“Aušrinė Žvaigždė” United Different Languages of Dance and Hundreds of Talented Performers
Organizer – Šiauliai Cultural Center. Funded by Šiauliai City Municipality.
For nearly two decades, the “Aušrinė Žvaigždė” festival-competition has continued to demonstrate its cultural significance to the city. For four days, stories were told through movement, music, and emotion in many different languages of dance – performers of various generations and dance genres met on stage, while festival events attracted full audiences throughout the city.
The festival program began with the remote competition category, which featured dancers from Ukraine, Estonia, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Georgia. During the live competition performances in Šiauliai, groups from Lithuania, Latvia, and Ukraine showcased their talent. As every year, participants competed in folk, contemporary, and classical dance categories, with performances evaluated by a professional jury based on technical execution, artistic expression, and the suitability of the repertoire.
The festival atmosphere also extended into the city’s public spaces. The Happiness Festival “The Sun Was Brewing”, held in Povilas Višinskis Square, invited families and residents to an afternoon filled with music, creativity, and movement. The event featured performances by Laura’s Studio (Director L. Remeikienė) and the dance and creative arts studio Scena (Director G. Kalakauskaitė), as well as creative workshops and playful activities for children.
One of the festival’s most memorable highlights was the colorful parade of participants through the city streets and the official festival opening ceremony, featuring performances by festival participants, dancers from the Aušrelė choreography studio, and special guests. The festive atmosphere continued that evening with the traditional folk dance event “Everyone Dances”, which brought audiences together in a communal dance circle alongside the folklore ensemble Aldija of the Radviliškis City Cultural Center (Director D. Stakvilevičius).
The festival concluded with the Baltic Ballet Theatre’s performance “Karl and the Flowers” – a colorful story for the whole family about friendship, compassion, and inner beauty. Audiences were captivated not only by the choreography and video installations but also by Patrick Doyle’s music from the Harry Potter films.
The International Dance Festival-Competition “Aušrinė Žvaigždė” once again proved that dance can become a universal language that unites different cultures, generations, and experiences. The organizers are delighted that the festival continues to grow each year, attracting increasing numbers of participants and audiences while creating a space not only for artistic development but also for genuine community spirit.
The entire team of the choreography studio Aušrelė contributed to the organization and implementation of the festival – Art Directors Mindaugas Kosaitis and Vita Adomėnaitė-Butnorienė, accompanist Vilma Begonienė, and Cultural Activities Manager Zita Mundinienė.
The organizers hope that the emotions experienced during the festival, the new friendships formed, and the inspiration for creativity will remain with participants for a long time, and that next year “Aušrinė Žvaigždė” will return to Šiauliai even brighter and even more successful in bringing together dance enthusiasts.
For more information, please contact Zita Mundinienė, Cultural Activities Manager of the Aušrelė Choreography Studio at the Šiauliai Cultural Center, mobile: +370 678 36 701, email: zita.mundiniene@siauliukc.lt.
Photo by Liubov Yarmoshenko.
More photos can be found on the Šiauliai Cultural Center Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/siauliukulturoscentras/photos_albums.
Atnaujinta: 2026-06-04 08:51