Ivan Stoyanov Donev was born on December 6, 1941 in the village of Topchii, Razgrad region. In 1960 he graduated from the national course for choreographers in Sofia with Metodi Kutev, after which he graduated from the State Choreographic School as a private student. In 1986 he graduated from the National Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv with a degree in Choreographic Directing with Prof. Kiril Dzhenev and Prof. Petar Lukanov.
Since 1960 he has been the Chief Artistic Director and choreographer of the Naiden Kirov Folk Dance Theater in Ruse. Ivan Donev has created more than 48 dance productions not only for the Naiden Kirov Folklore Dance Theater, but also for many folklore ensembles throughout Bulgaria. He has also performed as a director at the National Dance Theater of the Netherlands.
Ivan Donev is an honorary citizen of Ruse, holder of the Order "St. St. Cyril and Methodius ”first, second and third degree, at the Golden Lyre and Crystal Lyre Awards, awarded by the Union of Music and Dance Artists in Bulgaria, as well as at the Ruse Award for Outstanding Contribution to Culture. Apart from the field of folklore, he works in other genres.
He is the director of the dances in the opera "Crazy Guide" by Parashkev Hadjiev on the stage of the Ruse Opera, and in the State Theater "Sava Ognyanov" he participates in the production of "The Herakles" by Elin Pelin.
Ruschukliiska Suita
choreography Ivan Donev, music Ivan Penchev,
performance: Dance Ensemble "Hem", Plovdiv
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