Folklore dance group “Nestini” at University of Forestry, Sofia (Bulgaria) is leader in the World ranking list of folklore for 2016. Except that they won the Grand prize in the first edition of World Cup of Folklore and the Grand Prix in the VI World Championship of Folklore “World Folk” 2016, the worthy performance of the group, led by Iliyan Yordanov and Mariya Yordanova brought them enough points – 1570 in total, which help them to became the leader in the rating this year. 

Second place in the list – with 935 points is the Folklore trio “Avliga” from Dupnitsa (Bulgaria). Their art director is Rayna Hristova. Since the creation of the trio in 2012 – Diana Gradevska, Ivanka Bozhilova, Rayna Hristova and their accompanist – accordion player Ivan Naumov have taken part in all the festivals and championships in Bulgaria from the system of EAFF – the European Association of Folklore Festivals. Their excellent performances help them to finish at the top of the World ranking list of folklore this year.

In Top 3 in the list in 2016 are ranked the dancers from Ensemble for folklore dances “Bulgarani” at Association “Esnemble for folklore dances “Bulgarani” from Sofia (Bulgaria). Last year the Ensemble became National champion of folklore and this 2016 year the Ensemble took part at the V Balkan Championship of Folklore “Euro folk – Jiva voda” and in the World Cup of Folklore “Hisarya 2016”. Their performances brought them medals, diplomas, the Grand Prix of the Cup and more points in the final ranking list. 

With total 1579 points, the Ensemble “Bulgarani” is on second place in the final ranking, followed by “Nestini” with 1571 points on thirs place. The first place is for “Avliga” from Dupnitsa with 2382 points in total. The points, that the participants receive, are summed cumulatively from their participations, as every year this gives opportunity to new groups and performers to became first in the rankings. 

Until that moment in 2016, 602 groups and individual performers from tens of countries became part of the World unified system for evaluating and rating of various by ranking championships and festivals. The initiative belongs to the World Association of Folklore festivals (WAFF). The evaluation system is used only by championships and festivals authorized by WAFF and in the ranking list exist only qualified group, participated and evaluated in the folklore forums, authorized by WAFF.

You can learn more about the evaluation system at the official website of WAFF.