The Ludi-Mladi ensemble from Montpellier, France, is scheduled to perform at the 11th edition of the traveling festival Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance, taking place from May 15 to 17 at BMW Park in Munich. The performance, titled “In the Embrace of the Flame,” aims to convey a narrative of enduring love that withstands significant challenges. Iva Milkova, the ensemble’s director, stated that the performance draws inspiration from the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite, symbolizing eternal love—both personal and national, directed toward Bulgarian traditions.
Milkova explained that the performance serves as a tribute to the nation’s history, emphasizing that unity and tradition have historically preserved the culture. The choreography is structured in two parts: an introduction featuring free, rhythm bagpipe music, followed by a more dynamic segment incorporating elements of the Kopanitsa and an arrangement of the horo dance Aidar Abasi. Milkova noted that the ensemble comprises 12 Bulgarian dancers—six students aged 18 to 24 and six older members aged 38 to 50.
Beyond the performance, Milkova reflected on the experience of hosting the festival, describing it as creating a temporary “homeland” for Bulgarian expatriates. The ludi folk ensemble was founded in 2013 in Montpellier to promote Bulgarian folk dances among the local community. The festival itself, organized by the Ot Izvora group, gathers amateur folk ensembles globally.
The 11th edition in Munich is anticipated to host over 100 ensembles and 4,000 guests.
Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi
Sounds like a beautiful cultural experience to see live.
What is the narrative that the performance “In the Embrace of the Flame” aims to convey?