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Milen Zhivkov Petrov
 Milen Petrov, one of the most prominent dancers of Bulgarian dancing art, was born in Sofia. He graduated from the State Choreographic School (now NUTI), in the specialty of classical dance. During the nine years of education he has had the fortune to get in touch with a highly acclaimed creativeness and professionalism and immense talent, with pedagogues – colossi in the Bulgarian ballet dance. The names of Kr. Koldamova, Ivan Trifonov and Rumen Rashev can be mentioned. He received his first breath of the hall with K. Bogoeva, as well as with Lili Beron, who preceded them, her partner Krum Yankov and Petar Koldamov.
By coincidence of the circumstances, before having got the diploma yet, he had already worked at the State Ballet Arabesque, the largest company in the country for modern and experimental dance performances. Under the management of the remarkable Bulgarian choreographer Маrgarita Arnaudovа, he made his first steps as a professional actor-ballet-dancer. He danced in „Spring Sacrament” by Stravinsky, „Once More About Love” and „Bolero” by Ravel, where he was partner to the troupe stars Rumyana Markova, Antonia Dokeva, and later on also to Teodora Stefanova, in the „Adagio” with the music by Maller and the choreography by V. Jevetski, which spectacle had been performed by a number of ballet-dancer generations, in the last spectacle thoroughly implemented by М. Аrnaudovа, „The Root Deeply In The Sky” with the music by М. Leviev, Т. Spasov, М. Kolarov and Y. Ibrahimovа, remaining as national heritage in the history of the Bulgarian choreography. Afterwards under the guidance of K. Bogoeva Milen Petrov danced in the debut choreographic spectacles of Rumyana Markova – „Amour’s Jokes”, created after the work „Brothel”, and „Children of Light” after The Four Seasons by А. Vivaldi, in „Zunа” by А. Dokevа, with authentic Bulgarian music, which had won the prize for choreography at the first edition of the choreography competition, named after М. Аrnaudovа in 1995. He worked also as assistant to „the outlaw” in the Bulgarian choreography Маrgarita Gradachlievа for the spectacle „Оstinatо”, with the music by maestro М. Goleminov, which earned the prize for choreography in 1997 at the second edition of the same competition, set up by the Associate Prof. К. Bogoevа. In „Crossing Space” with proprietary music by Georgi Arnaudov and Asen Avramov, a spectacle of Mila Iskrenova, with whom he had in fact already worked in the independent dance company of Krasen Krastev, „Аmarant Dance Studiо”, for the spectacle „The Salvation Mozart”, with the music by the composer of genius. In the same company we created shows with music by the duo “Tibetan Hearts”, which is emblematic for the new Bulgarian music. Milen Petrov worked with the young theatrical director Ivan Panteleev for the spectacle „ Dr. Faust” with the participation of Marius Kurkinski, Asya Ivanova and Desa Krasova (now Kasiel Nua Asher) and managed later to invite the choreographers Anna Williams and David Warring from the London Ricochet Dance Company and, together with the choreographies of Teodora Popova, Lilia Stefcheva-Kirilova and Mila Iskrenova, as well as the talented scenographer Elena Ivanova, to make the show „Attraction”.
At „Аrabesque” Rumyana Markova invited the renowned Belgian ballet-dancer and ballet-master Luc Boui to stage especially for him and his magnificent partner Konstantina Hanjieva, the masterpiece „My Angel” with the music by Philip Glace, as well as „The Island”, where he had a successful partnership with Teodora Stefanova. A year later he left „Arabesque” and began working with the independent choreographer from Berlin, Be van Wark, on the project „Homo Xerox – Rank Sapiens”, with the proprietary music of Paul James Hins, Daniel Dacks, in the „drum and bass” style. He was invited thereafter to participate in the show „A never ending story” by Galina Borisova, dedicated to the Russian emigrants of the past century, and presented within the programme of the Airwaves Festival - Аmsterdam 1998. We went on working together also for the spectacle „Ataraxia” with the proprietary music of Ricard Borgard of Sweden, produced by Grand Theatre Groeningen (The Netherlands), where the première shows took place, too, after which has been presented it also before the Berlin audience at Sophien Zaale, and also at the Polish festival Sylesion Dance in Bytom and Krakow.
Returning to the native Sofia, the choreographer Boryana Sechanova, the then and current director of „Arabesque”, invited him to the shows „The Birds” after the ancient Greek comedy by Aristophanes, and „3/4 Moon” after Viennese waltzes, with choreographers B. Sechanova, М. Iskrenova, О. Pantikina and Zh. Zhelyazkov. With those shows he made a very successful tour in Spain and Portugal. He was furthermore guests to the Paris festival, where he presented also the quartet of Оlesya Pantikinа „On the tracks of...”, with the music of Samuel Barber, and also „Softer, Sunnier and Windier” by Rosen Mihaylov, after the unforgettable old urban popular tunes by Аsparuh Leshnikov. Milen Petrov danced also in the mega spectacle „Aida” presented at Stade du France on Paris, and at Arena Auf Schalke in Germany, with the participation of cosmopolitan opera stars, under the choreography of Krzysztov Pastor.
Then came the show „The Bathroom-The Personal Space” by Olesya Pantikina, which was filmed by the director Yordan Jumaliev, as were also filmed the already mentioned „Zunа”, „Amour’s Jokes”, „Softer, Sunnier and Windier”, „On the tracks of...”, as well as „The Dog’s Hour”, began by M. Arnaudova and completed by her daughter О. Pantikinа, the shows of М. Iskrenova ”Cold Ash” and „Coral Lips”, with the music by P. Gerov
By invitation of Boryana Sechanova, from the London Random Company arrived Odette Hughes, who staged with the Arabesque Company the masterly choreography of Wayne McGregor “Aeon”, with the music by Marain Marais.
From Paris was invited Christian Bakalov, who created the show „Who Says Who”, with the proprietary music by Ivaylo Milenkov, and the première was held on stage of the National Opera House in Sofia.
Two productions of the charming Australian Liz Lea (UK) followed, staged in two consecutive seasons.,”Duality” with the music by Astor Piazzola, and „Seen and Unseen” with the music by DJ Liberty & DJ BC.
From New York arrived Roger Jeffrey and created the spectacle „Sequences” with the music by Lumumba Leon Raynolds 8 Ryuchi Sakamoto.
During the next season Milen Petrov was soloist in the spectacle „Carmina Burana” of Carl Orff, created by Boryana Sechanova, jointly with Tsvetanka Petkova–Stoinova, costume designer , which in 2005 and 2006 was successfully presented on many stages in the USA with chorus, orchestra and soloists.
Simultaneously with his work at Arabesque, he received invitations from choreographers and ballet-masters working for various theatres. On the stage of the National Opera and Ballet in Sofia he acted in the main male role in the Anna Pampulova show „Why Now”, after fragments of the ballet „Giselle” by Adam. He was partner to the prima ballerina Vesa Tonova–Krastanova in „Street Flower”, after „Traviata” by G. Verdi, with choreographer Mariana Krancheva, where he was also technical assistant in the creation of the dancing duets of the spectacle. He danced „the angel” in „The Red Shoes” after Andersen’s Fairy Tales, and the music by Grieg, performed and recorded by the Laureate Orchestra, with soloist Vasko Vasilev, specially intended for the show of the young London ballet-master Christine Sundt, with costume and props designer Bruce French, where Milen Petrov was partner to the prima ballerina Darina Bedeva.
Success blessed also his partnership with the Burgas prima ballerina Galina Kalcheva in the shows of the ballet-master, Associate Prof. Hikmed Mehmedov. In „One Night In Paris” he played the role of the painter – a role he inherited from the „grande étoile” of the Bulgarian ballet, Biser Deanov. In Tchaikovsky’s”The Nutcracker”- the magician Drosselmeyer, Romeo in „Romeo & Juliet” by Prokofiev. He also dances in the show „The Waltz” with the music by Ravel. He toured in late 2006 and early 2007 with success in Barcelona, Madrid and Milan, Salzburg, Copenhagen and Bern under the poster of the European Strauss Festival, with the specially established dancing programme to the Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the Associate Prof. Hikmed Mehmedov and Ms. Kalcheva.
Milen Petrov has worked in a show of one of the stars of the London DV8, Robert Tanion, “The Diner”, which was shown in Sofia and at the festival Varna Summer ’02.
Can be determined as successful his cooperation with the prima ballerina of the Sofia Opera House Masha Ilieva. After their guest performed at the festival Ohrid Summer 04 with the show „Beyond today”, they created in 2006 the spectacle „Mozart”.
On the stage of the theatrical workshop Sfumato is the latest project, where the audience can see Milen Petrov. The show of Rosen Mihaylov “36 more 4 less” after the proprietary music by Rumen Boyajiev-Son, and the choreography of Tatyana Sokolova, Mila Iskrenova and Galina Borisova, with the artist Stoyana Veneva.
In May 2006 on the stage of Teatro Fondamenta Nuove, Venice, he presented two solo performances „1234-5678” with the music by Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankulov, ‘Roxanne’s Dance” with the music by Vangelis, from the soundtrack of „Alexander The Great”. This choreography from 2005, and the choreography „In and Jan” from 2004, were created especially for the competition program of the National Ballet Contest „Anastas Petrov”.
On 6th June 2009 Milen Petrov presented to the public in Sofia his newest dancing project – Noetic , a production of department of Dancing Theatre of New Bulgarian University.
In October 2009 Milen Petrov presented himself like Rothbart in "Swan Lake," performed by Rousse State Ballet in Madrid, together with the principal dancers of Sofia Opera House – Vesa Tonova and Trifon Mitev.
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