The Ludi-Mladi 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 folk performance, titled “In the Embrace of the Flame,” aims to depict a love story resilient to adversity. According to the ensemble’s director, Iva Milkova, the dance draws inspiration from the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite, symbolizing enduring love—both personal and for the Bulgarian nation and its traditions.
Milkova stated that the performance intends to serve as a tribute to history, emphasizing that unity and tradition have historically sustained the nation. The choreography features two parts: an introduction with free, rhythmic bagpipe music, followed by a more dynamic section incorporating combinations of the Kopanitsa and an arrangement of the horo dance Aidar Abasi. The ensemble’s goal, Milkova explained, is for the audience to contemplate the sacrifices made for love, regardless of its object, and to consider the limits of acceptable pain.
The ludi group consists of 12 dancers—six students aged 18 to 24 and six older participants aged 38 to 50—all Bulgarian. Milkova also reflected on the group’s role as hosts for the festival. She noted that organizing the event required meticulous attention to detail, transforming the space into a temporary “homeland” for hundreds of Bulgarians far from home.
Founded in 2013 to promote Bulgarian folk dances, the ensemble initially aimed to be ambitious but developed through the dedication of its members. The festival itself, organized by the Ot Izvora group, is anticipated to host over 100 dance groups and 4,000 guests in Munich.
Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi
