The Ludi-Mladi folk ensemble from Montpellier, France, is scheduled to perform at 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 director, Iva Milkova, stated that their performance, titled “In the Embrace of the Flame,” will depict a love story resilient to adversity. Inspired by the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite, the piece symbolizes eternal love, both personal and directed toward Bulgarian national traditions.
Milkova explained that the performance aims to remind the audience of their origins, the challenges faced by the nation, and the enduring strength found in unity and tradition, presenting a dual tribute to both love and heritage. The choreography features two sections: an introduction with free, rhythm bagpipe music, followed by a more dynamic segment 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 any form of love, prompting consideration of the value of those sacrifices and the acceptability of pain. The ludi ensemble comprises 12 dancers—six students aged 18 to 24 and six older participants aged 38 to 50—all of Bulgarian descent. Milkova also reflected on the festival’s organization, noting that hosting requires meticulous attention to detail to create a temporary community for hundreds of Bulgarians abroad.
Founded in 2013, the ensemble initially aimed to promote Bulgarian folk dances among compatriots in the region. The festival, organized for amateur folklore groups outside Bulgaria, is anticipated to host over 100 groups and 4,000 guests in Munich.
Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi
Sounds like a wonderful cultural event to attend in Munich.