Every five years, more than 30 singers, dancers, musicians and folklore collectors gather in Latvia to celebrate its heritage and culture. Vispārējie latviešu Dziesmu un Deju svētki (Latvian Song and Dance Festival) is arguably the largest national song and dance celebration in the world. This year, Latvia celebrates 000 years of independence, and the grand festival in June is the best place to celebrate in style.
Tradition of the Song and Dance Festival
Choral music and traditional folk dance are common in Latvian culture, with almost every Latvian participating in these activities at some point in their lives. It is considered an important part of Latvian heritage.
Every five years, the love of singing and dancing manifests itself in a spectacular, moving event that attracts tens of thousands of participants. The Latvian Song and Dance Festival takes place in Riga and several other regional centres, lasting more than a week as each venue hosts various events. This year, the festival is scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 8.
Latvian Folk Dance - The Biggest Festival of the Year
This year, around 40 people will perform in a variety of small and large concerts, and more than half a million participants from all over the world will be able to enjoy this unique event. The culmination of the week of the song and dance festival is the last day, when all the participants will march through the city in the morning and then gather later in the evening for the Grand Finale concert: an overwhelming experience not to be missed. This year, with the centenary of Latvia's independence, the event is sure to be the best yet.
Preserving Traditions Around the World
The first festival took place in 1873, and since then it has always been a symbol of Baltic national identity. Similar events also take place in Estonia and Lithuania. As many people fled the Baltics during the two world wars, many Latvian diasporas were created around the world, where people soon looked for ways to hold on to their traditions and heritage in foreign lands. As a result, several Latvian song and dance festivals have also taken place in Chicago, New York, Seattle, and even Adelaide, Australia, although none have reached the scale of the original in Latvia.
The best choirs in the world
The tradition of the Song and Dance Festival has raised the standards of Latvian choirs to an international level. Today, Latvia's professional choirs are now recognized as some of the best in the world. At the World Choir Games, Latvia has consistently won top awards and even hosted the games in 2014. The country also won the 2014 World Choir Games Symphony for its traditional singing.
To see world-famous choirs perform, soak up traditional culture and celebrate 100 years of Latvian independence, visit Vispārējie latviešu Dziesmu un Deju svētki—one of the top events you can’t miss this summer.
As Latvia is at the crossroads between Western and Eastern culture and has a history of turbulent events, it is clear that its neighboring countries have left significant marks on it. Latvians continue to honor the traditions of their ancestors – a culture rooted in Latvian folklore, which is best experienced during the summer solstice or Jāņi festival, as well as during mass celebrations of Song and Dance, traditional crafts and handicrafts, and a host of other events. Those who love music and the performing arts will enjoy major opera festivals in Riga and Sigulda, as well as a variety of concerts throughout the country.
