The Ludi-Mladi folk ensemble from Montpellier, France, is scheduled to participate in 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,” is set to showcase a narrative of enduring love, drawing inspiration from the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite. According to the ensemble’s director, Iva Milkova, the dance symbolizes both personal affection and devotion to Bulgarian traditions.
Milkova stated that the performance aims to remind the audience of their origins, the historical challenges faced by the nation, and the enduring strength found in unity and cultural heritage. The choreography is structured in two parts: an introduction featuring free, rhythmic bagpipe music, followed by a more dynamic section combining 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 indicated that the overarching message encourages the audience to contemplate the sacrifices made for love in any form, leading the viewer toward personal choice and inner conviction. The ensemble comprises twelve Bulgarian dancers: six students aged 18 to 24, and six older participants aged 38 to 50. The ludi group was established in 2013 to promote Bulgarian folk dances among compatriots in the region.
The festival itself, organized for amateur folklore groups outside Bulgaria, is expected to host over 100 ensembles and 4,000 guests in Munich. Milkova also reflected on the significance of hosting the event, noting that it requires meticulous organization to create a temporary sense of community for hundreds of Bulgarians far from home.
Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi
