Bulgarian dance party with music by Kabilé
Saturday, November 18, 2017, 8–11 pm
Payson Park Congregational Church parish hall, 365 Belmont Street, Belmont, Massachusetts
Many thanks to Kabilé and guests, all the dancers, and everyone who contributed to this wonderful evening!
FAC is proud to present the band Kabilé, on tour from Bulgaria, for an exciting evening of music and dancing. Kabilé takes its name from the village in central Bulgaria where the group played one of its earliest gigs. All of Kabilé’s members: Ivan Handzhiev (vocals, accordion), Nikolay Doktorov (kaval), Dzhenko Andreev (gajda), Nikolay Kolev (gadulka), and Donka Koleva (vocals), are life-long, professionally-trained musicians with decades of teaching and performing experience, and have performed at countless weddings, festivals, and holiday events all over the region of Thrace in Bulgaria - and to great acclaim from groups all across the US during their previous national tours. Join us for this opportunity to hear authentic Bulgarian music played on traditional instruments by master musicians. Come to dance or just to listen and have some Eastern European snacks! All are welcome to join the dancing, regardless of experience level.
- Admission $20
- FAC members $15
- Students aged 8 and up $15
- Under age 8 free
Donka Koleva (vocals) is a native of the village of Tuzha in the Stara Zagora region of Thrace. She graduated from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria, and performed for three years with the Sliven Folk Dance and Music Ensemble. She was director of the Folk Song Chorus of Sopot, has been a featured soloist on Bulgarian Radio-TV, has participated in numerous singing competitions in Bulgaria and Europe, and has been featured on many recordings. In 1997, her recording of “Javore” was named Song of the Year in the Bulgarian National Radio competition. Since immigrating to the US, she has taught and performed widely across North America, both privately and at numerous camps, festivals, and other events.
Nikolay Kolev (gadulka), a native of the Thracian Rose Valley village of Karavelovo, has been playing gadulka since age 10. After graduating from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria, he performed for three years with the Sliven Folk Dance and Music Ensemble. In 1984 he founded the orchestra Sopot, in 1985 the wedding music ensemble Rozova Dolina, and in 1992 the prize-winning ensemble Balkanski Glasove. In 1994 and 1995 the latter group took first prizes at the Varna Festival. Nikolay has accompanied many well-known singers including Vulkana Stojanova, Roumen Rodopski, and Todor Kozhuharov. He has also taught many students at a number of Balkan camps in the US. In 1999, Nikolay was the first Bulgarian to be recognized by the Slavic Heritage Council of America for his outstanding contributions to music.
Nikolay Doktorov (kaval), from Varna on the coast of the Black Sea, is a graduate of the National Music School “Filip Koutev” in Kotel, Bulgaria, and the Bulgarian National Conservatory. He has performed with the world-famous Trakia Ensemble and with the Horovod Ensemble in Varna. He directs the folk music orchestra Spectar, conducts several regional folk ensembles, and teaches kaval and manages the orchestra at the Strashimirov School in Varna. In 2016 Nikolay was honored to be a guest performer with the Bulgarian National Radio’s National Folk Orchestra. He has taught and performed at a number of American Balkan camps.
Ivan Handzhiev (vocals, accordion) is a native of the village of Lesovo in the Yambol region of Thrace. He began singing with his mother and other village singers as a small child and started playing accordion at the age of nine. He is a graduate of the National Music School “Filip Koutev” in Kotel, Bulgaria, and the Bulgarian National Conservatory. Ivan is a master of the ornamentation and improvisation technique unique to Thrace and was a faculty member at the Koutev School for more than 25 years. He is currently on the staff of the Bulgarian National School of Dance Art in Sofia. Like the other members of Kabilé, he has taught and performed at multiple American Balkan camps.
Dzhenko Andreev (gaida) is from the village of Hanovo in the Yambol region of Thrace. As a boy he studied with local teachers and then went on to graduate from the National Music School “Filip Koutev” in Kotel, Bulgaria, where he developed his local style. Specializing in traditional melodies from his village, Dzhenko has been a soloist with the Sliven Folk Dance and Music Ensemble for over 25 years and has performed with them throughout Bulgaria and internationally. Like the other band members, he has taught and performed at many American Balkan camps.
To arrange for private music lessons with the band members, contact Donka Koleva by phone at 646-296-4045 or by email.
For more information, see the Kabilé 2017 Tour web pages.
Download the Kabilé dance party flier.