July
27 and 28, 2001 at 10 p.m.
WHAT?
More than 200 best national dance
groups from all around Latvia with approximately
5,000 dancers. Thirty dances, beginning with the golden
foundation of Latvian dance and concluding with dances devoted
to Riga and its residents. 17 most recognised world's and
Latvian choreographers - authors of dances, who are at the
same time producers of their works and masters at adapting
them for monumental performances. Chief stage manager of
eight Dance Festivals Ingrida Saulite is an artistic manager
of the performance. Stage director - Valdis Liepins, musical
manager - Juris Vaivods, stage designer - Guntars Kambars.
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WHERE?
Skonto stadium.
For the first time, the most up to date stadium in the
Baltics will be turned into a large dance field shaped
in a form of the map of Latvia. Four large columns of
light will symbolise four regions of Latvia. Stream
of dancers will flow onto the field from the place where
the River Daugava, on the bank of which Riga stands
already for 800 years, begins its way through Latvia.
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HOW?
Thirty dances resemble various
sides of Latvian temperament, people's reverential attitude
to Nature, their everyday life activities, as well as festive
traditions and rituals of Latvian people. Riga
is a central point that gathers the most characteristic
features from all the regions of Latvia.
Dance patterns are made more beautiful by folkloristic and
ethnographic motifs that acquire more and more lively and
modern rhythms as the time passes. Dance, just like a song,
makes it easier to survive in wars and battles. Dance is
like a well to its essence, dance is a window to the entire
world that is transparent to people of any nationality.
In the conclusion of the performance, thousands of dancers
are joined together by Sudmalinas (Little Mill) in their
new, contemporary interpretation - Jautras dzirnavas (Merry
Mill) that is continued with a colourful festive bonfire
in the sky above the stadium.
Eriks
Tivums
