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Boris Ilievski
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Boris "Kete" Ilievski was born in Skopje, Macedonia, where folk dance and music was a family tradition. His father, Ilija Ilievski, was co-founder of Macedonia's first village folk dance performing ensemble Rastak, the first Macedonian professional choreographer, the artistic director of Ensemble Koco Racin, and a musician of Radio Skopje.
Kete's first direct contact with folk dance was in an elementary school folk dance ensemble in Skopje. In 1958, at the age of 14, Kete became a member of Ensemble "Koco Racin" and by 1961 had become the dance leader of traditional Macedonian men's dances. Between 1965 and 1984, he was the ensemble's choreographer and from 1973 through 1984 was its artistic director. Since moving to Canada, Kete has been very active in teaching within the folk dancing communities of North America and Europe, including the Balkanske Igre Festival, Folk Dance Federation of Chicago's June Camp, Kolo Festival, Balkanalia, Ramblewood, and Medocino.
Kete has prepared choreographies for many groups in the Macedonian communities of North America including those in Columbus, Detroit, Syracuse, Toronto, and Windsor. Between 1986 and 1991, he was co-organizer of the Seminar for Macedonian Folklore at Struga, Macedonia. Kete has also given academic lectures and presentations on Macedonian folklore throughout Europe and North America.
He has received numerous awards including "Best Individual Dancer" from the Cultural and Educational Society of Macedonia and "Best Choreography" at competitions in Sarajevo and Belgrade. Kete currently resides in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada (a Toronto suburb) and is president of CAMA Trade International, a company that specializes in the import / export of fashion products.
Kete also spent 11 years as a professional soccer player and one year as a soccer coach in Yugoslavia.
Dances Kete has taught include Barjače, Berovka, Bufsko, Bukite, Čoček "Šutka," Crnogorka, Čupi Kosturčanki, Gajde, Katlanovsko, Kostursko, Kucano, Kutsano, Lisolajče, Manastirsko, Mâskoto, Odeno, Osogovka, Ovpolska Potrčulka, Pembe, Palenečko Šopsko, Potrčano, Pusčeno, Ramnoto, Rajko Kokorajko, Ramno Veleško, Rŭčenica Veleško, Stankina, Syrto, Stankina, Sulemanovo, Žensko Barače, Žensko Puženo, and Vrbo Vrbičice.