-Based Folk Ensemble Ludi-Mladi to Perform in Munich Festival

The Ludi-Mladi folk ensemble from Montpellier, France, is scheduled to perform at the 11th edition of the traveling festival Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance, taking place from May 15 to 17 at BMW Park in Munich. The performance, titled “In the Embrace of the Flame,” will explore a love story portrayed as overcoming significant obstacles. Iva Milkova, the ensemble’s director, stated that the dance draws inspiration from the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite, symbolizing both enduring personal love and deep connection to Bulgarian traditions.

Milkova explained that the performance aims to remind the audience of the nation’s history, its challenges, and the enduring power of unity and tradition. She described the piece as a dual tribute: to a person and to culture. The choreography is structured in two parts: an introduction featuring free, rhythm bagpipe music, followed by a more dynamic section incorporating elements of the Kopanitsa and an arrangement of the horo dance Aidar Abasi.

The creative team includes choreographers Nikolay Zagorov, Evgenia Ivanova, and Preslav Varbanov. Milkova noted that the overall message encourages the audience to contemplate the sacrifices made for love, regardless of its object, leading to a reflection on personal choice and moral conviction. The ensemble comprises 12 Bulgarian dancers—six students aged 18 to 24 and six older participants aged 38 to 50.

Milkova also reflected on the ludi group’s journey, noting that after hosting previous editions of the festival, they understood that successful community events require meticulous logistical planning. Founded in 2013 to promote Bulgarian folk dances in the region, the ensemble has since become a significant cultural presence. The festival itself, organized by the Ot Izvora group, is expected to host over 100 dance groups and 4,000 attendees in Munich.

Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi