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,” will depict a love story resilient against adversity. Inspired by the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite, the performance symbolizes enduring love, both personal and for Bulgarian traditions.
Milkova explained that the piece aims to remind the audience of their origins, the challenges faced by the nation, and the sustaining power of unity and tradition, presenting a dual tribute to both a person and culture. The choreography is structured in two parts: an introduction featuring free, rhythmic bagpipe music, followed by a more energetic 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.
Milkova indicated the performance encourages reflection on the sacrifices made for love, prompting the audience to consider the value of such sacrifices and the acceptance of pain. Milkova also discussed the ensemble’s history. Founded in 2013 in Montpellier to promote Bulgarian folk dances, the Ludi ensemble quickly gained traction.
After experiencing the organizational challenges of hosting the festival, she noted that hosting requires meticulous attention to detail, effectively creating a “temporary ‘homeland'” for community members. The festival itself, organized by the Ot Izvora group, anticipates over 100 dance ensembles and 4,000 guests at the Munich event. The Ludi-Mladi ensemble is composed of 12 Bulgarian dancers.
Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi
