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 performance, titled “In the Embrace of the Flame,” will showcase a narrative of enduring love that overcomes adversity. According to the ensemble director, Iva Milkova, the dance draws inspiration from the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite, symbolizing both personal and national devotion.
Milkova stated that the performance aims to evoke remembrance of the nation’s history and the enduring power of unity and tradition. The choreography is structured in two parts: an introduction featuring free, rhythm bagpipe music, followed by a more dynamic section incorporating 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 expressed that the performance encourages reflection on the sacrifices made for love, regardless of the object of that affection, ultimately leading to a consideration of personal moral choices. Ludi-Mladi, which was founded in 2013 to promote Bulgarian folk dances among compatriots in the region, has since become an established presence. Milkova reflected on the evolution of the festival, noting that hosting the event taught them that community spirit requires meticulous organization.
The festival itself, organized by the Ot Izvora group, is dedicated to amateur folk ensembles performing outside Bulgaria, with the 11th edition in Munich anticipating over 100 groups and 4,000 attendees.
Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi
What is the nature of the narrative presented in the “In the Embrace of the Flame” performance?