Guest Artists Winter Weekend 2026

“Live” on zoom from Plovdiv, Bulgaria, exclusively for Stockton Winter Weekend!

• Jaap Leegwater, Bulgarian dances
• Angel Nazlâmov accordionist
• Dinka Nazlâmova, singer
• Lubomir Leegwater, sound and video engineer
• Dimitâr Petrov, logistic support, dance studio and guest teaching

Jaap Leegwater is known worldwide for his fun teaching and having introduced dances including Karamfil, Dobrudžanska Pandela, and Mari Marijko. He began his dance career in the Netherlands, where he earned one of his degrees in international folk dance, specializing in Bulgarian folk dance and choreography. Jaap studied at the State Choreographer’s school in Sofia and Plovdiv, living there for two years; he regularly returns to Bulgaria to update his studies and make new recordings.

Accompanying Jaap will be accordionist Angel Nazlâmov from Plovdiv Bulgaria. He is no stranger to many folk dancers throughout North America. At the invitation of the Center “New Jersey” he attended a seminar together with Bulgarian folklorist and dance teacher Daniela Ivanova in 2003. After that they went on a teacher tour together in the USA. More invitations followed again in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012.

In 2012 Angel accompanied Jaap’s dance classes for the first time at the EEFC Balkanalia Weekend in Oregon. They have been friends ever since and meet regularly when Jaap is visiting his son Lubomir (who now lives in Bulgaria) and the Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv. Angel was born on July 22, 1964, in the village of Dalbok Izvor, Bulgaria. He started playing the accordion when he was 12 years old, and graduated from the Shiroka Luka Music School in 1986.

Angel started his professional career as “co-répétiteur” (rehearsal musician) with Ensemble “Trakia” and the “School for dance ensemble leaders” in Plovdiv Bulgaria. That is the same school Jaap graduated from when he lived and studied in Bulgaria. Mr. Nâzlamov founded the orchestra “Slavyani” in 1987, of which his wife Dinka Nazlâmova is the lead singer. They are one of the most popular folk orchestras in Bulgaria, and in great demand at many weddings and local “sâbors” (seasonal folklore festivals).

In addition Angel is a long time staff member and teacher at the Stambolijski Chitalishte (Cultural Center). As a recording artist Angel recorded for Daniela’s teaching CD’s, with his own orchestra Slavyani in Bulgaria, and on Bulgarian TV and YouTube.

In his two classes with Angel, Jaap will introduce all new material that he learned and collected in Bulgaria during his frequent stays there in the past 2 years.

Jaap and Angel’s Bulgarian Zoom team:

Dinka Nâzlamova, singer

Together with her husband Angel Mrs. Nâzlamova founded the orchestra “Slavyani” in 1987. They are one of the most popular folk orchestras in Bulgaria, and in great demand at many weddings and local “sâbors” (seasonal folklore festivals). Dinka graduated from folk musical school in Široka Lâka, in the Rhodopes and is nationwide known for her Strandža and Trakiiski singing styles.

Lubomir Leegwater, sound engineer and technical support

“Lubo”, graduated with degrees in the Netherlands. Law at the University of Amsterdam) and Jazz Piano at the Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv, Bulgaria (AMTII). He is a very gifted and all round musician (guitar, piano and bass) , sound engineer and composer, and has issued his own recordings on both Spotify and I-tunes. Recently he performs with a small combo in several jazz clubs in Plovdiv.

As the son of his two dancing parents, Jaap Leegwater & Nina Kavardjikova he was brought up in the world of Bulgarian music and dance , camps and workshops. He also played and recorded on some of Jaap’s teaching CD’s with the “Jan Wollring Kvartetten” in The Netherlands.

Dimitâr Petrov camera and logistical support

“Mitko” is a dancer and graduate of the Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv, Bulgaria (AMTII) and dances professionally with State Ensemble “TRAKIA” in Plovdiv. He conducts his own weekly dances classes in Plovdiv and also teaches internationally in many European countries and Asia. Mr. Petrov in known by many folk dances for his Friday dance classes on-line on Facebook and YouTube. Thanks to him we are able to use the dance hall of his dance club. Mitko will also appear as a special guest in Jaap’s workshops at Stockton Winter Camp and will teach 2 dances.

YouTube Links:
View Аngel Nazlâmov playing here
Video of Angel with his orchestra “Slavyani” here
Listen to the entire “Автограф” CD here
Read all the CD Details here

Richard has taught 101 dances at Stockton Camp, and counting these Winter Weekends, is returning to teach at Stockton for the nineteenth time since 1988.

Richard is currently a dance historian and social dance instructor at Stanford University’s Dance Division. His focus since 1975 has been the research and reconstruction of American and European social dance forms, working from a personal collection of over 2,500 historic dance manuals. He is one of the world’s foremost experts in American social dance, noted for his workshops in Paris, Rome, Prague, London, Venice, Vienna, Geneva, Seville, Edinburgh, 22 dance workshops in Russia, and 25 teaching trips to Tokyo, as well as leading workshops across the U.S. and Canada.

Richard has choreographed folk and vintage dance suites for many major companies, including AMAN Folk Ensemble, the Ethnic Dance Theatre of Minneapolis, the BYU Folk Ensemble, Ahmet Lüleci’s Collage Dance Ensemble in Boston, Westwind, the Narodno Folk Dance Ensemble, and the Beseda Dance Theatre in Prague. A few years ago, Richard was invited by Buckingham Palace to see the waltz quadrille that he was asked to choreograph for the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth commented that she loved it.

Besides Stockton Folk Dance Camp, Richard has taught at many of the major dance workshops and camps, including Mainewoods, Pinewoods, the National Folk Dance Federation of Japan, several of California’s Statewide Festivals, Idyllwild, the Flurry Festival, Texas Camp, Mendocino Folklore Camp, and Buffalo Gap, as well as many regional folk dance groups.

Shmulik Gov-Ari is a choreographer, master teacher, and prolific creator in the Israeli folk-dance world, known for dances that combine deep ethnic roots with contemporary musical and rhythmic sensibilities.

Shmulik was born in Nahariya to an Orthodox Yemenite Jewish family and grew up immersed in Yemenite rhythmic tradition. He cites the pulsating rhythm of the tarbuka as a central influence on his choreographic voice and developed formative multicultural experience performing as a teenager with the Beit Hagefen Israeli Folk Dance Group in Acco.

Shmulik has choreographed well over 300 dances that draw on traditional melodies, modern compositions, and stories of Israeli life. Several of his dances have become widely adopted in the international Israeli folk-dance repertoire. His work often highlights strong rhythmic drive, clear musical phrasing, and an expressive fusion of Middle Eastern and Israeli folk movement idioms.

Shmulik teaches and leads workshops at camps, festivals, and communities worldwide. He is widely appreciated for a warm, engaging teaching style that emphasizes musicality, accessible technique, and the cultural context behind each dance.

Shmulik’s choreography is characterized by rhythmic clarity, memorable motifs, and an ability to translate complex musical textures into dances that are approachable for social and camp settings. His dances continue to be taught, recorded, and danced internationally, contributing significantly to the living tradition of Israeli folk dance.

Tanya Dimitrov’s journey into the world of dance began at age six in the village of Peturch, Bulgaria, where traditional music and movement were woven into daily life. Inspired by her father, Dimitar Naydenov—a respected dancer and guardian of village traditions—Tanya developed a lifelong passion for Bulgarian folklore. Her early training at the local cultural center laid the foundation for a career dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich heritage of Bulgarian dance.

She graduated from the prestigious National School of Dance Arts in Sofia with a specialization in Bulgarian folk dance, and later earned multiple advanced degrees: an MFA in Dance from the Academy of Music, Dance, and Fine Arts in Plovdiv, an MFA in Dance and an MA in Creative Enterprise and Cultural Leadership from Arizona State University, and a Master’s in Business Economics from the University of Plovdiv.

Tanya’s professional career launched in Turkey, where she performed with renowned companies such as Hurrem Sultan Dance Company, Magic You Ney Dance Company, Sultans of Anatolia, Akademus, and Kolours of Turkey. Her solo and lead performances have taken her across the globe—from China and Canada to Switzerland and the Netherlands—earning her acclaim for both technical precision and expressive storytelling.

Now based in Phoenix, Arizona, Tanya continues to teach and choreograph, blending traditional Bulgarian forms with contemporary pedagogy. She founded the dance group Balkanik, which brings together dancers of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate Bulgarian culture. Her workshops emphasize not only movement but the cultural narratives behind each dance, making her a beloved instructor among both beginners and seasoned folk dancers.

Will has the honor this year of putting together our house band, Orkestar Unbound, for the sixth year in a row! Will is a multi-instrumentalist who is drawn to play music w/o borders, that will get people on their feet, dancing!

Orkestar Unbound will once again be hanging out together at the Cope-a-cabana, eating, drinking, talking and best of all, getting to play music for your dancing pleasure, live! See musician page for the list of Orkestar Unbound band members.

Please see Cope-A-Cabana and Kolo Festival for more info about what he’s up to!
Want an Orkestar Unbound t-shirt? Buy t-shirts and swag here.
Visit Will’s website for Balkan Noyz Boyz CDs, Orkestar Unbound swag, and lots of other free stuff!