THE LATVIAN SONG AND DANCE CELEBRA TION 1 THE LATVIAN SONG AND DANCE CELEBRATION Once every five years, a small nation of 2 million people living by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe, becomes the largest choir in the world. The Latvian Song and Dance Celebration has been our bonding ritual since 1873; a way to celebrate our identity and dignity. UNESCO has recognised this phenomenon as a masterpiece of humanity (List of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, 2003). The Song and Dance Celebration is one of the grandest festivals in the Baltic region in terms of scope, authenticity and style. Every five years in the beginning of July, the entire city of Rīga, the capital of Latvia, becomes a buzzing stage for choir © The Latvian National Centre for Culture for Centre National Latvian © The singers and folk dancers, folklore musicians, masters of folk crafts and amateur theatre troupes, young and old, dressed in folk costumes, living the tradition. 2 3 THE LATVIAN SONG AND DANCE CELEBRATION How is it unique? A nationwide Duration amateur movement The preparation lasts for five years, Led by music professionals and but the festival itself takes place for sustained through the nation-wide a week in the middle of summer. network of cultural institutions, it is In the olden days, the beginning of in essence a process for the people July was the time when country folk and by the people – all over the could afford to take some time off country. And it even goes global, between sowing and gathering hay. as the Latvian diaspora abroad keep infesting foreigners with the Open-air factor virus of Latvian choir singing and Most of the festival events take folk dancing. place outdoors, allowing us to be in touch with nature. Never mind the A capella singing rain, wind or heat – we keep singing, in many voices dancing and enjoying ourselves It is the core of our choir tradition. regardless of the weather (after Performing in four voices – soprano, having prepared for this for five alto, tenor and bass – is the standard, years, cancelling a concert due to but not the limit, as our amateur the weather just wouldn’t do!). choirs can even perform pieces in Even though we borrowed the eight voices. idea of singing festivals from the Germans, we have made it our thing, Authenticity with mass participation, nationwide The Song and Dance Celebration organisation and a stable model for is all about Latvian traditions, the festival programme. We even therefore, wearing a folk costume Culture for Centre National Latvian © The have a special Song and Dance creates the right atmosphere Celebration Law, assigning this during the festival. We dress up to movement special status. look and feel festive and unique. 4 5 THE LATVIAN SONG AND DANCE CELEBRATION THE LATVIAN SONG AND DANCE CELEBRATION © Kaspars Rocis © Kaspars Why do people do it? Helmuts, 19, Rīga. “I have been dancing since I was three when my parents took me to a children’s dance group. In my early teenage years, I thought Agnese, 40, London, works in dancing in folk dances wasn’t cool, but now it’s trendy. I will even be investment banking: wearing my folk costume on my graduation party this year. For me “I’ve been away from Latvia for 20 dancing means being with friends, and when I dance, I don’t think years, and have been a member of the Gunta Paškovska, a long-time Latvian choir in London for the last about my problems or anything else. Besides, I think folk dancers choir conductor from Jelgava admits: are more energetic and they smile more than the rest of the people. five years. We are a very close-knit “Only when you stand at Mežaparks lot there; it is fun to go to rehearsals So, I will keep doing it all my life – I can’t imagine not doing it.” Stage together with others, do you every Wednesday evening to meet feel the enormous power. Thousands them, take part in concerts and thus Ilze’s story: of choir singers become one. The In her family, taking part in the Song Celebration has been a feel a little closer to Latvia. Singing conductor, too, feels the power songs in my native language is like tradition since 1888, started by her great-great-grandparents – coming from the choirs. When I the seamstress Ilze and the carpenter Jānis, and continued by food for my soul, and compensates was standing on top of the tribune for not being able to visit Latvia as their daughters Maija and Gunta. Maija’s teenage daughter Anda as Principal Conductor, I feared I wanted to join an adult choir so much that she cut her long hair often as I’d like. I feel very nostalgic would faint from the excitement. about my home country, and singing in order to look older and be able to participate in the Song But when I started conducting, I was Celebration. In the same choir, her brother Uldis met his future Latvian songs sometimes makes me overwhelmed with the sensation that well up, but they are happy tears wife. Ilze’s mother often took her daughter to choir rehearsals I was holding thousands of singers and concerts, and Ilze first participated in the 1990 Celebration. as I feel enormous pride about our in the palm of my hand.” (The “Ir” culture. I’m even contemplating At that festival, Ilze’s husband Jānis was one of the dancers, but magazine, issue #24 (425)) later joined the choir. Today, both of their daughters, Madara and joining a Latvian dance group – it will Katrīna, continue the family tradition. For all of them, the Song definitely be more fun than going to and Dance Celebration is a hobby and a platform for emotions, the gym, and will keep Latvia even as well as a habit passed down from generation to generation. closer to my heart.” . (The Song and Dance Celebration Newsletter, #01, 2017) 6 7 THE LATVIAN SONG AND DANCE CELEBRATION Festival programme 43 290 participants of which Logistics General facts – 65 events in 7 days – 16 500 singers from 427 choirs – 70 educational institutions in Riga – The Latvian Song Celebration – a involved in hosting the participants tradition since 1873 – around 500 000 spectators – 18 174 dancers from 739 dance groups as well as thousands of – 1200 busses assigned to transport – Dance Celebration as part of the – The great dance performance, musicians, masters of folk and all participants to and from the festival since 1948 Māra’s zeme (Māra’s Country): applied arts, amateur theatre and festival venues 17,000 dancers, 28 dances by 20 folklore ensembles – Included in the UNESCO List of choreographers, supervised by ten – 400 000 litres of water supplied Masterpieces of the Oral and Dance Directors and nine Honorary – Amateur groups from 118 (out of to quench the thirst of participants Intangible Heritage of Humanity in Dance Directors. 119) of Latvia’s municipalities and 2003 21 countries participate – 45 000 raincoats distributed to – The Closing concert, Zvaigžņu participants (enough to cover ceļā (Following the Starry Path): eight football fields) 12,000 singers, 38 choir songs, 3 hours, supervised by 13 Principal Conductors and eight Honorary Principal Conductors. © The Latvian National Centre for Culture for Centre National Latvian © The 8 9 THE PROCESS THE LATVIAN SONG AND DANCE CELEBRATION THE PROCESS To us, it is more than a festival. It is a perpetual process of hard and systematic work on a daily basis – built on centuries-old traditions, fuelled by grass-roots power, led by culture professionals and supported by the state. Above all, we do it because it is fun. © The Latvian National Centre for Culture for Centre National Latvian © The 10 11 THE LATVIAN SONG AND DANCE CELEBRATION Recipe for a miracle During the five-year period between the festivals, we diligently attend rehearsals in evenings and 1) Take 40 000 people on weekends to learn new songs and dances, of all ages, different to get the programme down for the upcoming social, cultural Song and Dance Celebration. Conductors and and professional dance directors revise repertoires, trying to find backgrounds, the right proportion between popular classic 2) add a few dozen pieces and new contemporary ones; composers songs and dances and choreographers work on new songs and impressed into dances, while stage directors and scenographers their minds, hearts prepare the scene for the grand performance. and limbs by 800 Masters of folk crafts come together for seminars conductors, group and workshops to share knowhow and set off on leaders and dance making more folk costumes for both participants instructors, and spectators. 3) let it ferment for five Ardour is an important element of the process © Jānis Romanovskis years, and – voilá! – regular contests help maintain the level of quality The Song and Dance of the festival, as well as raise the prestige of the Celebration is ready venture, motivating the participants to try harder. Directors of the festival. The purpose System of support to begin! A year before the festival is the time for auditions is to select choirs, dance and music Central and local governments help in front of Principal Conductors and Dance groups qualified to be participants of sustain a nation-wide network of the Celebration. culture centres and music schools as places for rehearsals and concerts. Song Battles is the oldest and Apart from the 559 municipal most prestigious contest, where culture centres serving as bases the best amateur choirs compete. for amateur groups, many schools Traditionally, the event takes place and universities have their own in the Great Hall of the University of choirs and dance ensembles.