Lithuanian Dancers. Dainu Svente

Lithuanian Dancers.

Dainų Šventė

Lithuanian Dancers.

Dainų Šventė

Dainu Svente is a Lithuanian Folk Song and Dance festuval that takes place in Vilnius, Lithuania every four years. It’s a place where all Lithuanian folk dancers from all over the world come together. Thousands of dancers unite together and share the beauty of Lithuanian culture through dance.

I was a participant in the summer of 2018 together with ‘Baltija’ dance group from Stockholm, Sweden. During the festival I was dancing with ‘Gintaras’ from Hamburg, Germany as they had lack of members in theirs.

The dance rehearsals for international folk dance groups were at Vingis park where we spent 4 full days practicing. The same dances over and over. In the rain. All soaked. But still dancing. There was no day when we had no rain this year. Ponchos were sold out everywhere. One of the best feelings was getting a lunch break so you can go under the roof.

REHEARSALS AT VINGIS PARK

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

ACCOMMODATION ANTAKALNIS, VILNIUS

We stayed in student dorms. Two folk dance groups - ‘Baltija’ and Hamburg ‘Gintaras’.

turned one of the rooms into a food & drink party spot

RAIN - REHEARSAL - RAIN

While the stage is being put up, we are wet cold and hungry. But happy. There were problems with food, some people were left without a bite to eat.

‘Baltija’s’ lunch spots

‘Baltija’

‘Gintaras’ Hamburg

DAINŲ ŠVENTĖ FINAL CONCERT ‘GINTARAS’ HAMBURG

We walked in Lithuanian folk costumes around the city the whole day. Later in the evening we danced. Like never before. Everyone smiled and everyone made each other put that smile on the face.

Kotryna JuĹĄkaitÄ— kotrynajuskaite.com Photos taken with film on Canon Z135 Beginning of July, 2018