Zornica

Zornica: the morning star

Bulgarian folk dance and song in Budapest since 2000

We are Bulgarian women who married and settled in Hungary. We perform dances, songs and customs from across Bulgaria at festivals, community celebrations and family occasions.

Or call: +36 1 325 9567

Zornica dancers in yellow headscarves dancing a horo at Millenáris, 2010

It started in spring 2000

The Zornica (Evening Star) Bulgarian Heritage Preservation Ensemble was formed in the spring of 2000 by a group of Bulgarian women who have made their homes in Hungary. Originally, the intent was simply to keep their Bulgarian heritage alive and to pass on traditional Bulgarian folk dances, songs and customs to other Bulgarians living in Hungary. Before they knew it, however, the ensemble had gained both a strong reputation and an enviable following, not only among the Bulgarian and other minority communities, but also among those of the general public who love and appreciate folk customs and traditions.

Liliana Zafirova Bűdy, artistic director of the ensemble

Much of the group’s success can be attributed to the efforts of its art director, Liliana Zafirova Bűdy, a choreographer educated in Sofia whose work is well known in Hungary.

The group has appeared in programmes dedicated to minority nationalities on Hungarian and Bulgarian national television. In 2011 it performed at the László Nagy memorial concert at the Palace of Arts, as the guest of Ferenc Sebő, together with Márta Sebestyén.

The enthusiasm the members of Zornica have shown for preserving and popularising their folk traditions in Hungary stems from both a deep regard for their Bulgarian roots and a sincere desire to pass them on to future generations.

Dances, customs, songs

Our programme draws on dances, songs and customs from different Bulgarian regions. We fit it to the occasion, from a short set to a full evening.

Nestinari, the fire dancers

Nestinari, the fire dancers

The fire-walking dance of the Strandzha mountains. On stage we perform it over symbolic embers: a red cloth in the middle of the circle.

Seeing off the bride

Seeing off the bride

A wedding custom in which the bride says goodbye to her parents’ home. We also perform it at weddings; once the real bride and her mother danced it with us.

Harvest dance, Enyovden (Midsummer), Babinden (Midwives’ Day), koleduvane (Christmas carolling).

Dances

  • Rachenitsa
  • Raka
  • Daychovo
  • Macedonian suite
  • Radomirska lesa
  • Varnenski dance
  • Grozdober
  • Todoro, Todorke

Songs

Nearly thirty songs, among them:

  • Ceko le Цеко ле
  • Ergen djado Ерген дядо
  • Kacnal brymbar na trynka Кацнал бръмбар на трънка
  • Dona na porti sideshi Дона на порти сидеши
  • Cyfnalo cveke shareno Цъфнало й цвеке шарено
  • More problejalo Море проблеяло
  • Dilmano Dilbero Дилмано Дилберо
  • Voda teche Вода тече
  • More svake Море сваке
  • Sevdalino mome Севдалино моме
  • Crno mi oko ergenche Църно ми око ергенче
  • Pusto mu ludo i mlado Пусто му лудо и младо
  • Petruno pile shareno Петруно пиле шарено
  • Otdolu ide sharena kolca Отдолу иде шарена колца
  • Tudoro Tudorke Тудоро Тудорке
  • Kato sedish Nedo Nedke Като седиш Недо Недке
  • Prela baba Прела баба
  • Ljulka se ljulja Люлка се люля
  • Chubrichanche le Чубричанче ле
  • Liljano mome Лиляно моме
  • Ludo mlado syn zasynilo Лудо младо сън засънило
  • Kalino Rado Калино Радо
  • Ljube, ljube, prvo ljube Любе, любе, първо любе
  • Shareno konche imam Шарено конче имам
  • Stanala rano Bosilka Станала рано Босилка

Invite Zornica

Tell us when and where your event is. We will reply to say whether we are free and what programme we suggest.

Community celebrations
Babinden, the Day of Slavonic Script (24 May), Minorities Day
Festivals
Szőreg Rose Festival, Ajak wedding festival, Boldog Paprika Festival
Cultural evenings
Palace of Arts, Museum of Ethnography, exhibition openings
Weddings and family occasions
seeing off the bride, for example at Sziráki Castle

Our road since 2000

Every year we take part in an international folk festival in Bulgaria and come home with diplomas and awards.

  1. Sedyanka evening, Budapest

    2001

    Sedyanka evening

    Budapest

  2. International folk festival, Dorkovo, Bulgaria

    2004

    International folk festival

    Dorkovo, Bulgaria

  3. Folk festival, Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria

    2005

    Folk festival

    Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria

  4. Guest performance, Brno, Czech Republic

    2005

    Guest performance

    Brno, Czech Republic

  5. Summer festival, Primorsko, Bulgaria

    2006

    Summer festival

    Primorsko, Bulgaria

  6. Nestinari on stage, Budapest

    2008

    Nestinari on stage

    Budapest

  7. By the sea, Nesebar and Ravda, Bulgaria

    2009

    By the sea

    Nesebar and Ravda, Bulgaria

  8. 2010

    Certified as an ensemble

    Pécsvárad, Hungary

  9. László Nagy memorial evening, Palace of Arts, Budapest

    2011

    László Nagy memorial evening

    Palace of Arts, Budapest

  10. 2013

    International folk festival

    Ohrid, North Macedonia

  11. 15th anniversary, Bulgarian Cultural House, Budapest

    2015

    15th anniversary

    Bulgarian Cultural House, Budapest

  12. Rose Festival, Szeged-Szőreg, 2016 and 2017

    2016

    Rose Festival

    Szeged-Szőreg, 2016 and 2017

Videos

Recordings of our performances. Videos load from YouTube only when you press play.

Would you like to dance with us?

With Bulgarian roots or without: if you love folk dance and singing together, come to a rehearsal. Leave a way to reach you and we will tell you when the next one is.

Support us with 1% of your tax

Hungarian taxpayers can give 1% of their personal income tax to us. It pays for costumes, festival travel and rehearsals.

Tax number18113619-1-41

Contact

Phone
+36 1 325 9567
Email
info@zornica.hu
Address
1025 Budapest, Zöldkő utca 58.
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Tax number: 18113619-1-41