Dance Festival-Competition “Aušrinė Star” to Bring Together One and a Half Thousand Participants in Šiauliai
Organizer – Šiauliai Cultural Center. Funded by the Šiauliai City Municipality.Events are free of charge.
For almost two decades, the festival-competition “Aušrinė Star” has enriched the cultural life of Šiauliai as a unique dance celebration bringing talented performers and audiences together in a shared creative space. The event is organized by the Šiauliai Cultural Center Choreography Studio Aušrelė, one of the longest-running groups of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, active since 1962.
This year, the festival will take place for the nineteenth time and will offer a rich programme reflecting different dance genres, generations, and artistic directions. The programme will begin on May 14 with the announcement of the winners of the remote competition section on the website and Facebook page of the Šiauliai Cultural Center.
The main highlight of the festival will be the competition programmes traditionally covering three dance genres: folk, contemporary, and classical dance. Ensembles from Lithuania, Latvia, and Ukraine will present live performances in Šiauliai, while remote participation will include dancers from Ukraine, Estonia, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Georgia. Participants will compete in different age groups, and their performances will be evaluated by a professional jury based on technical execution, artistic expression, and repertoire suitability. Organizers note that all competition programmes of the “Aušrinė Star” festival will take place at the Šiauliai Cultural Center from May 15 to 17.
The artistic directors of the Šiauliai Cultural Center Choreography Studio Aušrelė, Mindaugas Kosaitis and Vita Adomėnaitė-Butnorienė, emphasize the unifying power of dance: “Different dance styles, experiences, and generations meet at the festival, but everyone is united by one common language – movement. It is a space where not only creative discoveries are born, but also togetherness.”
On May 15, Povilas Višinskis Square will become the heart of the festival with the Happiness Festival “Saulė virė”, inviting participants of all ages into a colorful and playful environment where music, movement, and creativity merge. The programme will feature not only musical performances and the cheerful “Fly and Mosquito Buzz”, but also artistic and creative workshops encouraging participation, self-expression, and togetherness among children and families. The event will feature performances by Lauros studija (leader Laura Remeikienė) and the dance and creativity studio Scena (leader Greta Kalakauskaitė), creating a festive atmosphere full of energy and positive emotions. In the evening, a colorful parade of festival participants will stretch through the city streets, culminating in the ceremonial opening of the festival, featuring dancers of the Šiauliai Cultural Center Choreography Studio Aušrelė and festival guests, as well as the awards ceremony for the first winners.
“Every year we strive for the festival to be not only a competition, but also a celebration for the whole city – with events for different audiences, unexpected performances, and opportunities to experience dance in various forms,” says the creator, coordinator, and organizer of the festival, cultural activities manager Zita Mundinienė.
The festive atmosphere of the evening will continue with the traditional folk dance event “Everybody Dances”, inviting spectators not only to watch, but also to join the common dance circle themselves. This is a living experience of Lithuanian traditions where music, movement, and togetherness merge, with the festive mood created by the folklore ensemble “Aldija” of the Radviliškis City Cultural Center (leader Darius Stakvilevičius).
On May 16 at 7 p.m., Povilas Višinskis Square will host a special performance of “The Sea” by the Kaunas Dance Theatre Aura, created to the music of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. In the performance, choreographer Birutė Letukaitė interprets Čiurlionis’ symphony “The Sea” as a contemporary metaphor revealing the complex relationship between humans and nature as well as the inner states of modern society. The work addresses sensitive themes ranging from pollution of the Baltic Sea to the spiritual condition of humanity, inviting reflection on the loss of balance and responsibility toward the environment. Alongside dancers of the Kaunas Dance Theatre Aura, students from the M. K. Čiurlionis National School of Art and the Kaunas M. Petrauskas School of Performing Arts will perform.
On the final day of the festival, May 17, the celebration will culminate with the performance “Karl and the Flowers” by the Baltic Ballet Theatre – a colorful and easily understandable story about the magician Karl and his magical garden, exploring themes of friendship, compassion, and inner beauty. The ballet features music by Patrick Doyle from the Harry Potter films, complemented by video installations.
The International Dance Festival-Competition “Aušrinė Star” is not only a competition, but also a living cultural phenomenon that strengthens the community, encourages creativity, and nurtures the art of dance. The four-day celebration invites residents and visitors of Šiauliai to become part of this inspiring world of movement, music, and emotion.
Organizers note that in case of bad weather, outdoor events will be moved to the Šiauliai Cultural Center. The full programme of the 19th International Dance Festival-Competition “Aušrinė Star” can be found on the website of the Šiauliai Cultural Center: Šiaulių kultūros centras.
Information provided by Zita Mundinienė, cultural activities manager of the Šiauliai Cultural Center Choreography Studio Aušrelė, mobile: +370 678 36 701, email: zita.mundiniene@siauliukc.lt.
Photos by Rolandas Parafinavičius, Liubov Yarmoshenko, Gintarė Daknytė, Jonas Danielevičius, and archive materials.
Atnaujinta: 2026-05-15 09:12