"Ancestral Steps" the Cultural Journey to Macedonia 2026
Joyce Clyde
I’m Sophia Blanton, a native daughter of Berovo, Macedonia, now based in Ashland, Oregon, where I produced the Rogue World Music Festival for several years. I’m reaching out to share a cultural journey close to my heart.
Ancestral Steps is a curated immersion into Macedonian village life, music, and dance, centered in my hometown of Berovo during the early harvest festival season. From August 21–31, 2026, participants are welcomed into a living tradition of street processions, regional dances, live Slavic and Romani music, shared meals, and time in the Maleševo mountains — guided by local culture-bearers and musician families such as the Destanovskis and Kanturovis.
This journey grew out of the Ethno Square (Etno Ploštad) Festival, which I co-founded in Berovo in 2009 with the town council and local artists, and it’s offered in the spirit of genuine cultural exchange and Balkan hospitality.
If this speaks to you, I’d love to connect. A special early-bird rate is available — please email me directly for details and full information: con...@sophiablanton.com
Warmly,
Sophia Blanton"
