Katrin Taseva's Dancing Clubs

I really like this new girl on the Bulgarian team who shows lots of flexibility and lots of personality, too. Born in Plovdiv, Katrin Taseva trains in Sofia alongside another young star, Neviana Vladinova.

I think Katrin's best routine this season are definitely her clubs. I was looking for a video from this month's "Margarita Rangelova" tournament but could only find videos of Neviana from that event, so here is a recording from much earlier this year. We can see a lot of potential with her pivots, some great risks and great musicality/dancing. I like the sparkling red colors, the expression on her face and how musical accents are worked into the routine.

HUGE THANKS to Dimo Dimov for these great photographs that help me "live" the routines with this talented gymnast!

Efrossina Anguelova Will Coach the Bulgarian National Team

Iliana Reaeva, who took over the presidency of the Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation recently, after decades of Maria Gigova's leadership, announced big news last week. Efrossina Anguelova has accepted an offer as the new national coach of the Bulgarian team.

Previously, Mrs. Anguelova coached the Spanish national team and worked as a coach in the USA as well. She is the mother of another Bulgarian world champion, choreographer, stunt performer and model, Stela Anguelova (http://www.stellaangelova.com).

I would like to share a video of Mrs. Anguelova working and discuss what challenges she will face back in Bulgaria:




So, judging from the video, we have gotten ourselves a strict, serious, very motivated and intelligent national coach, who also does intense work with choreography. What does that mean:

Challenge 1: Many people on the national team, especially the girls in the group, will have to work harder. Much harder. I expect more original and more complex routines. Work ethic is not the same in Bulgaria as it is in the USA or in Spain.

Challenge 2: Many international judges and coaches may or may not like the Anguelova family, especially after Efrossina Anguelova left Spain after lots of scandal and speculation. Let's hope that they will judge without bias.

Challenge 3: People from different generations will work together now. In the past, Raeva mostly engaged coaches who were her age (born in the 1960s, or later). Although an youthful spirit can last a lifetime, differences in coaching styles remain, too. I am not saying Efrossina Anguelova is too old for this but that the Bulgarian team has worked in a different manner before.