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 in Munich, from May 15 to 17. The ensemble’s director, Iva Milkova, stated that the performance, titled “In the Embrace of the Flame,” will depict a love story surpassing significant obstacles. Inspired by the Nestinarstvo fire-dancing rite, the performance symbolizes enduring love, both personal and directed toward Bulgarian national traditions.
Milkova explained that the piece aims to remind the audience of their heritage and the challenges faced by the nation, emphasizing that unity and tradition have historically provided resilience. The choreography is structured in two parts: an introduction featuring free, rhythm bagpipe music, followed by a more energetic section incorporating elements of the Kopanitsa and an arrangement of the horo dance Aidar Abasi. The ensemble, composed of 12 Bulgarian dancers—six students aged 18 to 24 and six older members aged 38 to 50—was founded in 2013 to promote Bulgarian folk dance among compatriots in the region.
Milkova noted that organizing the festival taught the group the logistical complexity of hosting, realizing that successful community events require meticulous attention to detail to create a temporary “homeland.”
The festival itself, which showcases amateur folklore ensembles outside Bulgaria, is expected to host over 100 groups and 4,000 attendees in Munich. Milkova concluded by stating that the performance encourages reflection on the sacrifices made for love, ultimately leading the audience toward personal choice and an individual sense of moral rightness.
Topics: #ensemble #folk #ludi
Sounds like a beautiful cultural event to attend.