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 at BMW Park in Munich from May 15 to 17. The ensemble’s director, Iva Milkova, announced that their performance, titled “In the Embrace of the Flame,” will portray a love story resilient to obstacles. Inspired by the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite, the performance symbolizes eternal love, encompassing both personal relationships and devotion to Bulgarian traditions.
Milkova stated that the performance aims to remind the audience of their heritage and the challenges faced by the nation, emphasizing that unity and tradition have historically provided strength. She described the choreography as featuring two segments: an introduction with free, rhythm bagpipe music, followed by a more energetic section combining the Kopanitsa dance with an arrangement of the horo dance Aidar Abasi. The creative team includes choreographers Nikolay Zagorov, Evgenia Ivanova, and Preslav Varbanov.
The ensemble’s message encourages reflection on the sacrifices made for love, prompting the audience to consider the value of such sacrifices and the acceptance of pain. Founded in 2013 to promote Bulgarian folk dances among compatriots, the Ludi-Mladi ensemble has since grown significantly. Milkova shared that hosting the festival shifted their perspective, illustrating that successful events require meticulous logistical planning.
The ensemble comprises twelve Bulgarian dancers—six students aged 18 to 24 and six older members aged 38 to 50. The festival itself, organized by the Ot Izvora group, is anticipated to host over 100 dance ensembles and 4,000 guests in Munich.
Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi
Sounds like a wonderful cultural event to attend in Munich.