CONFERENCE
The group works for maintaining Latvian folk choreography – games, play-dances, couple and multi-couple dances (quadrilles); the dancers and musician pay special attention to the details of performance.
This September, the new season has begun with the group enrolling new participants. The increasing popularity of folklore has attracted a great many new members and now Dandari has over 30 singers, dancers and musicians. Their number is expected to grow in season 29, too.
The previous season was full of events, and the new season is promising to be at least as rich in various activities and events. Last season, Dandari participated in folk and dance festivals and events both in Latvia, and in the countries such as Lithuania, Estonia, France, Macedonia and Turkey. Traditionally, Dandari also participated in Baltica 2009 International Folklore Festival.
In spring 2009, Dandari started a new tradition – running a folklore seminar for the group members where everyone had a chance not only to learn new dances and songs, but also try out playing and making musical instruments, as well as do some folklore-related studies.
On October 9-11, 2009, the Second Folklore Workshops are going to involve folklore specialists invited by the State Culture Capital Foundation, and besides dancing, singing and playing musical instruments such as kokle, violin, cither, mandolin, ermonik, pipe, bagpipes,and etc., Dandari will also practice making brooches and weaving.
Dandari celebrates its anniversary in November, and the whole season 29 will contribute to preparations of the 30-year jubilee in 2010 to organize a great concert where all current and former participants of Dandari, that is more than 160 people, will be able to take part.
Dandari actively collaborates with foreign dance groups. The group is taking part in various foreign festivals also in summer 2010. However, its major event next summer is going to be the 2nd Pa Peteriem International Folklore Dance Festival organized by Dandari in Riga and Daugavpils to follow up the 1st Festival in Riga and Valka in 2007.
"Dandari" home page
"Dandari" home page
