Petur Iliev
Instructor and Artistic Director of the Bulgarica Dance Ensemble
Petur Iliev is a graduate of the Bulgarian National School of Music and Dance Art and a BA graduate of the National Institute of Choreography. He began his career as a soloist with the Philip Kutev State Ensemble in Sofia. Through his Dance It! program, talented dancers have received scholarships to institutions including Pacific Northwest Ballet School and School of Ballet Chicago. In 2008 he founded the Iliev Dance Art Foundation, supporting many educational dance initiatives. At Bulgarica he leads repertoire and studio programs with a focus on stagecraft, style and authenticity.
Petur Iliev was a lecturer in dance at Purdue University's Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance, where he taught semester-long ballet courses at Pao Hall. Most of his students there are engineering majors with no dance background — which, he says, is what makes the work interesting.
Yana Kopcheva
Teacher
Yana Kopcheva is a long-time teacher at the Bulgarica Dance School and the driving force behind the success of children's groups, known for their numerous performances and strong presence in the community. Her dancing career began in the ensemble Druzhba - Pleven, founded in 1967, where today the artistic director is Ivanicka Gergushka. As a performer Yana has participated in productions by leading Bulgarian folklorists and choreographers such as Dr. Kiril Djenev, Metodi Kutev, Filip Kutev, Angel Shopov and others, and has had great success with the ensemble at international festivals in a number of European countries and in Russia. She has been with Bulgarica since the school's inception and has been teaching since 2018. In her classes she develops technique, rhythm and stage presence, uses a playful approach and encourages teamwork and a love of Bulgarian folk dances from an early age.
Yana Kopcheva
Teacher
Yana Kopcheva is a long-time teacher at the Bulgarica Dance School and the driving force behind the success of children's groups, known for their numerous performances and strong presence in the community. Her dancing career began in the ensemble Druzhba - Pleven, founded in 1967, where today the artistic director is Ivanicka Gergushka. As a performer Yana has participated in productions by leading Bulgarian folklorists and choreographers such as Dr. Kiril Djenev, Metodi Kutev, Filip Kutev, Angel Shopov and others, and has had great success with the ensemble at international festivals in a number of European countries and in Russia. She has been with Bulgarica since the school's inception and has been teaching since 2018. In her classes she develops technique, rhythm and stage presence, uses a playful approach and encourages teamwork and a love of Bulgarian folk dances from an early age.
Krassimira Ganeva
Teacher
Krassimira Ganeva is a long-time participant in the Bulgarica Dance School with numerous stage appearances. In the Fall-Winter 2023 season, she started as a teacher with a group for 4 - 6 year olds and since then has been guiding the young dancers through the basics of Bulgarian folk dances and games in a playful and educational approach, encouraging posture, rhythm and teamwork. Krassimira also teaches in the adult groups bringing her warmth and charm.
Boriana Petrova
Teacher
Boryana Petrova has been a part of Bulgarica since 2016. Her dance journey began as a child in a folk group, and later she participated in productions on large stages, where she developed stage presence and discipline. In the school for a long time she assisted the educational process as Teaching Assistant in various groups and actively performs in Bulgarica Dance Ensemble.
This season Boryana does its debut with its own beginner class, which relies on a clear rhythm, clean technique and a friendly team atmosphere.
Boriana Petrova
Teacher
Boryana Petrova has been a part of Bulgarica since 2016. Her dance journey began as a child in a folk group, and later she participated in productions on large stages, where she developed stage presence and discipline. In the school for a long time she assisted the educational process as Teaching Assistant in various groups and actively performs in Bulgarica Dance Ensemble.
This season Boryana does its debut with its own beginner class, which relies on a clear rhythm, clean technique and a friendly team atmosphere.
Sensei George Georgiev-Jossi
Teacher
Sensei Georgi Georgiev - Joshi 7 Dan is one of the most senior WSKF instructors in the USA with over 40 years of experience teaching Shotokan Karate. He has traveled to Japan many times to train and follow the philosophy and style taught by Sensei Hitoshi Kasuya.
Ivo Mateev
Teacher
Teacher Ivo Mateev has a 5th degree black belt and is the founder of the N-Force Martial Art. He is an internationally certified Master and has been teaching martial arts for over 25 years, 20 of which have been in the state of Illinois. Ivo Mateev has been a five-time national champion of Bulgaria, an internationally certified coach, and a judge teaching classes in traditional and Olympic sparring taekwondo, which includes groups ages 5 and older. Teacher Ivo Mateev creates a positive, supportive environment where students of all ages and abilities achieve success!
Ivo Mateev
Teacher
Teacher Ivo Mateev has a 5th degree black belt and is the founder of the N-Force Martial Art. He is an internationally certified Master and has been teaching martial arts for over 25 years, 20 of which have been in the state of Illinois. Ivo Mateev has been a five-time national champion of Bulgaria, an internationally certified coach, and a judge teaching classes in traditional and Olympic sparring taekwondo, which includes groups ages 5 and older. Teacher Ivo Mateev creates a positive, supportive environment where students of all ages and abilities achieve success!