Mila has its origins in the long-standing Twin Cities dance company, Ethnic Dance Theatre (EDT). Founded in 1973 to recreate and perpetuate the folk traditions of Eastern Europe, EDT had its own folk orchestra and women’s vocal ensemble for many years. Members of the EDT Vocal Ensemble traveled to Bulgaria in 2000 to study with master folk singers from the Filip Kutev Ensemble, and were honored to be the first American group to perform on stage at the Koprivshtitsa folk festival. In later years, members of EDT’s orchestra and vocal ensemble spun off to form Orkestar Bez Ime, Ukrainian Village Band, Traki, and in 2004, Mila Vocal Ensemble. Between 2004 and 2007, Mila famously made several appearances on NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion and released four complete albums. Most recently, members of Mila travelled to the Republic of Georgia in 2019 to study with native singers.