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,” aims to depict a love story resilient to adversity. Iva Milkova, the ensemble’s director, stated that the dance draws inspiration from the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite, symbolizing enduring love—both personal and for the Bulgarian nation and its traditions.
Milkova explained that the performance serves as a tribute to history, emphasizing that unity and tradition have historically sustained the nation. The choreography is structured in two parts: an introduction featuring free, rhythm 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.
The ensemble intends for the audience to reflect on the sacrifices made for love, regardless of its focus, prompting consideration of the value of pain and personal choice. Ludi-Mladi, founded in 2013, initially aimed to promote Bulgarian folk dances among compatriots in the region. The ensemble quickly gained interest, leading to the establishment of the Bulgarian School for Folk Dances.
Milkova also reflected on the festival itself, noting that hosting the event taught her the complexities of creating a temporary “homeland” for hundreds of Bulgarians far from home. The festival, organized by the Ot Izvora group, anticipates over 100 dance groups and 4,000 guests at the Munich event.
Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi
This sounds like an engaging cultural performance to feature at the Munich festival.