I, (nee Stojanka Kostova Karakitukova) am from the Plovdiv area of Western Thrace, Bulgaria. I inherited my passion for traditional music and dance from my family, especially from my maternal grandmother, with whom I spent much of my childhood and every vacation. Stojana, my grandmother, was one of the four leading singers in my village, Paniceri, in the Sredna Gora region, and was a great influence on me, imbuing me with a feeling and appreciation for the songs, customs and dances of that area.

I received my diploma from the prestigious Technical High School of Civil Engineering in Plovdiv in 1974 (which just happened to have one of the best student dance ensembles on the country). My love of dance finally won out when I was accepted into the Academy of Music and Dance Arts, Plovdiv. There, I became one of the original members of, and a soloist for, eight years with the State Folk Ensemble Trakija. My interest in, and love for, Rhodope dance and music has its roots during this period, when I was the soloist in the dance "Ovcar i juda devojka".

I received my Masters Degree in Choreography, Stage Directing and Educational Arts from the Academy in 1979. In 1982, I began my career as a choreographer and researcher in the field of Bulgarian folklore and dance.

From 1982-1989, I was the Artistic Director of the Representative Performing Dance Group at the Regional Cultural Center in Plovdiv, and a chief Choreographer and Educational Advisor at the Regional Center of Arts for Children. I also designed and directed a successful 4-year experimental educational program for the inclusion of dance in the curriculum of grades 1 through 8. The Ministry of Education adopted my program, establishing Dance as a part of the Official Academic Curricula for the first time. As a result, Bulgarian folk dance now has a growing place in the curricula of many schools throughout the country.

In 1989 I returned to Ensemble Trakija as Ballet Master and as a member of the Board of Artistic Directors.

1991 - 1995 were very busy and interesting years for me. I studied journalism at the University of Sofia, directed a wide variety of large and small dance, music and fashion programs and events, was Guest Choreographer at Plovdiv's Theatre of Drama, a Lecturer at the University of Plovdiv, and wrote for Bulgarian National Television and the Plovdiv newspapers. In addition to all of this, I continued my fieldwork, with special attention to the songs, dances, costumes and customs of the Rhodopes, Trakija, and the Sredna Gora region, and in the folklore and culture of the Bulgarian Gypsies and other minorities. During my fieldwork, I worked with many interesting individuals and groups who still know the old traditions, songs and dances. All of these activities have enabled me to work with some of the best singers, dancers, and musicians in Bulgaria today.

In 1994 -1995, just prior to coming to California, I was the Stage Director and Head Choreographer for the Youth Folk Ensemble "Orpheus", Smoljan. I created a new repertoire and program for the 25^th Anniversary Concert of the Ensemble, in which 170 children from 6 to 17 years of age performed.

At Kolo Festival in 1997, I presented dances containing material I collected during my most recent research in the Rhodopes, Thrace and Sredna Gora regions of Bulgaria.

In 1998, I taught authentic Bulgarian dances at Yves Moreau's week-long 50^th Birthday celebration in Hawaii.

I have also taught at various venues throughout California.

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