101 KABA GAIDI NY is a project of Young Bulgarian Voices NY.
It started in October 2013 with the goal to teach and create awareness about the art of playing the traditional Bulgarian KABA GAIDA and TUPAN, not only through the Bulgarian community in New York City, but also among the wide audience in the tri-state area and the entire United States. We have played at Golden Festival every year from 2015 to 2020. Come play with us!
The Kaba Gaida (Bulgarian Bagpipe) is an aerophone musical instrument, from the Rhodope Mountains. It is larger and lower pitched than the Djura Gaida.
We hope that soon the number of our KABA GAIDA players will reach the ambitious number of 101. And after that, if we have to… we will change the name – to The 1001 KABA GAIDI – NY.
Kaba Gaida Class – beginners and advanced groups meets every Sunday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We play for dancing every week after class when we are able to meet at the school on 93rd Street in Manhattan. Currently we are meeting online.
In 2020 101 Kaba Gaidi and Tapani performed at wonderful Golden Festival for the sixth straight year. Both our Kaba Gaida teachers were there this year – Kiril Ketev our current teacher and his son Nedyalko Ketev our original teacher.
We also played the year at the Hungarian House for all the dancers. It’s on East 81st in Manhattan.
Here we are playing for the Kukeri! This is at our Surva festival in Manhattan for the Battery Park City Authority.
We play and dance together at school after classes
101 Kaba Gaidi and Tupani the Bulgarian Cultural Center of PA in 2017
101 Kaba Gaidi and Tupani at the Hungarian House in 2017
101 Kaba Gaidi & Tupani NY performing at the Zlatne Uste Golden festival January 17, 2015
At the 9th Avenue International Food Festival Manhattan with Bosilek Bulgarian Folkdance Ensemble, 2014.
Our Gaida teacher Nedyalko Ketev playing at the 1st meeting of 100 Kaba Gaidi New York at our old school on 50th Street in Manhattan.
Jam session Gaida (Nedyalko Ketev) and Drums (Dimitar Dimitrov) during Gaida Class