Staging Turkishness: Choreographers And The Paradoxes Of Identity Politics In Socialist Bulgaria (1944–1989)
Özet
This article examines how cultural policy in socialist Bulgaria (1944-1989) shaped the emergence of professional Turkish choreography, focusing on four choreographers whose work was central to its formation. The careers of the Bulgarians Yordan (Dancho) Nikolov and Anichka Petrova, the Romani Ibrahim Ahmedov, and the Armenian Sirvart Chilingiryan illuminate the complex interplay between ideology, ethnicity, and artistic practice, while all four were of non-Turkish origin. By analyzing their biographies, repertoire choices, and choreographic strategies, the article explores how state patronage both enabled and channeled the expression of Turkish cultural forms through performances of the State Turkish Estrada (Variety) Theatres. It argues that the choreographers’ creative contributions exemplify the paradoxes of socialist cultural production: a system that imposed ideological limits while simultaneously fostering artistic innovation and a measure of cross-cultural exchange. The study situates these cases within a broader conceptual framework centered on the notion of identity politics and an identity formula – a state-imposed model linking nationality, ethnicity, and culture – through which the socialist state sought to define and regulate the identity of the Turkish community.
Referanslar
Arnaudov, G. (1961). 35 godini v slujba na narodniya tanz [35 Years in the Service of Folk Dance]. Hudozhestvena samodeynost, 12, 34–35.
Aziz, O. (2002). Canlarım Türküler, Bizim Türküler. Sofia: Lakov press.
Babishev, A. (1953, October 28). Uspehi na turskiya estraden teatar [Successes of the Turkish Estrada Theatre]. Rodopska borba, 84, 2.
Büchsenschütz, U. (2000). Maltzinstvenata politika v Bulgaria. Politikata na BKP kam evrei, romi, pomatzi, turtzi (1944-1989) [The minority politics in Bulgaria. The politics of the Bulgarian Communist Party towards Jews, Roma, Pomacs, Turks (1944-1989)]. Sofia: IMIR.
Hanesyan, O. (2014, September 30). Dokosnatata ot Bog, Sirvart Chilingiryan [The One Touched by God, Sirvart Chilingiryan]. Vahan. 8–10.
Margaritova, R. (2024). The Institutionalization of Turkish Music at the Bulgarian National Radio in the Second Half of the 20th Century. In A. Akat, L. Mellish, & N. Green (Eds.), Music and dance in Southeastern Europe: Gender, virtual communications and legacies of empires (pp. 301-309). Trabzon University / ICTMD Study Group on Music and Dance in Southeastern Europe.
Stoyanov, V. (1997). Turskoto naselenie v Bulgaria mezhdu polyusite na etnicheskata politika [The Turkish population in Bulgaria between the poles of the ethnic politics]. Sofia: Lik.
Warden, N. (2016). Ethnomusicology’s ‘Identity’ Problem: The History and Definitions of a Troubled Term in Music Research. El oído pensante 4 (2) http://ppct.caicyt.gov.ar/index.php/oidopensante [Web: 4.05.2025]
Yalamov, I. (2002). Istoria na turskata obshtnost v Bulgaria [History of the Turkish community in Bulgaria]. Sofia: Ilinda-Evtimov EOOD.
Archival Sources
CSA (Central State Archive, Bulgaria).
1945 –2000. Albumi sas snimki za vatreshnata politika – narodnostni grupi [Photo albums on domestic policy – ethnic groups]. Sofia, Bulgaria: Central State Archive, f. 720, inv. 5, a.u. 58.
1952a. Doklad za rabotata i sastoyanieto na Turskiya estraden teatar v Momchilgrad [Report on the Work and Condition of the Turkish Estrada Theatre in Momchilgrad]. Sofia, Bulgaria: Central State Archive, f. 143, inv. 8, a.u. 3.
1952b. Dokladna zapiska otnosno Reshenieto na plenuma na CK na DSNM ot 11 i 12 fevruari 1952 g., ot nachalnik otdel “Kulturno-prosvetni instituti i hudozhestvena samodeynost [Memorandum on the Resolution of the Plenum of the Central Committee of the Dimitrov Communist Youth Union (February 11-12, 1952), submitted by the Head of the Department for Cultural and Educational Institutions and Amateur Artistic Activitis]. Sofia, Bulgaria: Central State Archive, f. 143, inv. 9, a.u. 167.
1953?. Doklad ot Vera Hristova Georgieva do Nachalnika na otdel “Hudozhestvena samodeynost” KNIK [Report by Vera Hristova Georgieva to the Head of the Department for Amateur Artistic Activities, KNIK]. Sofia, Bulgaria: Central State Archive, f. 143, inv. 9, a.u. 176.
1956. Stenografski protocol ot pregleda na turskite estradni teatri, 17-20 oktomvri 1956 g. [Stenographic protocol from the review of the Turkish estrada theatres, October 17-20, 1956]. Sofia, Bulgaria: Central State Archive, f. 405, inv. 3, a.u. 43.
SA – Haskovo (State Archives – Haskovo)
1957. Otcheten doklad za ednogodishnata deynost na PPO pri Darzhavniya turski estraden teatar Haskovo prez 1957 [Annual report on the activities of the Primary Party Organization (PPO) at the State Turkish Estrada Theatre in Haskovo for 1957]. Haskovo, Bulgaria: State Archives – Haskovo, f. 12B, inv. 2, a.u. 179.
1959. Protokol ot zasedanie na PPO pri Darzhaven turski teatar, Haskovo, 7 mart 1959 [Minutes of the Meeting of the Primary Party Organization at the State Turkish Theatre, Haskovo, March 7, 1959.] Haskovo, Bulgaria: State Archives – Haskovo, f. 824B, inv. 1, a.u. 2, p. 13.
SA – Kardzhali (State Archives – Kardzhali).
1959. Svodka za sastoyanieto na kulturno-masovata rabota v Kardzhaliyski okrag kam 15 avgust 1959 [Summary of the state of cultural and mass activities in the Kardzhali district as of August 15, 1959]. Kardzhali, Bulgaria: State Archives – Kardzhali, f. 898, inv. 1, a.u. 22.
SA – Pernik (State Archives – Pernik).
n.d.a. Opisanie na tantzovi postanovki [Description of dance productions]. Pernik, Bulgaria: State Archives – Pernik, f. 993, inv. 1, a.u. 9.
n.d.b. Spomeni na Dancho Nikolov [Memoirs of Dancho Nikolov]. Pernik, Bulgaria: State Archives – Pernik, f. 993, inv. 1, a.u. 63.
1928 – 1961. Album s fotografii [Album with photographs of Dancho Nikolov]. Pernik, Bulgaria: State Archives – Pernik, f. 993, inv. 1, a.u. 56.
1949-1981. Avtobiografii [Autobiographies]. Pernik, Bulgaria: State Archives – Pernik, f. 993, inv. 1, a.u. 1.
1951-1961. Opisanie na tantzi [Descriptions of dances]. Pernik, Bulgaria: State Archives – Pernik, f. 993, inv. 1, a.u. 8.
1957 – 1962. Afishi ot postanovki s baletmaystor i horeograf Dancho Nikolov [Posters from productions staged with the participation of ballet master and choreograpfer Dancho Nikolov]. Pernik, Bulgaria: State Archives – Pernik, f. 993, inv. 1, a.u. 50.
1958-1971. Postanovka na tantzite “Ribarski” i “Tantz sas stomni” za Turskiya estraden teatar v Kolarovgrad (Shumen) [Staging of the dances “Fishermen’s Dance” and “Dance with Water Jugs” for the Turkish Estrada Theatre in Kolarovgrad (Shumen)]. Pernik, Bulgaria: State Archives – Pernik, f. 993, inv. 1, a.u. 13.
1964. Programa za II republikanski festival na darzhavnite estradni teatri na turskoto naselenie (fevruari 1964). [Program for the Second Republican Festival of the State Estrada Theatres of the Turkish Population]. Pernik, Bulgaria: State Archives – Pernik, f. 993, inv. 1, a.u. 26.
SA – Shumen (State Archives – Shumen).;
n.d. Avtobiografiya na Sirvart Sarkis Chilingiryan [Autobiography of Sirvart Sarkis Chilingiryan]. Shumen, Bulgaria: State Archives – Shumen, f. 1662, inv. 1, a.u. 1.
1952–1957. Snimki ot kontzert na Darzhavniya turski teatar – Shumen, horeografiya I postanovka – Sirvart Chilingiryan [Photos from a concert of the State Turkish Theatre – Shumen, Choreography and Production by Sirvart Chilingiryan]. Shumen, Bulgaria: State Archives – Shumen, f. 1662, inv. 1, a.u. 19.
1957-1976. Programi na teatralnite postanovki na Darzhaven turski teatar Kolarovgrad/ Shumen i Dramatichen teatar “Vasil Drumev” – estraden sastav [Programs of theatrical productions by the State Turkish Theatre Kolarovgrad/Shumen and the “Vasil Drumev” Drama Theatre – estrada ensemble]. Shumen, Bulgaria: State Archives – Shumen, f. 1819, inv. 1, a.u. 144.
1958. Informatziya za sastoyanieto i deynostta na turskiya estraden teatar, grad Kolarovgrad, prez 1958 g., do 25 septemvri 1958 g., ot direktora A. Hamdiev [Report on the condition and activities of the Turkish Estrada Theatre in the town of Kolarovgrad for the year 1958, up to September 25, 1958, by director A. Hamdiev]. Shumen, Bulgaria: State Archives – Shumen, f. 646, inv. 1, a.u. 2520.
1962. Protokol ot zasedanie na Parvichnata partiyna organizatziya pri Darzhavniya estraden teatar za turskoto naselenie, ot 11 septemvri 1962 [Minutes of the meeting of the Primary Party Organization at the State Estrada Theatre for the Turkish Population, September 11, 1962]. Shumen, Bulgaria: State Archives – Shumen, f. 472B, inv. 2, a.u. 3.
1963-1964. Struktura na Okrazhniya metodichen cabinet po hudozhestvena samodeynost pri otdel “Kultura i izkustvo” na ONS Kolarovgrad [Structure of the District Methodological Office for Amateur Artistic Activities at the Department of Culture and Arts of the District People’s Council, Kolarovgrad]. Shumen, Bulgaria: State Archives – Shumen, f. 646, inv. 6, a.u. 723, p. 13-14.
1964. Doklad za ednogodishnata deynost na Parvichnata partiyna organizatzia pri Darzhavniya estraden teatar za turskoto naselenie [Report on the one-year activity of the Primary Party Organization at the State Estrada Theatre for the Turkish Population]. Shumen, Bulgaria: State Archives – Shumen, f. 472B, inv. 2, a.u. 6.
1964-1966 Informatziya za deynostta na DETTN [Report on the activities of the State Estrada Theatre for the Turkish Population]. Shumen, Bulgaria: State Archives – Shumen, f. 646, inv. 6, a.u. 710.
2014. Spomeni na Dorche Manuelyan, Mari Takvoryan za Sirvart Chilingiryan [Memoirs of Dorche Manuelian and Mari Takvorian about Sirvart Chilingiryan]. Shumen, Bulgaria: State Archives – Shumen, f. 1662, inv. 1, a.u. 21.
