Vlada Tomova and Yasna Voices

Vlada is the founder of New York's first Bulgarian Women's Choir, Yasna Voices. Together, they have presented full length a cappella concerts, showcasing village songs and arrangements in the style of Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares (The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices), a compilation of folk songs by the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir.

Vlada's voice is featured on National Geographic's touring exhibit King Tut, and was heard in the sound installation "Echoes from the Mountains" at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy.


1. Самодива (Samodiva)

A samodiva is a woodland fairy or nymph, with spiritual energy drawn from nature.

Nadia (Solo)

2. Комитско Либе (Komitsko Libe)

A dance of commitment from the Pirin region in southwest Bulgaria.

Choreography by Kiril Haralampiev.

Venci, Galina, Inna, Emilia, Elena, Chavdar

3. Пирински (Pirinski)

A female ritual dance from the Pirin region in southwest Bulgaria.

Emilia, Guergana, Galina, Tsvetina, Mihaela, Iva, Inna, Jianying, Elena, Mariya, Venci, Nicole

4. Гинка (Ginka)

Ginka is a female name. This dance is common in Bulgaria and originates from the Pirin region.

Evgeni, Guergana, Iva, Tsvetina, Jianying, Mariya, Nicole, Chavdar

5. Джангурица (Dzanguritsa)

A common dance from the Pirin region in southwest Bulgaria.

Stage left: Inna, Elena, Venci, Tsvetina
Stage right: Galina, Emilia, Mihaela, Guergana

6. Songs from Vlada Tomova / Yasna Voices

  • Бачо Никола (Brother Nikola)
  • Кузум Еленке (Beautiful Elenke)
  • Брала мома (A girl picking flowers)

7. Буенек (Buenek)

A female dance connected with spring rituals and traditionally danced on Еньовден (Enyov Day / St. John's Eve). The wreaths are made from flowers and herbs believed to have a healing power.

Stage left: Galina, Jianying, Nicole, Emilia, Mariya, Iva
Stage right: Inna, Elena, Venci, Tsvetina, Mihaela, Guergana

8. Song from Lubomir Smilenov

  • Сворнати хора (Svornati hora)

9. Копаница (Kopanitsa)*

A dance from western Bulgaria.

*Performed by Algara Folk Dance Group:
Galina S., Albena, Bisera, Galina N., Iskra, Ioana, Kalina, Krasimira, Maria R., Maria B., Spassena, Tanya, Toska, Vessela P., Vessela D., Virginiya

10. Songs from Vlada Tomova / Yasna Voices

  • Тръгнала e малка мома (A little girl left)
  • Снощи си дойде (Last night he came back)

11. Шира (Shira)

A dance from Bulgaria's Danube (northern) region, referencing the Danube river that runs along the border with Romania.

Evgeni, Nicole, Tsvetina, Guergana, Emilia, Mihaela, Inna, Galina, Jianying, Mariya, Elena, Venci

12. Северняшка Сюита (Severniashkа Suite)

A dance from Bulgaria's northern region ("severniashkа" translates to "northern").

Stage left: Chavdar, Inna, Emilia, Tsvetina, Mihaela
Stage right: Venci, Galina, Elena, Guergana

13. Songs from Petya Maglova-Shehova and Hristo Shehov

  • Мъри Маро (Muri Maro)
  • А бре юначе (Oh young man)

14. Songs from Hristo Shehov, Petya Maglova-Shehova & Lubomir Smilenov

  • Руфинка болна легнала (Rufinka went to bed sick)
  • Айде Калино да идем (Come on Kalino, let's go)

15. Еркечки (Erkechki)

A ritual Easter dance originating from Kozichino, a village in eastern Bulgaria close to the Black Sea. The village is also known as Erkech, a portmanteau from the Turkish "erken geç" (go faster) dating back to the Ottoman Empire.

This song is from the Philip Kutev National Folklore Ensemble and belongs to The Golden Collection of Bulgarian Folk Heritage.

Choreography by Margarita Dikova.

Venci, Elena, Galina, Tsvetina, Inna, Emilia, Guergana, Jianying, Mihaela, Chavdar

16. Song from Hristo Shehov

  • Соньо, мой соньо (Sonyo, my sonyo)

17. Варненски (Varnenski)

A dance from Varna, a city on the Black Sea.

Stage left: Inna, Guergana, Mihaela, Jianying, Chavdar, Evgeni
Stage right: Emilia, Tsvetina, Mariya, Nicole

18. Song from Lubomir Smilenov

  • Шинко ле (Shinko le)

19. Криво Садовско (Krivo Sadovsko)

A dance from Sadovo, a village in midsouthern Bulgaria close to Plovdiv. "Krivo" translates to "crooked".

Chavdar, Venci, Elena, Tsvetina, Mihaela, Emilia, Galina, Inna

20. Енино (Enino)

A dance from the Rodopi mountains in midsouthern Bulgaria.

1st row: Venci, Galina, Elena, Inna, Mihaela, Tsvetina
2nd row: Emilia, Guergana, Jianying, Mariya, Nicole
Chavdar, Evgeni

21. Бучимиш (Buchimish)

A dance from western Bulgaria.

Stage left: Elena, Guergana, Tsvetina, Galina, Inna, Evgeni
Stage right: Venci, Misha, Chavdar

22. Song from Lubomir Smilenov

  • Ръченица (Ruchenitsa)

23. Song from Petya Maglova-Shehova

  • Черешко чорна вишничко (Cherry, black cherry)

24. Буенек (Buenek)*

A female dance from Bulgaria's Strandzha (southeast) region. Buenek references the costumes worn for spring rituals.

*Performed by Algara Folk Dance Group:
Galina S., Albena, Bisera, Galina N., Iskra, Ioana, Kalina, Krasimira, Maria R., Maria B., Spassena, Tanya, Toska, Vessela P., Vessela D., Virginiya

25. Стамена (Stamena)*

A dance from the Pirin region in southwest Bulgaria.

*Performed by Algara Folk Dance Group:
Galina S., Albena, Bisera, Galina N., Iskra, Ioana, Kalina, Krasimira, Maria R., Maria B., Spassena, Tanya, Toska, Vessela P., Vessela D., Virginiya

26. Йовино (Yovino)

A dance from the Shopski region in western Bulgaria.

Stage left: Tsvetina, Venci, Elena, Jianying, Mariya, Nicole
Stage right: Evgeni, Emilia, Mihaela, Guergana

27. Петрунино (Petrunino)

A dance from the Shopski region in western Bulgaria.

Stage left: Inna, Guergana, Mihaela, Chavdar, Evgeni
Stage right: Tsvetina, Mariya, Nicole

28. Songs from Vlada Tomova / Yasna Voices

  • Бре Петрунко (Oh Petrunko)
  • Яна иде (Yana is coming)
  • Ерген Деда (Bachelor grandpa)

29. Великден (Velikden)

A dance performed as an Easter ritual ("Velikden" translates to Easter).

Venci, Galina, Elena, Emilia, Inna, Mihaela, Guergana, Tsvetina, Jianying, Mariya, Nicole, Chavdar, Evgeni

30. Край Шоплука (Kray Shopluka)

A dance from the Shopski region in western Bulgaria, close to the capital of Sofia.

1st row: Evgeni, Venci, Elena, Galina, Inna, Mihaela, Tsvetina
2nd row: Chavdar, Emilia, Guergana, Iva, Jianying, Mariya, Nicole

GORANA DANCE

  • Nicole Contreras
  • Mariya Dimitrova
  • Chavdar Dobranov
  • Evgeni Dobranov
  • Jianying Hu
  • Elissaveta Iordanova (Choreographer)
  • Iva Iordanova
  • Elena Miteva
  • Inna Ognianova-Chorlev
  • Nadia Petkova
  • Venci Petkova
  • Emilia Pironkova
  • Galina Saharova
  • Tsvetina Stoyanova
  • Guergana Stoyantcheva
  • Mihaela Stoyantcheva

Algara Folk Dance Group

  • Maria Bonevelly
  • Albena Chernaeva
  • Vessela Djogova
  • Virginiya Grigorova
  • Bisera Iliev
  • Krasimira Mladenova
  • Galina Natchev
  • Vessela Patchedjieva
  • Maria Rosenberg
  • Galina Saharova (Choreographer)
  • Iskra Simidchieva
  • Ioana Spiridonov
  • Toska Stoianova
  • Kalina Todorova-Suarez
  • Tanya Vergieva
  • Spassena Yantchev

Singers

  • Petya Maglova-Shehova
  • Hristo Shehov

Yasna Voices:

  • Vlada Tomova (Director)
  • Annie Beliveau
  • Barbara Elting
  • Larkin Grimm

Musicians

  • Lubomir Smilenov
  • Hristo Shehov

Artistic Director, Producer & Choreographer

  • Elissaveta Iordanova

Stage Manager

  • Julieta Okot

Sound and Light

  • Shino Frances

Photography

  • Blagovest Petkov

Videography

  • Alvin Caal

Video Editing

  • Manuel Ibanez

House Managers

  • Margarita Markova
  • Aneta Genova

Technical Support Assistant

  • Lily Grantcharova

Costumes & Props

  • Lily Grantcharova (Costume Assistant)
  • Emilia Pironkova (Large Wreath Design & Production)
  • Guergana Stoyantcheva (Small Head Wreath Decor)
  • Elissaveta Iordanova (Head Decor)
  • Galina Saharova (Head Decor)

Special thank you to the Hristo Botev Bulgarian school for allowing us to use some of their costumes.