Lost in Plovdiv

Photo credit: Verginiya Atanasova (@virginia_viva)

Spotlight: USA - A Platform of American Dance in Bulgaria

“SPOTLIGHT: USA,” a platform of American dance in Bulgaria, will feature U.S. dance companies in performances in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from March 26-28, 2018. SPOTLIGHT will introduce American dance companies to international dance professionals, increase cultural exchange and appreciation between the U.S. and Bulgaria, provide opportunities for American dance to be seen and embraced by international audiences, and lay the groundwork for sustained collaboration among the numerous countries that will attend.

Performances will be presented in four venues throughout Plovdiv, the 2019 European Capital of Culture. American Dance Abroad, ONE DANCE WEEK and ONE Foundation for Culture and Arts are closely collaborating on the project and together will invite and host 50+ international programmers from approximately 30 countries to attend the event.

26-28 March

27th March

Jazztory 5th anniversary - Jim Hall

On the occasion of its 5th anniversary, Jazztory will present one of the most important jazz guitarists who has continuously perfected his style for 5 decades - Jim Hall. Probably the most lyrical jazz guitarist in history with extremely soft and rich tone. His improvisations often sound like written compositions - purposeful, balanced, with very brightly outlined melodic motifs and unexpected for jazz guitar expression, no compulsion. Jim Hall plays and composes in absolutely all jazz genres, so it's going to be hard to present him in just one concert, but we'll try. To put on his very heavy and long improvisation robe, will be the most ambitious young guitar player on the Bulgarian stage - Alexander Lozogarov.

Bee Bop Café
9.30 pm

28th March

From Vienna and Constantinople. Ethnography of the city

In connection with the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2018, the Regional Museum of History - Ruse and the Regional Ethnographic Museum - Plovdiv have prepared an interesting look at the post-liberation reality in the big Bulgarian cities. European cultural influences and fashion trends reach from Vienna to Ruse on the Danube and to Plovdiv from Constantinople.

At the end of the 19th century, Plovdiv and Ruse were the main economic drivers of the young Bulgarian state, and the effect of the created wealth also reflected on the way of life of their inhabitants. The adoption of practices from Modernity is the result of the influence of two empires whose capitals have become symbols for the Balkan countries. You will learn with whom and how our ancestors measured, how they started to build their cities and homes in the restored Bulgarian state, how they entertained themselves, what they had to eat and what clothes and accessories they wore.

The exhibition will be open for visits to REM - Plovdiv until 28 June 2018, and then will be presented at RHM - Ruse.

Regional Ethnographic Museum - Plovdiv
6 pm

Meetup with Meik Wiking

Meik Wiking arrives in Bulgaria to reveal the little secrets of happiness gathered from all over the world.

Meik Wiking: "My job as Executive Director of the Copenhagen Institute of Happiness Studies is to measure, formulate and create happiness."

Cultural Center Trakart
6 pm

29th March

Language Cafe - March 2018

With the onset of the spring flowers are blooming, the sunny days stop being such a luxury, and we become more energetic and positive. That's why we’ll celebrate the beginning of the longer days in our favorite Bar CRAFT. That's right folks! We have a new place for our lovely Cafe! And with that in mind, we have prepared for you a "walk in nature" - a team game aimed to get you to know some famous places while we meet new people at the same time.

What can #LanguageCafe give to you:
- An opportunity to practice foreign languages with native speakers
- Many new contacts and friendships with young and energetic people
- Never-to-be-forgotten experience
- An opportunity to learn more about JCI Plovdiv and how you can become part of the positive change in our city.

Bar CRAFT
8 pm