School for Amateur Art Instructors; and later received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv. She has worked as a choreographer with a number of ensembles, including the Children’s Ensemble for Folk Dances in Bulgaria, Zarove in Holland, and Bosilek in New York City. She has taught at most major U.S. dance camps, including Stockton, Mendocino, Old World Music & Dance Camp, Beloit, and Mainewoods. She currently serves as Artistic Director of Ensemble Voivodintsi, the 70-person multi-generational folk dance ensemble from the village of Voivodinovo (near Plovdiv), and is the dance program coordinator for the annual Bulgarian Folk Music and Dance Seminar at the Music Academy in Plovdiv.

Todor Yankov

Todor Yankov (accordion) grew up Dobralak in the Rhodopi Mountains. His father, Vasil Yankov, was a well-known gaida player in the area. Todor began to play gaida, like his father, then he took up kaval at age 10 and accordion at age 16. He is also a noted singer. For many years he played with the Hisar folk orchestra and has been the accordionist for the following folk dance ensembles: Rûchenitsa, Hebar, Pûldin and Voivodintsi.

Iliana and Todor met in 1984 in Ensemble Ruchenitsa, then their professional paths diverged. In 2004, they reunited to found Ensemble Voivodintsi, a music and dance ensemble based in Voivodinovo, just north of Plovdiv. The ensemble has grown from 32 performers to more than 100 dancers, singers, and accompanists.

Picnic Supper

5:00-5:30pm

Bring your own picnic supper! Iced tea and water provided.

Dance Party

5:30-8:00pm

$10.00 Donation Requested
Dance party emceed by Lisa Michael and Adony Beniares. We’ll have dances for all levels, beginning to advanced, and all forms (line, couple, and set). Dress comfortably in layers; sneakers or low-heeled dance shoes recommended. Donations to help cover the cost of the hall are welcome. We do dances from nearly every country in the world, and the music is incredible.

Send your dance requests to pfdcparty@gmail.com along with any questions, comments, or suggestions.

If you’d like to bring a snack to share, please make sure they are prepared for individual servings.

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