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, stated that their performance, titled “In the Embrace of the Flame,” portrays a love story resilient to adversity. Inspired by the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite, the piece symbolizes enduring love, both personal and for the Bulgarian nation and its traditions.
Milkova explained that the performance aims to remind the audience of their origins, the challenges faced by their nation, and the enduring strength found in unity and tradition, presenting a dual tribute to personal love and cultural heritage. The choreography is structured in two parts: an introduction featuring 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 creative team includes choreographers Nikolay Zagorov, Evgenia Ivanova, and Preslav Varbanov.
Milkova noted the performance’s underlying message encourages reflection on the sacrifices made for love, regardless of its object, leading the audience toward personal choice and inner conviction. The ludi ensemble comprises 12 dancers—six students aged 18 to 24 and six older participants aged 38 to 50—all Bulgarian. Milkova also reflected on the ensemble’s role in hosting the festival.
She described the experience as transforming their view from simply showcasing performances to actively creating a temporary “homeland” for hundreds of Bulgarians far from home. Founded in 2013, the ensemble initially aimed to promote Bulgarian folk dances among compatriots in the region.
Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi
