"The Morning Star" Shone Over Šiauliai: Four Days of Dance, Emotion, and Togetherness

A vibrant celebration of dance has filled the city of Šiauliai as the 18th International Dance Festival-Competition “Aušrinė Žvaigždė”, organized by the Choreography Studio Aušrelė of the Šiauliai Cultural Center (artistic directors M. Kosaitis and V. Adomėnaitė-Butnorienė), came to a close. From May 15 to 18, rhythm, creativity, and emotion reigned at the Šiauliai Cultural Center. This large-scale event brought together nearly 1,500 dancers from Lithuania and abroad, delivering unforgettable performances filled with sincerity and artistic expression.
Organizer – Šiauliai Cultural Center. Funded by – Šiauliai City Municipality.

Although nature brought its challenges this year – due to unfavorable weather, the events were moved indoors to the Šiauliai Cultural Center – this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the participants or the experience of the audience. On the contrary, the cozy atmosphere, professional technical setup, and warm community spirit further intensified the emotional impact of the festival. Good vibes were everywhere – smiles, warm conversations, and mutual support accompanied the entire event.

The heart of the festival was the competition program, where participants competed in three categories: folk dance, classical dance, and contemporary dance. Performances were divided into age groups, allowing the audience to enjoy both professional ensembles and young talents performing in duets or as soloists. Each performance, lasting no longer than four minutes, was evaluated by a professional jury, which considered technical execution, aesthetics, and the suitability of the repertoire to the performers’ age. The competition program held at the Šiauliai Cultural Center stood as a true testament to professionalism, expressiveness, and artistic maturity.

For the fifth consecutive year, participation in the festival-competition was also available remotely. Dancers from Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia performed live in Šiauliai, while talents from the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Denmark, Latvia, and the United States showcased their skills remotely.

In addition to the competition performances in folk, classical, and contemporary dance, the festival featured an impressive artistic program: a grand opening ceremony, concerts, and the folk dance event “Everyone Dances” (Šoka visi), where the folk ensemble “Salduvė” (dir. D. Daknys) from the Šiauliai Cultural Center's Laiptų Galerija spread festive cheer. Also featured was the ballet performance “Emotions” by the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts Ballet Department. A premiere awaited local residents and visitors – the dance performance “A Story of One Generation”, featuring the Fresko Dance Studio from the Vilkaviškis Children and Youth Center, Aušrelė Choreography Studio, F.U. Dance Studio, and the live band Voiceless. Each event left a lasting impression – the audience admired not only the dancers’ technical mastery but also their emotional depth, creativity, and ability to convey profound feelings on stage.

As every year, the entire Aušrelė Choreography Studio team contributed to organizing and implementing the festival-competition: artistic directors Mindaugas Kosaitis and Vita Adomėnaitė-Butnorienė, accompanist Vilma Begonienė, and cultural activity manager Zita Mundinienė.

The organizers hope that the emotions experienced, friendships formed, and creative inspiration gained during the festival will stay with the participants for a long time and that next year “Aušrinė Žvaigždė” will return even stronger, larger, and more uniting for dance lovers from all over the world.

Information provided by Zita Mundinienė, Cultural Activity Manager of the Choreography Studio “Aušrelė” at Šiauliai Cultural Center, mob. +370 678 36 701, e-mail: zita.mundiniene@siauliukc.lt.