On the eve of Whitsunday – May 22 – in the International Exhibition Centre Ķīpsala will take place the first Latvian stage dance concert-grand „Dance and don`t hunch” . The sweet smell of the spring and love for dance will call to Riga approx. 2500 young dancers.

Latvian folk dance with deep roots in traditions continue to develop and improve. Creative dance competitions which annually take place in Valmiera provide oportunity to watch 50 – 70 new dances, but long life is guaranteed for those only which are favourite with the dancers. The proof will be concert-grand in Riga. The programme of the concert includes both Latvian dance classic and new choreography and will be interesting both for participants and the audience which attend dance concerts only during the Dance Festivals.

Festival director Valdis Lūriņš about the coming event: „Dances will be about self, life and lively living. About trusting and loving. Without verbiage, because such is the language of dance. Let`s join in the concert-grand „Dance and don`t hunch” – dancing, breathing, living !

Evening managers: Dita Lūriņa and Mārcis Manjakovs

Artistic director: Jānis Ērglis

Festival director: Valdis Lūriņš

Concert-grand is realized by the State Agency of Intangible Cultural Heritage and supported by the International Exhibition Organizing Committee and Riga City Council.

Tickets in box offices of „Biļešu paradīze”, price from LVL 3,00 to LVL 6,50.

Detailed information: Maruta Alpa, tel. 67228985, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Last autumn Intangible Cultural Heritage State Agency launched a unique Project Traditional skills school which had to support and develop inheritance and promotion of the folk traditional skills in Latvia. In order to deepen and expand knowledge about traditional culture of the historical regions of Latvia, this year Traditional skills school was organized in separate historical regions. Four consecutive Saturdays in spring in frames of Traditional skills school 2010 – from March 27 till April 17 – their skills demonstrated craftsmen in Selija (region called also Augšzeme /Highland/, Augškurzeme /High Kurzeme/, Augšgals, Sēla, Sēlene) and Zemgale. In twelve towns and villages of those ethnographic regions craftsmen offered to master ancient skills. Those workshops were intended for all interested persons free of charge. Skills and crafts in frames of the project were mastered by 745 apprentices.

Venues of Traditional skills school 2010:

 Bēne – Weaving of Zemgale cape;

Dobele - Embroydery, sewing of Zemgale shirt;

Jelgava – Knotting;

Staļģene – Weaving of straw wall blanket;

Daugmale – Apiculture;

Jaunjelgava - Woodcarving, spoon carving;

Sēlpils - Sēlpils and Vārnava dressing songs;

Jēkabpils – Wax candle making, forging skills;

Zasa - Sēļi pottery and ornament;

Nereta - Highland skirt weaving;

Ilūkste - Sēļi ornament in mittens and socks;

Aknīste - Sēļi flat-bread and rye-bread baking.

Students of the Latvian Academy of Culture documented (described, photographed, and shot films) craftsmen activities.

 Craftsmen and their apprentices gathered in the closing event on April 24 in Jēkabpils, in Kruspils castle, for the demonstration of the crafts and concert and showing respect to the craftsmen. Closing event in Jēkabpils was attended also by the President Valdis Zatlers who expressed his acknowledgement to the craftsmen.

Next Traditional skills school is scheduled for the coming autumn in Latgale.

Regulations

On March 26 - 28, 2010, Latvian State Agency of Intangible Cultural Heritage in collaboration with Jelgava municipal agency CULTURE organizing III Latvian Wind Band Competition (March 26 – 27, 2010) and I Baltic States Wind Band Competition BALTIC OPEN (March 28, 2010).

Information

Baltic Open regulations

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

Information

Application form