Erica Perales came from faraway Argentina and managed to conquer the hearts of the participants in the 1^stFestival of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad. During the event in Veliko Tarnovo, she performed in a unique way one of the most popular Bulgarian folk songs from the Rhodope Mountains – "Izlel e Delyo haidutin".

The fact that the young lady does not speak Bulgarian made her performance even more captivating and provoked us to learn more about her and the reason she is in Bulgaria:

"The main purpose of my trip to Bulgaria was to study. In my city /Comodoro Rivadavia/ we have got a Bulgarian association called ‘Cyril and Methodius’. I am one of the dance teachers for children and adults in it and I am also part of the Bulgarian folklore music group of the association,” Erica Perales tells Radio Bulgaria. “I had no plans to participate in festivals, but I would say that from the moment I stepped in Bulgaria, the trip has transformed.

One of the marvelous things that happened was the opportunity to be part of this festival of Bulgarians from abroad in Veliko Tarnovo. I didn't know what to expect from it, but I went with the idea of being able to have conversation with people like me who don't live in Bulgaria, but do what they can to preserve its culture and traditions."

Erica is happy that she has already made many new friends, as all the Bulgarians she meets during her stay in Bulgaria are extremely friendly.

She also told us also about the reason why she chose "Izlel e Delyo haidutin":

"It was actually a request. Three years ago, the Bulgarian ambassador to Argentina, Stoyan Mihaylov, heard me singing in a city in Argentina. When we finished, he came and said that I should sing the song ‘Izlel e Delyo haidutin’. I told him that this was the most difficult song ever and he shouldn't ask me to do something like this. But he reassured me that it was not a problem and that I just had to adapt it and make it my own. I know that it is difficult not only because of the vocal technique that you need to have, but also because of the fact that it is deeply attached to Bulgarian traditions and music. Therefore, if I was going to perform it, I had to do it with the highest respect. So, I made it my own, I didn't try to copy anyone and I sing it with my heart.”

Erica owes her connection to Bulgaria to her paternal great-grandparents, who arrived in Argentina in 1922. However, she knows almost nothing about her ancestors, except for their names - Shipka and Anto, as well as the information that they are from the village of Gorni Lom, located in Northwestern Bulgaria.

"I have been part of the Bulgarian association in Comodoro Rivadavia, established in 1989. Although my mother is not a descendant of Bulgarians, she is very committed to the association and helps me a lot with preparing the food and preparing for the various events, which my father always attends. My mother is a hairdresser and my father is a fisherman by profession. The two of them have their own garden, where they grow all the fruit and vegetables you can imagine, as well as chickens."

Erica's parents, as well as her friends, are among the participants in Polya Stancheva's film "And They Reached the End of the World", which tells the story of Bulgarian immigrants to a distant land:

"She wanted to do an interview with me, but while we were making arrangements, she asked if she could come home and ask my parents some questions as well. I asked them and they were very happy that they could be part of the film. I am certainly very proud of them and especially my father, because he doesn't talk a lot, but he relaxed and talked about beautiful memories of his childhood and his grandparents. That's why it was great that she gave him the opportunity to tell his story."

Erica even found friends on the Bulgarian research ship "Sts. Cyril and Methodius", which docked at the port in the city on its way to Antarctica. The meeting with the Bulgarian polar explorers was a very special moment for Erica, because it was an occasion for her folklore group to perform its repertoire in front of Bulgarian audience, which is accompanied by unforgettable emotion.

Spontaneous and charming, Erica did not forget to thank the team of Radio Bulgaria for the opportunity to tell her story, as well as all the people who in one way or another have shown interest in the guardians of Bulgarian traditions in Argentina:

"It is very important for me that people know about our association, that we are there and that we are descendants of Bulgarians, that we have Bulgarian blood. I want to thank the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad for the opportunity to attend singing and drum lessons, as well as the person who helped me make this trip possible – Hristo Krusharski."

Author: Yoan Kolev

Publication in English: Alexander Markov

Photos: Yoan Kolev, personal archive of Erica Perales, Facebook/ Eru Perales, Facebook/ Asociación Búlgara, BTA, Assen Velikov