The project “In the Rhythm of Bulgaria – Dance, Tradition and Community” aims to create an original documentary film and implement a complementary program for the promotion, presentation, and dissemination of Bulgaria’s intangible cultural heritage. Through an artistic documentary approach, the film will interpret the richness of Bulgarian folk dances as a living cultural phenomenon that continues to unite communities, generations, and regions, presenting these traditions within the context of contemporary life. The main dramaturgical storyline follows the personal journey of a young Bulgarian woman studying abroad who rediscovers her identity through the rhythm of the traditional horo dance. Her story intertwines with a journey across six of Bulgaria’s principal folklore regions: Shopluk, Thrace, the Northern region, the Rhodope Mountains, Dobrudzha, and Pirin. The film highlights their distinctive musical rhythms, dance steps, and local communities that continue to preserve tradition through community cultural centers (chitalishta), schools, ensembles, and local initiatives.
The project places Bulgaria’s intangible cultural heritage at its core, viewing it as a dynamic system of knowledge, skills, rituals, and forms of expression transmitted across generations through the horo dance, strengthening the sense of identity and belonging. Through the art of film and its accompanying activities, the project will promote these values to a broad and diverse audience both in Bulgaria and internationally.
In order to achieve maximum public impact, the film will be supported by an active communication campaign and a series of public events. Official premieres are planned in ten municipalities across Bulgaria, including open-air screenings, discussions with the creative team, meetings with local communities, and folk dance demonstrations designed to create direct engagement between tradition bearers and audiences. To ensure sustainable impact and broad accessibility, the film will be provided free of charge to municipalities for screenings and educational initiatives dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Bulgarian folk dances.
Проектът предвижда създаването на филма с англоезичен говор и български субтитри, което ще позволи представяне на българското нематериално културно наследство пред чуждестранна публика, включително български общности в чужбина.
 
The project “In the Rhythm of Bulgaria – Dance, Tradition and Community” will be implemented by a highly qualified administrative and creative team, combining extensive experience in the management of cultural and educational projects, audiovisual arts, ethnology, and the study of intangible cultural heritage.
The creative team includes Anina Yurukova – an actor and director with international education and practice in the USA and Europe, who will play the lead role and coordinate the directorial decisions; Assoc. Prof. Alexander Nishkov – a cinematographer with extensive teaching and professional experience in fine arts photography, cinematography, and documentary filmmaking; Yoana Mircheva – dramaturg and screenwriter, recipient of multiple national awards and author of theatrical works and television scripts; and Dr. Yulia Popcheva – ethnologist and researcher at the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore with the Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, specializing in Balkan ethnology and intangible cultural heritage.