Republican Folk Dance Festival “Time Turns, Dance Turns” Swept Through Šiauliai
Organizer – Šiauliai Cultural Center.
The festive evening was opened by the hosts of the event – the Šiauliai Cultural Center folk dance ensemble “Kalatinis.” They filled the stage with the festive and symbolic pieces “Mergvakario valsas” and “Kalatinis,” as if opening the circle of the celebration and inviting everyone into a shared journey of dance. Later, all the other participants joined them, and the stage turned into a picture of unity, where dancers from different cities, experiences, and generations met.
The event was not a competition or contest – it was a warm gathering where togetherness, experience, and emotion became the most important aspects. People from different cities and cultures were united by their love for dance, and the stage became a kind of map of tradition, demonstrating that folk dance remains an important part of cultural identity.
According to Indrė Šerpytienė, art director of the Šiauliai Cultural Center folk dance ensemble “Kalatinis,” the event once again confirmed the power of dance to unite people: “Today we were once again convinced that dance has no age limits. On stage we saw not only movement – we saw life experience, togetherness, and devotion to tradition. For me, as an art director, the greatest value is that dance brought together so many different people and allowed us to feel the true strength of community.”
She emphasized that this year the title of the celebration gained a special meaning: “The title of the celebration ‘Time Turns, Dance Turns’ gained a special meaning today. Time truly turns, yet dance remains – it matures together with a person. I am glad that we were able to create a space where experience became the greatest value.”
The event once again reminded everyone that culture remains alive as long as people nurture it. The ensembles on stage radiated dignity, experience, and sincere love for dance, and their dedication to traditions became an inspiration both for the audience and for the organizers.
In total, 12 ensembles participated in the event: the Šiauliai Cultural Center folk dance ensemble “Kalatinis” (art directors Indrė Šerpytienė and Evaldas Račkauskas, vocal group leader Sandra Giedrė), the Šiauliai Cultural Center folk dance group “Vajaunas” (art director Romualdas Laugalis), the Kaunas District Ežerėlis Cultural Center folk dance ensemble “Rasa” (art director and orchestra leader Gintaras Vilčiauskas, choreographer Darius Žilinskas), the Palanga Cultural Center senior folk dance ensemble “Bočiai” (leader Eglė Baltriukienė), the Šakiai Cultural Center senior folk dance group “Girėnai” (leader Vitalija Venienė), the Šakiai Cultural Center folk dance group “Vijūras” (leader Justė Lukauskienė), the Kelmė Cultural Center senior folk dance group “Patrepsėlis” (leader Dijana Bakšienė), the Telšiai Cultural Center senior dance ensemble “Džiugas” (leader Janina Rainienė), the Šiauliai District Municipality Cultural Center senior folk dance group “Diemedis” (leaders Loreta Lideikienė and Mantas Meškauskas), the senior folk dance group “Šermukšnis” of the public institution “Šermukšnio kekė” (art director Indrė Šerpytienė, leader Evaldas Račkauskas), the senior dance group “Gauja FIX” of the Valmiera Cultural Center in Latvia (art director Iluta Uškāne), and the senior national dance ensemble “Bijūnas” of the Lithuanian Community in Latvia (leader Rolandas Žalnierius).
More photos can be found on the Šiauliai Cultural Center Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1397688115735349&type=3
Photos by Rolandas Parafinavičius.
Information provided by Aušra Brijūnienė, Head of the Amateur Arts Department at the Šiauliai Cultural Center,
mob. +370 655 25 527, e-mail ausra.brijuniene@siauliukc.lt.
Atnaujinta: 2026-03-13 10:59