The Golden Era of Latvian Stage Dance: Moss, Zagata, and Spura – A Concert Review by “Dancis” Artistic Director Rolandas Juraševski

Three choreographers who created Latvian stage dance in the second half of the 20th century, which we can no longer experience in this century, only to see in old film footage, pictures, hear in the memories of contemporaries and see in a concert organized by “Dancis”. The idea and management of the concert belongs to the artistic director of “Danča” Rolandas Juraševski.

What were they like – Moss, Zagata, Spura?

Folk dance, with the direct influence of this year’s centenary Harijs Sūnas (1923-1999), from a folk dance that fits well in the square or in the Dance Festival stadium, became a dance art suitable for the stage. Sūnas’s “Dancis” experienced its first recognition on the main stages of the Soviet Empire at the Student Festival in Moscow, where the dance skills of Latvian students were highly appreciated at the international level as well.

Harry Sūna with the leaders of the Dance Festival in 1980. From the right: Zinaida Zeltmate, Uldis Žagata, Ingrīda Saulīte, Harijs Sūna, Inta Dimante, Osvald Strauss. Photo: From the archive

Sūna did not continue his path to fame, his idea of ​​a song and dance ensemble at the state university was not supported by the leadership of the Ministry of Culture of the LPSR, they say, there is already a professional ensemble in the philharmonic… That’s why he went to study choreographic folklore at the Academy of Sciences, thus paving the way for Uldi Žagat (1928-2015) , who went from working as a professional ballet dancer to, as he said at the time, artistic self-employment.

Ballet artist and choreographer Alfred Spura. Photo: Song Festival Repository/LNB

Working with students at the university “Dancī” from Žagata created a professional choreographer, which allowed him to manage the folk ballet troupe of the highest caliber, or the national dance ensemble “Daile”. On the other hand, Žagata’s transfer to “Daila” opened the way for Alfred Spur (1928-2001), who, like Žagata, was a ballet dancer. Spura “Danci” transformed and taught to suggest students that they followed him everywhere and always.

Three words for the joy of dancing

The concert “Three words for the joy of dancing” took place in the National Theater in a full and already sold out hall. Let’s take a look at the concert program. Here are the dances of Ulda Žagata: “I taught you how to dance”, “The earth, the people rode”, “Zemgale”, “I drove all around Riga”, “Where you were, white ones”, “High mountains behind the lake”, “Achikops”, “As in a fairy tale”, “When I wanted, I stalled”, “Dejotpriks”, “Oh, the land of the fathers”.

“Like in a fairy tale”. Choreography by Ulda Žagata, “Dancis” dance. Photo: Jurgis Rikveilis
2023-12-25 22:01:07


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