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Choreography Lecturers and Students Work with Young Dancers from the “Filip Kutev” School in Kotel
27 October 2026
Lecturers and students from the Choreography degree programme at Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” conducted three days of staging, instruction and rehearsals with students from the “Filip Kutev” National School of Folk Arts in Kotel. They worked on three dance pieces from the repertoire of the university’s Academic Dance Theatre.
The creative team, comprising Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivaylo Ivanov, Chief Assist. Prof. Dr. Dilyan Galev and lecturer Vyara Georgieva, shared their professional experience and approaches to interpreting and performing the works on stage with the young dancers. The intensive rehearsals combined choreography and staging with the development of the students’ performance skills.
The staging process also involved fourth-year student Nikol Kozloderova and second-year student Bozhidar Gadev. Working with the school students gave them an opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a real educational and creative environment and gain experience as future choreographers.
The collaboration between the university and the “Filip Kutev” National School of Folk Arts supports continuity between secondary and higher education in the field of dance. Their joint work creates opportunities to exchange teaching and creative experience and nurture young talent.
Practical training, active artistic and creative work, and the professional development of graduates are among the key strengths of the professional field of Music and Dance at Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar.” The field ranks second in Bulgaria according to the Higher Education Ranking System of the Ministry of Education and Science.
The Academic Dance Theatre is an essential part of the university’s creative environment, providing students with a stage on which to perform and opportunities to participate in creating and presenting dance productions. This enables them to develop performance, choreography and directing skills during their studies, while gaining experience in teamwork and preparing stage productions.
Career development is another important focus of the programme. Graduates work as choreographers, artistic directors of dance ensembles, stage managers and teachers in cultural and educational institutions in Bulgaria and abroad. The programme is delivered by established academics and artists, while individual work with students supports the development of their performance potential and distinctive creative approaches.
The university offers opportunities for continuous study across all three academic levels. The Bachelor’s degree in Choreography develops performance, creative and methodological skills. The Master’s programme in Performing Arts, Management and Production builds on this foundation by developing competencies in managing creative organizations and stage projects, while the doctoral programme in Choreography opens up opportunities for research and academic careers.
The work with students in Kotel is a practical expression of this educational approach, which brings together professional training, stage experience and the sharing of knowledge across generations.
