Dance ensemble Daiļrade

was founded on November 14, 1990, with the support of Valdis Grimze, Director of Production Association. Until the end of 2011, it was led by the ensemble’s founder Silva Štelfa, soloist of the National Dance Ensemble Daile. From January 2012, the ensemble is led by the artistic director, the chief conductor of the Song and Dance Celebration Iveta Pētersone-Lazdāne.

The ensemble successfully competes with traditions and experience-rich folk dance ensembles, succeeding in folk dance competitions, as well as representing Latvia in various high-level events abroad:

  • In 2015 at the opening ceremony of the Green Week organized by the Latvian Presidency of the European Union (Germany, Berlin);
  • Latvian Culture and Tourism Presentation (China, Beijing).

Since its foundation, the ensemble has participated in all Latvian Song and Dance Celebrations. Dance ensemble Groups A and D are the Grand Prize winners of the XXVI Latvian Song and XVI Dance Celebration, it is the highest award in Latvian folk performing arts. Also in 2013, the ensemble became the winner of the final competition , winning the 1st place in the country.

For the opening ceremony of the World Choir Olympics held in Riga in 2014, choreographer Agris Daņiļevičs created the performances of a new choreographic genre of Latvian stage dance Jāņu nakti lietus lija and Aiz Daugavas vara dārzs; they were created especially for the dance ensemble Daiļrade and were based on the music by Elektrofolk .This choreographic story has risen up not only the thousands of international audience in Arena Riga, but also in China, in the prestigious Beijing Opera House, in the Lithuanian dance show Kadagys, and also international high-level juries in various competitions. World-class industry professionals claim that the ensemble is successfully showing the future development of the stage dance, and expresses its satisfaction that it has been found.

Both performances Jāņu nakti lietus lija and Aiz Daugavas vara dārzs were danced at the international competition of professional choreographers and performers Riga Spring 2017, where Agris Daņiļevičs won the 1st place, while dancers of dance ensemble Daiļrade received jury prize for professional and high artistic performance.

In 2016, a choreographic performance was created for the 25th anniversary of the ensemble. It was a dance performance aimed at accentuating Latvian identity, folk dance traditions, to show the future vision of the ensemble and its vision of future development; where the most important thing is to strengthen the development of the folk ballet genre in Latvia and the world by promoting a modern interpretation of folk art.

  1. The development of the dance ensemble Daiļrade was promoted by its artistic directors and dance teachers such as Andis Staļevskis, Juris Lainis, Andris Bergmanis, Ignats Ančans, Intars Jundze, Zane Teikmane, Konstantīns Koļesņikovs and Vladimirs Ponomarjovs and Antons Freimanis, and concertmasters Alvīne Eriņa and Sarmīte Plaude.With the growing number and interest of dancers, the ensemble has become larger and has succeeded in creating a new group of dancers in the Group D (middle generation), who annually announce themselves with outstanding results in annual folk dance competitions, at various national events. Currently there are about 80 dancers in the ensemble, in two different age groups:
    • Group A – about 50 young people from 18 to 30 years;
    • Group D – over 30 middle-aged dancers from 30 to 45 years.

    The dance ensemble’s Daiļrade repertoire includes dances from ensembles Gold Fund and several dances, created especially for Daiļrade, which have already gained wide recognition at local and international concerts, and in Latvian Creative Dance Contests. All of these dances have been important to every dancer of Daiļrade and not only, are most of them included in a common dance repertoire and even in the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration. Who knows, maybe they will become part of the folk cultural heritage, but one thing is clear today, that they represent a new style of dance – folk ballet.

    The ensemble considers essential not only the improvement of the artistic quality of dance under the guidance of professional dance teachers, but also strives to promote a sense of unity, awareness of one’s self, the development of culture through the values and identity of the Latvian nation.

 

Dear dancers,
I would like to address you with the words of Valērijs Mironovs: „ Let the Dance help us understand ourselves and the people next to us; See what is invisible to your eyes and listen to what we do not hear on a daily basis,Endure life blows and hold.

Dance is our church, where people, regardless of age, are given the opportunity to regain themselves in the magic of art.”

Together we create Daiļrade.

Iveta Pētersone-Lazdāne

Achievements

Group A

2019

 

03.03. – The highest grade (Riga City Folk Dance Ensemble Competition)

28.04. – GRAND PRIX for continued development of Latvian National dance and 1st place in competition (XV Children and Youth international choreography competition Rīgas Pavasaris 2019)

14.07 – 2nd place (IX International Folk Dance Festival Contest Sudmaliņas)

2017

 

28.02. XX Creative Dance Competition

23.04. Children and Youth international choregraphy competition „Rīgas Pavasaris 2017”:

–       – 1st place in the group of professional choreographers (A. Daņiļevičs)

–       – Grand prix for professional and highly artistic performance

Rehearsal for Latvia’s 100th Anniversary XXVI Latvian Song and XVI Dance Celebration – 1st Year repertoire checking competition:

– Higher degree

Anniversary concert of the band Iļģi in Arena Riga

17.07. / 15.08. Dance performance CIEŠI, CIEŠI in Piņķi and Rauna

 

2015

 

15.01. Opening of the world’s largest agricultural exhibition “International Green Week” atklāšana, , Berlin, Germany

05.04. EU Presidency Representation Concert in China, Beijing National Performing Arts Centre Black Pearl

04.05. A big concert of Riga City Group A Dance ensembles  Dod man spēku, dod man laiku,Kipsala

23.05. Dance performance Pavasara nakts mistērijas, Valka

28.06. VIII Gala Concert of the Nordic Baltic Song Festival at Mežaparks open-air stage, Riga

 

2013

 

November. Dance show No zobena saule lēca Kipsala Hall, Riga

24.02. XXV Latvian Song and XV Dance Celebration dance ensemble competition:

–       – Highest grade to Folk Art Center Mazā ģilde dance ensemble Daiļrade – 64.5 points

July. XXV Latvian Song and XV Dance Celebration dance ensemble competition:

–       – First place to Folk Art Center Mazā ģilde dance ensemble Daiļrade – 19.1 points

XXV Latvian Song and XV Dance Celebration

 

2018

 

25.02. The highest grade (XXVI General Latvian Song and XVI Dance Celebration Dance Festival Māras zeme repertoire acquisition competition)

 

22.04. 1st place in folk dance category (XIV Children and Youth international choreography competition Rīgas Pavasaris 2018)

03.06. THE GREAT AWARD (XXVI General Latvian Song and XVI Dance Celebration dance ensemble final competition

– Iegūta LIELĀ BALVA (labākais deju kolektīvs A grupā)

17.-19.11. Dance spectacle Both Sides, Arēna Rīga

 

2016

 

21.02. – 13.03. KADAGYS folk dance television show in Lithuania

28.03. “CIEŠI, CIEŠI” Daiļrade – 25the Anniversary, Dailes Theatre, Riga

15.05. Dance performance Gredzenus mijot repertoire checking competition:

– Higher degree

28.04. Folk dance ensemble festival GREDZENUS MIJOT, Cesis

24.10. V. Ponomarjovs’ 65th Anniversary Concert, Dailes Theatre, Riga

19.11. – 20.11Dance show KipsalaNo zobena saule lēca, Kipsala

 

2014

 

25.01. Creative dance competition in Valmiera:

– 1st place

22.03. Concert of Latvia’s most outstanding dance ensembles Rīga dimd, Liepaja

20.06. – 22.06. Great dance show Lec, saulīte! Mežaparks open-air stage, Riga

09.07. – 13.07. World Choir Olympics Concerts, Mežaparks Open-air Stage and Arena Riga, Riga

 

International trips

 

2015 – Beijing – under the Presidency of Latvia.

2015 – Berlin – International Green Week  2015

 

2019

 

03.03. – The highest grade (Riga City Folk Dance Ensemble Competition)

28.04. – GRAND PRIX for continued development of Latvian National dance and 1st place in competition (XV Children and Youth international choreography competition Rīgas Pavasaris 2019)

14.07 – 2nd place (IX International Folk Dance Festival Contest Sudmaliņas)

2018

 

25.02. XXVI Latvian Song and XVI Dance Celebration Dance Festival Māras zeme repertoire acquisition competition:

– The highest grade

 

22.04. Children and Youth international choregraphy competition„Rīgas Pavasaris 2018”:

– 1st place in folk dance category

03.06. XXVI Latvian Song and XVI Dance Celebration dance ensemble final:

– GOT THE MAIN PRIZE (best dance ensemble among group A)

 

2017

 

28.02. XX Creative Dance Competition

23.04. Children and Youth international choregraphy competition „Rīgas Pavasaris 2017”:

–       – 1st place in the group of professional choreographers (A. Daņiļevičs)

–       – Grand prix for professional and highly artistic performance

Rehearsal for Latvia’s 100th Anniversary XXVI Latvian Song and XVI Dance Celebration – 1st Year repertoire checking competition:

– Higher degree

Anniversary concert of the band Iļģi in Arena Riga

17.07. / 15.08. Dance performance CIEŠI, CIEŠI in Piņķi and Rauna

 

2016

 

21.02. – 13.03. KADAGYS folk dance television show in Lithuania

28.03. “CIEŠI, CIEŠI” Daiļrade – 25the Anniversary, Dailes Theatre, Riga

15.05. Dance performance Gredzenus mijot repertoire checking competition:

– Higher degree

28.04. Folk dance ensemble festival GREDZENUS MIJOT, Cesis

24.10. V. Ponomarjovs’ 65th Anniversary Concert, Dailes Theatre, Riga

19.11. – 20.11Dance show KipsalaNo zobena saule lēca, Kipsala

 

2015

 

15.01. Opening of the world’s largest agricultural exhibition “International Green Week” atklāšana, , Berlin, Germany

05.04. EU Presidency Representation Concert in China, Beijing National Performing Arts Centre Black Pearl

04.05. A big concert of Riga City Group A Dance ensembles  Dod man spēku, dod man laiku,Kipsala

23.05. Dance performance Pavasara nakts mistērijas, Valka

28.06. VIII Gala Concert of the Nordic Baltic Song Festival at Mežaparks open-air stage, Riga

 

2014

 

25.01. Creative dance competition in Valmiera:

– 1st place

22.03. Concert of Latvia’s most outstanding dance ensembles Rīga dimd, Liepaja

20.06. – 22.06. Great dance show Lec, saulīte! Mežaparks open-air stage, Riga

09.07. – 13.07. World Choir Olympics Concerts, Mežaparks Open-air Stage and Arena Riga, Riga

 

2013

 

November. Dance show No zobena saule lēca Kipsala Hall, Riga

24.02. XXV Latvian Song and XV Dance Celebration dance ensemble competition:

–       – Highest grade to Folk Art Center Mazā ģilde dance ensemble Daiļrade – 64.5 points

July. XXV Latvian Song and XV Dance Celebration dance ensemble competition:

–       – First place to Folk Art Center Mazā ģilde dance ensemble Daiļrade – 19.1 points

XXV Latvian Song and XV Dance Celebration

 

International trips

 

2015 – Beijing – under the Presidency of Latvia.

2015 – Berlin – International Green Week  2015

 

Group D

Founded in 2016

2019

 

03.03. – The highest grade (Riga City Folk Dance Ensemble Competition)

14.07 – 2nd place (IX International Folk Dance Festival Contest Sudmaliņas)

2018

Higher degree in the competition on May 7, 2018, at VEF Culture House, Riga. 2nd/3rd place in the repertoire acquisition competition of the XXVI Latvian Song and XVI Dance Celebration Dance Festival Māras zeme:

1st Place to the Riga Municipality association of cultural institutions Concert organization Ave sol middle age dance ensemble Teiksma – 59.1 points

2nd/3rd Place – University of Latvia Society Juventus middle age dance ensemble Dancis – 58.3 points

2nd/3rd Place – Riga Culture and Folk Art Center Mazā ģilde dance ensemble Daiļrade – 58.3 points

 

03.06. XXVI General Latvian Song and XVI Dance Celebration dance ensemble Final:

– GOT THE MAIN PRIZE (best dance ensemble in group D)

 

 

2017

 

The highest grade in the competition on April 30, 2017 in the Culture Palace Ziemeļblāzma, Riga.

The highest grade and 3rd place in the XXVI Latvian Song and XVI Dance Celebration Dance Festival Māras zeme repertoire acquisition competition:

  1. 1st place – University of Latvia Society Juventus middle age Dance ensemble Dancis – 59.5 points
  2. 2nd place – Riga Folk Art Center Mazā ģilde middle age dance ensemble Līgo – 59.0 points
  3. 3rd place – Riga Culture and Folk Art Center Mazā ģilde dance ensemble Daiļrade – 58.7 points

 

2016

 

Highest grade skatē in the competition on May 7, 2016, in Vecpiebalga Culture House, Vecpiebalga.