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A native of Dojrenci, a village in the Loveč region of north central Bulgaria, Yuliyan Yordanov was raised by his grandparents and learned dancing at a young age. A graduate
of the acclaimed Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, he worked professionally as a dance director, choreographer, and Bulgarian folk dance instructor beginning in 1993. He and his students participated in many concerts, celebrations, and international festivals throughout Bulgaria and the rest of Europe. In May 1995, they were selected to appear on Channel One of Bulgarian National Television.
In 1997, Yuli was honored with an invitation to attend the traditional annual party for teachers of folklore and culture hosted by the president of Bulgaria.
Since moving to the U.S., Yuli has taught Bulgarian dancing primarily in the Midwest, including the Door County Folk Festival in Wisconsin; the Autumn Leaves Festival in Nashville, Tennessee; the Appleton IFD Dance Weekend in Wisconsin; and the Balkanske Igre Spring Festival in Chicago, Illinois.
In Chicago, he leads the dance groups Nashencheta and Mitronija of Sveta Sophia Bulgarian Orthodox Church. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he is a choreographer for the Na Lesa Bulgarian Folk Dance Ensemble.
For two years he served as choreographer of the younger group of St. Sava Junior Dancers at the Serbian Cultural Center. He has also choreographed regional Bulgarian dance suites for Ensemble Narodno in Madison, Wisconsin.
As a musician, Yuli performs vocals and plays the tupan and tambura with Malo Selo folk ensemble in Madison and is the vocalist and tupan player for the Balkan folk music ensemble Veseliyka.
Dances Yuli has taught include
Brezovska Râčenica,
Dermansko Horo,
Doyrenska Râčenica,
Louduhtuh,
Loveško Gankino Horo,
Radoyčovata,
Ripni Kalinke,
Široka Devyatka,
Sirtaki po Loveški,
and
Jambolsko Trite Pâti.
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