The VII International Folk Dance Festival, “Sudmaliņas” will take place in Latvia, from August 5-9, 2009. This is the only festival in the field of stylised folk dance in Latvia. Its aim is to bring together dancers from Latvia and other countries, who research, cultivate and bring life to the traditions of folk dance and whose approach to folklore is unrestrained and creative.

Since its existence (1992., 1995., 1997., 1999., 2002., 2005.) the festival has developed a stable tradition. The festival has obtained a high rating from foreign guests, Latvian dancers, audiences and critics. 108 Latvian dance groups and 83 dance groups from 43 countries have taken part in the previous six festivals.

This summer the festival will take place in Riga, Jurmala, Sigulda, Limbazi and Carnikava.

Wednesday, August 5 ACQUAINTANCE MAKING DAY

Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum  

15.00-16.00 Guest group procession from the museum gate to the Ostmala storehouse open-air stage, stopping at the Kurzeme homestead, Mērsraga smithy, Vidzeme homestead

16.00-17.00 Concert Ostmala storehouse open-air stage.

All festival participants - Dziga, Kursa, Līgo, Zalktis, Zelta Zalktis, (Latvia), Bojarishna (Russia), Izvorashuļ (Moldova), Yeongnam Yesuldan (South Korea), Masovia (Poland), Trompos ós Pés (Spain)

18.00 Participant acquaintance making evening, traditional games and dances by the lake in the Kurzeme fishing village

Thursday, August 6 OPENING DAY Jūrmala

16.30- 18.00 Introductory concert Horn’s garden by Majori cultural centre

Participants: Bajarishna (Russia), Izvorashul (Moldova), Yeongnam Yesuldan (South Korea), Masovia (Poland), Trompos ós Pés (Spain)

18.00 Procession from Horn’s garden along Jomas Street to Dzintari concert hall

19.00 Opening concert Dzintari concert hall All festival participants

 Friday, August 7 RIGA DAY Vērmanes garden

10.00 – 22.00 Latvian food producers’ festival “I came to eat, drink and dance a merry dance!”

12.00 – 15.30 Concert “Lidojums” (Flight) Vērmanes garden open-air stage

12.00 – 13.30 Līgo, Zelta Zalktis (Latvia) Trompos os Pes (Spain), Yeongnam Yesuldan (South Korea)

13.30 – 14.30 Masovia (Poland), Bojarishna (Russia), Kursa, Zalktis (Latvia)

14.30 – 15.30  Izvorashul (Moldova), Dziga(Latvia)

20.00 – 23.30 Concert “Laternu stundā” (At the hour of the lanterns)  Vērmanes garden open-air stage

20.00 – 21.00 Kursa, Zalktis (Latvia), Yeongnam Yesuldan (South Korea)

21.00 – 22.00 Bojarishna (Russia),Līgo, Zelta Zalktis (Latvia)

22.00 - 23.30  Trompos os Pes (Spain), Izvorashul (Moldova), Masovia (Poland), Dziga (Latvia)

Saturday, August 8 CLOSING DAY

12.00-14.00 Concert Turaida castle interior courtyard

All festival participants

21.00 Closing concert Sigulda open-air stage

All festival participants

Sunday, August 9

17.00 Concert Carnikava park open-air stage

Participants: Arnika, Abi div, Dālderītis (Latvia), Bojarishna (Russia), Yeongnam Yesuldan (South Korea)

Festival programme

Its participants will be dance groups from Russia, Southern Korea, Poland, Moldova and Spain.

Latvia will be represented at the festival by:

• Folk dance group “Līgo” from Riga’s Cultural and Applied Arts Centre “Small Guild”, with their programme “The fires burned on Midsummer’s Night”,

Artistic Director, Jānis Purviņš;

• Dance group “Zalktis” (Adder) from Riga’s cultural centre “Friendship” and Teika Secondary School, with their programme, “Because of a girl”,

Artistic Director, Arta Melnalksne;

• Dance group “Zelta Zalktis” (Golden Adder), from Riga’s cultural centre “Friendship” and Teika Secondary School, with their programme “Our winter”, Artistic Director, Arta Melnalksne;

• Dance group “Dziga”, with their programme “Merriment in Latgale”, Artistic Directors, Inga and Ilmārs Drelis; Band Director, Gunārs Igaunis;

• Folk dance group “Kursa”, from Saldus Cultural Centre, with their programme “Because of a rose”, Artistic Director, Inese Buša. The festival theme is “Wings”.  

Through dance, happiness and sadness, acquaintances and separations are experienced. Through dance, with the help of music and rhythms, an understanding without words, with emotions, is created. Happiness, enthusiasm, pride, tenderness, sorrow, pain and hostility are feelings that people experience similarly in Africa, America, Australia and Latvia. Emotions do not distinguish between race, skin colour or nationality.

Wings turn windmills – bread is created in mills, and with it, the strength to work.

Wings create emotional flight – feelings of happiness and joy.

Wings turn the rhythm of the seasons – spring follows winter, autumn follows summer.

Wings turn like the wheel of time – bringing closer worlds, nations and cultures.

Wings and dance create movement, a flight of rhythm and emotions.