ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

National Geographic makes documentary about Kukeri masked dancers

Bansko footage to promote Bulgaria in new episode of Europe from Above
Photo: pirinsko.com

Unique photos of masked Kukeri dancers are circulating on the internet, showing the making of a National Geographic documentary filmed in the Bulgarian ski resort of Bansko. For the second week in a row, the channel's film crew is in the Bansko area. They are shooting a film about the traditions of the mountain town, which will be broadcast as part of the Europe from Above  series. The first stage of the filming took place on January 1, during the Kukeri festival, according to the Pirinsko.com website. 
Early in the morning of January 6, on the eve of Yordanovden, Kukeri dancers from all the districts of Bansko took the cable car up the mountain and "conquered the Pirin", the website reported, posting photos of the event on social networks. Perperikon
The photos were taken by photographers Alexander Tsiguriyn and Boris Kolchagov. "The Bansko Kukeri conquered the mountain and it was as if the universe unfolded to show the beauty of nature, traditions and people," the online post said.Aerial view of the Paneurhythmy dance (the white circles on the right) at the Rila lakes
Last year, Bulgaria was featured in the fourth season of Europe from Above, which shows stunning aerial views of the Old Continent. Viewers of one of the world's most watched popular science TV channels saw fantastic footage of the ancient Thracian city of Perperikon, the Sound and Light Show in Veliko Tarnovo, the mystical Paneurhythmy dance at the Seven Rila Lakes and other breathtaking aerial shots of Bulgaria. 
National Geographic has presented the Bulgarian tradition of Kukeri on other occasions. In January 2021, photographs of the masked dancers taken by Bulgarian photographer Ivo Danchev were published in the magazine in an article entitled Between Two Worlds, about masquerade rituals in Bulgaria.  Last year, Ivo explored the Kukeri's connection to animal husbandry. It's a very old and strong one! And recently he presented his latest project on the Kukeri.

Text: Veneta Nikolova
Photos by Alexander Tsiguriyn, Boris Kolchagov, Vladislav Terziiski, Ivo Danchev
Translated and posted by Elizabeth Radkova

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.
Radio Bulgaria Life    Bansko Kukeri National Geographic

More from category

Nikolay Kandilarov on the power of tea to bring people together

The unpredictable and unsettled weather this spring, with its sudden temperature changes, forced the residents of Sofia to opt for warm drinks, along with their unusually heavy clothing for the season. It was in this context that we came across Nikolay..

published on 6/7/25 8:40 AM

Children from "Abagar" Sunday School are actors in "The Spirit of the Masquerade Games"

The students of the Bulgarian "Abagar" Sunday School in Rome, Nettuno and Ladispoli will remember this year's May 31st not only because they were given their diplomas for completing the school year. The ceremony was also accompanied..

published on 6/6/25 1:10 PM

Pazardzhik hosts the 14th edition of Sunny Besapara Cheerleading Festival

540 cheerleaders will transform the town of Pazardzhik (Southern Bulgaria) into a true stage of grace, rhythm and color. Over the course of two days (June 6 and 7), talented children from 21 towns and cities across the country will demonstrate their..

published on 6/6/25 1:08 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly Cloudy
Min: 17 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 39
Partly Cloudy
Min: 22 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 39
Partly Cloudy
Min: 15 | Max: 38
Partly Cloudy
Min: 19 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 39
Partly Cloudy
Min: 14 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 41
Clear
Min: 25 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 38
Partly Cloudy
Min: 14 | Max: 34
Partly Cloudy
Min: 23 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 39
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Letters without borders – Bulgarian children from abroad took part in a reading competition in London

At the end of the past week, 53 children from 21 Bulgarian Sunday schools participated in the ninth edition of the international..

published on 6/24/25 8:42 PM

Will Bulgaria remain the EU country with the lowest fuel prices after the adoption of the Euro?

Bulgaria is the country with the lowest prices of basic fuels in the EU – petrol and diesel, data show. Yet, as the date of the expected adoption of the..

updated on 6/26/25 11:07 AM

Hiring remote teachers can help Bulgarian Sunday schools abroad

Yana Todorova is a tour guide and teacher. Since 2019, she has been a member of the Association of Tour Guides in Bulgaria, but has been working as..

published on 6/25/25 11:27 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"