Bitola, 23 March 2026 (MIA) — Bitola's Ilinden folk song and dance ensemble opened its international concert season with a performance at the International Folklore Festival in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, MIA's Bitola correspondent reports.

According to the ensemble's leader Aleksandar Stefanovski, the performance earned a long ovation from the audience.

"At Veliko Tarnovo, we are performing alongside folklore groups from Poltava, Ukraine; Bursa, Turkiye; Nish, Serbia; Budapest, Hungary; and our Veliko Tarnovo hosts," Stefanovski said. 

He added that the ensemble performed a variety of traditional Macedonian music, featuring its "Moshtenski sobor" choreography as well as dances from the Maleshevo region and Lerinsko Pole.

The visit to Veliko Tarnovo marks the start of a busy international touring schedule for Bitola's Ilinden group, the city's oldest folk song and dance ensemble. mr/