Latvian Nationwide Song & Dance Celebration

Latvian Nationwide Song and Dance Celebration in Riga, July 5-12, 2008! From 181 Eur/5 days

LATVIA – THE LAND THAT SINGS

JOIN US IN RIGA!

This year, 2008, three Baltic countries – Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia – will celebrate 90 years since their independence. Year 2008 will also be significant for Latvia as around 35 000 participants will gather in our capital Riga for the XXIV Song and XIV Dance Celebration. It is not just a festival – the tradition goes back for 135 years and in 2003 together with Lithuanian and Estonian Song and Dance tradition it was recorded in the UNESCO list of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage. The celebration is due to take place from the 5th through the 12th of July 2008, in Mezaparks and Daugava Stadium in Riga. Attendees are certain to experience Latvia as the Land That Sings.Every spring all Latvian dance groups and choirs take part in displays involving more than 15 000 dancers and around 13 000 singers, demonstrating to the jury from the compulsory repertoire as well as freely chosen ones. In spring, 2008 dance displays will take place so that the jury can determine which dance groups and choirs are suitably prepared for the Song and Dance Celebration. The cream of the crop will be invited to participate in a final round on May 24! They have been preparing for 5 years to be named the best and win the participation at the celebration in July. The atmosphere will be similar to that of the 100 metre sprint at the Olympic Games!

In short - what makes the Song and Dance festival so unique?

• Choir of 12 000 people jointly sings wide and difficult repertoire a cappella in 8 voices;

• Joint dance concert unites 15 000 dancers;

• Every singer and dancer wears a folk costume;

• Festivals take place each 5 years but in between there are competitions and displays reflecting the dynamic existence of the celebration tradition throughout the country.

• Tradition has a deep symbolic meaning as a representative of national identity creation and development

Aspect of multiculturalism: Alongside Latvians, representatives from 156 various nations live in Latvia (2.3 million people) and nowadays the festival gives them the opportunity to perform their traditions or to melt in the joint activities;

Not in vain is Latvia the ‘Land that Sings!’

Our Song Celebration is rooted in the folk singing tradition. Traditional or folk song is the name we give to our four-line verses (dainas) created in a specific form of expression. 217 996 of these songs were written down at the beginning of the 20th century and placed in a unique cupboard (dainu skapis) for safe-keeping, but the exact number is not known. There exists a saying, “A traditional song for every Latvian”, meaning that there could well be 1. 5 million - making Latvian oral tradition one of the richest in the world.

5 days/4 nights in Riga: hotel, transfers, Old Riga excursion, dinner in Lido, 3 tickets to festival!

1st day:
-Arrival at International Riga Airport

-Transfer to the hotel and check-in

2nd day:
-Breakfast at the hotel

-Old Riga Town walking excursion with guide
This tour will give you chance to get acquainted with Old Riga and most famous architectural monuments: the Freedom Monument - the symbol of Latvia's independence and strength, 13th century St.Peter's Church, St.George's Church, St. John's Church, a part of restored city wall and the medieval John's yard. Than you will walk to the heart of old Riga - the Dome Square - Dome Cathedral and learn about the famous 19th century organ - one of the biggest organs in Europe.
The route also includes visits to the medieval dwelling houses "Three Brothers", 13th century St.Jacob's Church, 14th century Riga Castle, Convent Yard, The Philharmonic Square, the Saeima building, Jacob's Barracks, the Powder Tower and Smilsu street, the Swedish Gate (inspired numerous myths and legends) and the Latvian National Opera.

-Song Celebration Procession (no cost)
The procession is a traditional component of the Song and Dance Celebration. All 35000 celebration participants, clothed in traditional dress, will meet in Riga’s Old Town on Dome Square and pass by the Freedom Monument on their way to the Daile theatre, covering almost 2 km.

-Opening of the Song Celebration Tradicional Craft Market (no cost)
The Song and Dance Celebration traditional craft market is the place where craftspeople, traders, buyers and the curious public meet. All the jewels of Latvian souvenirs in one location! Silver jewellery, herbal teas, linen tablecloths, traditional midsummer cheese, smoked fish, fresh honey, Latgallian pots – these are just a few of the things to be found. At the market you will have the chance to meet craftspeople demonstrating their craft on site!

-Dance Celebration Opening Concert (entrance ticket)

The opening concert on the Mežaparks open-air stage will be an emotional meeting for all 35 000 participants who have travelled to Riga. The reason for these joyful emotions is that the Song and Dance Celebration continues to be a living tradition, whose main secret is the successful handing down of this tradition from generation to generation.

3rd day:
-Breakfast at the hotel

-Dinner in Lido Recreation Center
The Lido Recreation Centre was opened at the end of 1999. It is one of the most attractive public catering enterprises in the world and one of the most favourite places of family recreation in Riga. The Centre is characterized by a Latvian environment, tasty and various dishes, Lido beer, live music every evening, and celebration of national festivities with gorgeous decorations and concerts! The main building of the Lido Recreation Centre is one of the biggest and most beautiful log buildings in Europe, which can host 1000 guests.

-Dance Celebration Concert Performance final rehearse (entrance ticket)
Do you want to see how much energy Latvian dancers have? Then you mustn’t miss the Dance Celebration concert performance – a lively, attractive and highly energetic event with the participation of over 90 dance groups. Popular Latvian songs known as ziņģes will form the basis for the programme. These songs are extended traditional songs born during the time period beginning with the 17th and ending with the 19th centuries. The range of themes raised by these songs is very broad and involves singing about various domestic situations, which will form an emotional life story during the performance.

4th day:
-Breakfast at the hotel

-Final Competition for Symphonic bands (entrance ticket)
Latvia has about 3000 concert band participants all of whom have been preparing since the last Celebration in 2003 to once again compete for and win the title of best concert band. These bands or orchestras are unique in that they include musicians of different age groups, from schoolchildren to silver-haired gentlemen. It will be possible to experience this sparkling bouquet of brass and wind instruments all day long in one of the Old Town’s most historic buildings – the Large Guild.

-Concert by Senior Choirs and Dance groups (no cost)
Concert will take part in Dome Square - Riga Old Town.
The secret behind the Song and Dance Celebration tradition is the participation of several generations side by side and the handing down of knowledge to future generations. This is why the senior choir and dance group concert will be a particularly emotional event. The singers and dancers taking part in this concert carry within them inestimable experience and admirable enthusiasm. 50 senior dance groups and 38 senior choirs will congregate on Dome Square, making a total of 2200 participants.

5th day:
-Breakfast at the hotel

-Check out

-Transfer to the International Riga airport

Price per person in EUR per 5 days

Package includes:
-Transfers as per programm
-4 nights accomodation in hotel (sharing twin room)
-4 breakfasts at the hotel
-Old Riga walking excursion with guide
-Dinner in Lido recreation Center
-3 entrance tickets to Song and Dance Celebration in Riga: Choruses Opening Concert, Dance Celebration Concert Performance final rehearsel, Final Competition for Symphonic bands
-Song Celebration Procession
-Tradicional Craft Market
-Concert by Senior Choirs and Dance groups
-All taxes

Optional:
Any transfer in Riga 5 Eur/pers.