2500 amateurs and professionals from 80 dance schools and schools from Bulgaria, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Malta and Romania will compete for the awards of the eighth edition of the International Dance Competition MOVMNT - Ruse, 2024.

One of the most prestigious dance events in the country will be held on April 6 and 7. The organizer is the eponymous non-profit organization (MOVMNT International Dance Competition) and the partner of the event is Ruse Municipality.

14 judges from Bulgaria, Belgium, Italy, Malta, Romania, Russia, Hungary and France will evaluate the participants. Chairman of the judging panel is Tsvetanka Gerginova.
"MIDC is more than a dance competition. Our unique environment provides an opportunity to demonstrate the mental and physical discipline that is necessary to be a dancer, while encouraging the exceptional confidence that is needed to be a performer. Year after year, our team is ready to inspire dancers and create memories for life. Let's build the dancers of tomorrow today," the organizers share.

For connoisseurs of dance art from Ruse and the guests of the city is provided free access to the Great Hall of the Dokhodno Zdanie on both days from 8:00 to 21:00.

The first competition program on April 6 includes dance styles from classical ballet and neoclassical, to characteristic dances, jazz and contemporary and lyricle. On April 7, the jury will evaluate the mastery of the dancers in the styles: Modern, Acro Dance, MTV, Urban and K Pop.

In addition to cash prizes, the best dancers will also receive financially secured invitations to participate in prestigious international competitions and master classes in Europe and the United States.

The graduate of the Sports School "Major Atanas Uzunov" Valentin Mutafov, who is also a competitor of the Ruse volleyball club "Dunav", received from the mayor Pencho Milkov the award "Sportsman of the Month".

"You are an example for the young citizens of Ruse how with hard work, perseverance and dedication such impressive results are achieved. The award is also for your coaches who have believed in you and day after day build your individuality to remain purposeful and continue to conquer new peaks, "the mayor congratulated him and wished him much success.

The 12th grader is part of the team that won the Cup of Bulgaria Premier League in January, and at the end of March triumphed in the National Volleyball Premier League.

Valentin is a native of Popovo and has been practicing volleyball since the second grade. His desire is to be part of the selection of the team that will represent the city in the upcoming matches in the Super League.

The award ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Mayor for Sports and Youth Activities Borislav Rachev, the Director of ME "Sports Properties" Lachezar Ivanov and the Director of the Sports School "Major Atanas Uzunov" Evgeni Nedev.

At a press conference at the Regional Information Center - Ruse (RIC -Ruse) today was presented project No BG16RFTA001-1. 006-0003-C01 "Regional Information Center - Ruse" worth BGN 999,007. 80, which is a 100% grant with beneficiary Ruse Municipality, funded by the Technical Assistance Program.

Zlatomira Stefanova - Deputy Mayor in charge of "International Programs and Projects, Investments and Property" and Project Manager RIC -Ruse, opened the meeting with the main topic "The functioning of the Regional Information Center - Ruse is ensured until the end of 2029". "Ruse Municipality is among the top three municipalities in the country with approved projects for providing grants for the activities of the RIC. The information is extremely dynamic and valuable in our time and therefore I believe that the activity of the information center is of utmost importance for the successful implementation of European projects in the region, "said Stefanova.

The manager of the center Diana Avramova introduced the participants to the activities in the new project and focused on the new moments. "Through the implementation of the activities set out in the RIC -Ruse project, over the next six years the Center will continue to work to raise public awareness on the territory of Ruse District about the funding opportunities as well as the results achieved in projects co-financed by ESIF and EFSF, will support the implementation of the integrated territorial approach on the territory of Ruse District and will continue to work for a higher degree of transparency and accountability in terms of European programs," Avramova said.

The center employs 4 experts who daily inform citizens, businesses, NGOs and other stakeholders about the opportunities offered by European funds and the results of the projects that are implemented on the territory of Ruse region.

The team strives to raise awareness and capacity of potential beneficiaries.

As part of the network of 27 regional information centers, the RIC - Ruse is one of the factors contributing to the successful implementation of the programs in the past and current programming period. The RIC  also supports the process of implementing the integrated territorial approach in Bulgaria. The employees of the Information Center in Ruse participate in the expert staff of the Regional Development Council of the North Central Region in its mediation and public consultation units. By a decision of the Council of Ministers, the RIC  is also defined as a one-stop shop for providing information and supporting the application under the energy efficiency procedures.

Timely, accessible and useful information about the activities of RIC -Ruse can be found on the center's Facebook page - https://www. facebook. com/OICRuse.

Mayor Pencho Milkov met with the team of the State Puppet Theater - Ruse, which a few days ago won two IKAR awards at the national ceremony for awarding theatrical awards for his performance "Yasen and Omaya".

"I have the honor to congratulate you on the consecutive awards you have won with your talent not only for you as a team, but for all of us - the citizens of Ruse. The award on behalf of Ruse Municipality is a recognition of what you do for the cultural life of our hometown", said Pencho Milkov.

As a sign of gratitude, the mayor awarded the director of the State Puppet Theater – Ruse Temenuga Haralanova with a plaque of Ruse Municipality.

The theater assured that they will continue to invest enthusiasm and energy in the creation of interesting performances for the audience.

The Ruse play "Yasen and Omaya", based on the motifs of the fairy tale "Unborn Maiden", received the audience award at the 50th anniversary edition of the IKAR Awards at the National Theater "Ivan Vazov" was held, and Natalia Gocheva was awarded for scenography in the category "Achievement in puppetry".

On the pontoon of "Dunav Tours" at the Ruse pier docks the first cruise ship for the season 2024."River Adagio'' runs on the Vienna-Danube Delta line and carries 145 American tourists.

"We expect tourists and as every year Ruse Municipality will assist for a successful season. We are particularly pleased that in recent years passengers are getting off in December, when they can visit Ruse during the Christmas markets, which obliges us to provide a better tourist product, "said Deputy Mayor Zlatomira Stefanova, who congratulated the team of "Dunav Tours", the crew of the ship and the tourists. The Tourism Unit provided brochures "Enjoy every minute in Ruse", from which foreign guests can get information about the tourist sites in the vicinity.

The passengers were welcomed with honey, bread and colorful salt, as well as with Bulgarian folk music, and received traditional Bulgarian products. After the mooring of the ship, they were given the opportunity to visit Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi or to take advantage of a walking tour of the central part of Ruse.