The Ludi-Mladi folk ensemble from Montpellier, France, is scheduled to participate in the 11th edition of the Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance festival, taking place at BMW Park in Munich from May 15 to 17. The performance, titled “In the Embrace of the Flame,” aims to convey a narrative of enduring love surpassing obstacles. According to the ensemble’s director, Iva Milkova, the dance draws inspiration from the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite, symbolizing both personal and national devotion to Bulgarian traditions.
Milkova stated the performance intends to remind the audience of the nation’s history and the unifying power of its culture. The choreography features two distinct parts: an introduction utilizing free, rhythm bagpipe music, followed by a dynamic section combining elements of the Kopanitsa and a rearrangement of the horo dance Aidar Abasi. The creative team includes choreographers Nikolay Zagorov, Evgenia Ivanova, and Preslav Varbanov.
Milkova expressed that the core message encourages the audience to reflect on the sacrifices made for love, regardless of its focus, ultimately leading to a personal consideration of one’s moral compass. The Ludi-Mladi ensemble, founded in 2013 to promote Bulgarian folk dances in the region, consists of 12 members—six students aged 18 to 24 and six older participants aged 38 to 50. Milkova also reflected on the experience of hosting the festival, noting that it requires meticulous organization to create a temporary “homeland” for expatriate communities.
The festival itself is organized for amateur folklore ensembles performing outside Bulgaria, with the 11th edition in Munich anticipating over 100 ensembles and 4,000 attendees.
Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi
What is the specific narrative or theme of the “In the Embrace of the Flame” performance?