Dances that Mitko taught at Evesham 2025

Mitko taught a range of dances at May HeyDays in Evesham in 2025. They varied in difficulty, reflecting the skills and experience of the dancers. Presented here in the order that Mitko introduced them.

  1. Kokonitsa (North Bulgaria)
    • The simplest of the dances that he taught and a good introduction. This appears to be an Evesham special because we can find no reference to it elsewhere on the internet.
  2. Srce je moje violina (Bulgaria)
    • This is a Mitko choreography, possibly in conjunction with Ira Wiesburg, who Dances and teaches it. Dancing from the beginning, teaching from 4.20.
  3. Kavodoritikos (Greece)
    • This dance really requires quite a lot of people and space because of the double winding.
    • Dunav don't have that and so looks rather dizzy-making.
    • A larger group seems to make more sense.
  4. Krivo Stranzansko Horo (Bulgaria)
    • We found this dance impossible! We are not the only ones and there is only one video that we have found showing this dance.
    • Confusingly, there is video of another dance with the same name, and several of a dance with a very similar name that will appear in searches. Neither is more approachable!
  5. Serény magyaros (Hungary)
    • This dance is for those less skilled but with plenty of energy. It is a party dance of the "jiana" type, with many recordings in Hungary.
    • This one shows varying amounts of energy expenditure, but the same sequence as Mitko taught.
    • Some show slightly different lengths for the two parts - probably dependent on the (live) music.
  6. W moim ogrodesco (Poland)
    • This is a dance choreographed by Ira Wiesburg (possibly in collaboration with Mitko) set to a Polish folk song.
    • Here he is dancing it. We don't feel it is very "Polish"
  7. Dzokanovo oro (North Macedonia) →
    • A gypsy-style dance choreographed to a particular recording, so the final time through has to adapt a little to fit. The music starts at 1:28.
    • Originally we wondered whether this was another Evesham special, but then we discovered a Swiss couple teaching and dancing it, but their adaption to the final music is different, omitting the first figure rather than the second.
      The music starts at 2:55.
  8. Sofka (Macedonia)
    • Mitko used slightly different arm movements from others.
    • There seems to be some confusion whether this dance is Macedonian or Greek, for example in the comments to this video from Israel, which also shows the alternate arm movements.
    • Notes from America.
  9. Sandanska rachenitsa (Bulgaria)
    • This appears to be "wild" dance as it is recorded (many times) in this park.
  10. Kamber (Pirin, Bulgaria)
    • We only did this a couple of times and thought other dances were more worthwhile. Here are some young people doing it.
  11. Matilda (Shopski, Bulgaria) →
    • An Evesham special, we think, as neither the dance nor the music can be found elsewhere on the web. Music from 0.38.
  12. Ohridsko horo (Macedonia)
    • This is another choreography set to the tune Ajde Jano, this time to the version by Nigel Kennedy.
    • Some good dancers here, but the changing of camera angle is somewhat distracting. They dance as Mitko taught.
    • This American class is easier to follow but she replaces the quick double-touch with a single one (as do most other videos).
  13. Momchilovsko horo (Rhodopsko, Bulgaria)
    • The men's version has shoulder hold and squats. Mitko taught the easier women's version, as the teacher in Salt Lake City.