Golden Lyre Award for the Choreography major at Varna Free University

20 June 2025

The Department of Choreography at Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" was awarded the prestigious 'Golden Lyre' award from the Union of Bulgarian Music and Dance Artists. The award was presented by the Vice-Chairperson of the Union Lyubcho Vassilev on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the department and in recognition of its overall contribution to the development of choreographic education, stage art and the preservation of Bulgarian dance traditions. The Department of Choreography also received a plaque from the Society of Choreographers - Varna.

The anniversary concert-performance entitled 'In the Rhythm of Time', which took place at the Festival and Congress Center - Varna, brought together alumni, lecturers, friends and partners from all over the country on one stage. The stage came alive with performances by the students from the Department of Choreography, the Academic Dance Theater at the university, the 'Bulgarians' Ensemble, and students from the National High School of Humanities And Arts Konstantin Preslavski - Varna. The artists brought the packed hall to its feet.

A particularly emotional highlight of the evening was the presentation of a diploma and award to Prof. Petar Angelov – creator and inspirer of the Choreography major. The President of Varna Free University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Krasimir Nedyalkov, honoured Prof. Angelov for his overall contribution to the founding and establishment of the major and on the occasion of his 80th anniversary.

Special guests of the celebration were graduates from the first classes of Choreography, who gathered again to honour their teachers and colleagues. Some of them also participated in the artistic programme of the performance – as performers and inspirers, proving the strong continuity between generations.

The Choreography major received a congratulatory address from the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, which said: “Choreography is not just a professional path – it is a vocation, requiring talent, perseverance, discipline and an unquenchable love for dance.”

The audience applauded dance works of a classical and contemporary nature – from the iconic “Kamchiyski Dances” by Prof. Angelov to creative interpretations of students and lecturers who presented choreographies done at the university. Videos dedicated to the history, lecturers and graduates complemented the emotional atmosphere of the celebration.

On the occasion of the celebration, flowers and congratulatory addresses were received from:

The Academic Management of Varna Free University
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rositsa Pekova-Slipets – Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar"
Prof. Dr. Dragomir Plamenov – Rector of the Technical University – Varna
Prof. Nikolay Tsvetkov - Head of the Department of Choreography at the South-West University "Neofit Rilski", Blagoevgrad
Department of Choreography at the Academy of Performing Arts "Prof. Asen Diamandiev" - Plovdiv
Society of Choreographers - Varna
National School of Folklore Arts "Philip Kutev" - Kotel
140th Secondary School "Ivan Bogorov" - Sofia
Collective of Secondary School "Elin Pelin" - Varna
Secondary School "St. Kliment Ohridski" - Dobrich
Kapan Ensemble - Razgrad
Folk Dance Ensemble "Nikola Ginov"
Ensemble "Varna"
Folk Dance Club "Elebetitsa"
Folk Dance Club "Moryatsite"
Folk Dance Club "Nestinari"
Folk Dance Club "Izgrev" - Varna
Folk Dance Ensemble "Gergana" - at the Technical University - Varna
Northern Ensemble "Ivan Valev" - Pleven
Municipal Folklore Ensemble "Zagore" - Stara Zagora
School of Folklore Arts "Veselie" - Stara Zagora
School of Folk Dances "Folklore Magic" - Stara Zagora
Dance Ensemble "Osogovo" - Kyustendil
Folk Song and Dance Ensemble - Sliven
Children's Folklore Ensemble "Kalinka Valcheva" - Tervel
First Class of Choreography
Second Class of Choreography
Class of 2003 of Choreography
Class of 2014 of Choreography
Rafael Bobolev - Graduate from the major and Head of Department in Dospat Municipality
Participants in the Course "Managers of Authentic Folklore Ensembles" - VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar", 2025