Mirce is a dancer and his favorite dance to perform is the traditional Macedonian folklore dance called Kopacka. Kopacka is a traditional dance that is practiced in Mirce’s hometown of Kochani, North Macedonia. Kopacka is an energetic and fast-paced dance. Dancers stand in a half-circle, hold onto special belts that are tied around their waist, and hop on one foot while stomping with the other in a fast side-to-side motion. Kopacka is typically performed at weddings, ceremonies and festivals. I attended one of Mirce’s practices and their performance was very impressive!
Additionally, while performing Kopacka, dancers wear traditional clothing that represent historical North Macedonian figures. Women wear long dresses that go down to their ankles, blouses, aprons and headscarfs. Men wear vests, light shirts, pants and large belts. The traditional clothing is very colorful and decorated with beautiful knitting, beads and accessories. Mirce enjoys collecting traditional Macedonian folklore clothing and designing his own versions during art class.
Mirce’s favorite famous person is a singer named Toshe Proeski. Toshe Proeski is considered one of the most successful artists among the Balkan region. Toshe Proeski made several genres of music, including folk, classical, rock and pop music. Sadly, Toshe Proeski passed away in 2007. The people of North Macedonia continue to listen to his music and celebrate his life to keep his memory alive.
