The Latvian Song and Dance Festival is the Latvian mega-event held every five years in Riga that features a cast of literally thousands. In 2008 it was been entered into the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity – and rightly so, as it truly is an achievement in human collaboration celebrating culture and national pride.

The Lithuanian and Estonian counterparts are just as magnificent and awe-inspiring – proof that a life-long pride in their national song and dance has been embedded in the collective psyche of the three Baltic countries.

Looking at the festival from the perspective of a participant involved in one of the amateur diaspora choirs I can vouch for the spirit of inclusiveness and togetherness that permeated the massed choir of 15 400 singers (this includes the mixed choir and the mens’ and womens’ choirs – all the choirs sang the final three songs of the Final Concert together at the Mežaparks Open-Air Concert Hall). The 12,000 dancers have their own stories to tell – of many hours of hard work rehearsing but at the same time a sense of exhilaration, wonderment and joy of having the opportunity to take part in this event.

It was an extravaganza of sound, colour and rhythm. A test of endurance for the participants and patience for the audience. Logistical preparations of mammoth proportion – to bring together such a huge number of participants – both the singers and the dancers. At the end of the weeklong festivities the feeling was a sense of achievement, of unity with Latvians worldwide and at the same time – thankfulness that so many participants living outside Latvia could take part. This truly was a united effort.

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I’ll share a few glimpses from the festival that will remain with me and have also added the feelings of a few fellow participants and spectators. Feel free to add your memories too – on the Latvians Online Facebook page!

• Looking into the sea of singers during the concert and pinching myself, reminding myself that I am a part of this vocal tour-de-force and that in spirit we are united in song with the whole Latvian nation.
• Catching the tram with countless other participants wearing national costumes and thinking how odd this would seem to a tourist or even a Latvian who is visiting for the first time – you may actually believe this is the customary daily in this country!
• The market at Vērmanes dārzs and beer garden Egle – both a meeting place for young and old, locals from Riga and the countryside and Latvians living outside Latvia. The feeling that all the Latvians I’d ever met in my life were all congregating in one place!
• The mass of dancers that gathered together for the grand finale at the Dance Concert “Tēvu laipas” –  were like a river of bodies that flowed through each other, a visual spectacle beyond comparison.
• Feeling like a celebrity when our Latvian choirs and dance groups from overseas joined the procession down Brīvības iela. The spectators’ cheering and greetings of “Brauciet mājās” were taken on board with the meaning – “Come home” not “Go home”, as some had interpreted it.
• The sense of sheer joy at the end of the final song concert when hundreds of singers threw their “Jāņu vaiņagi” (flower garlands) into the air. What a rollercoaster of a ride!

James Nobes (Adelaide, Austrālija – married to a Latvian, sang in the Mixed Choir):
Dziesmu svētki really brings Latvia to life, and reaches out and involves not only everyone there but all Latvians around the world. It was such a positive and emotional event it’s hard not to be swept away by it all. So much of Latvia is captured in song and dance and this is the perfect way to share it.

Anta Elferte (Dublina, Īrija):
Jā, es šos svētkus jūtu dvēselē. Droši vien tāpat kā pārējā latvju tauta. Lai arī manas pēdas svilst no tulznām, fiziskais ķermenis ir pārguris un balss saites atsakās klausīt, dvēsele gavilē par to, ko mēs varam, kas mēs esam.

Zinta Zvaigzne (Adelaide, Austrālija):
Mēģinājumi bija gari un grūti – un karsti – un biju pārsteigta, kad vairāki koristi izģērbās līdz apakšveļaii, kamēr mēs (no Austrālijas) sargājāmies no saules, kā vien varējām. Un viņi ģība! Tā bija grūta slodze. Koncerta dziesmas skanēja brīnišķīgi, un man bija liels lepnums un prieks, ka mums deva iespēju piedalīties.
Sevišķi iepriecināja beigas, kad koristi uzmeta vainagus gaisā. Mans dzīves biedrs Marks noklausījās visu koncertu ar lielu sajūsmu un aizrautību. Kaut viņš nesaprot latviešu valodu, viņu ļoti ietekmēja mūzika un balss harmonijas. Nedēļu velāk viņš teica, ka viņam vēl skan “Lūgšana” ausīs!

Kārlis Ātrēns (Adelaide, Austrālija):
Mēģinājuma solārijā karsu, dziedāju un baudīju kolonnas visu dienu līdz vakaram. Kad desmitos tiku atpakaļ civilizācijā bija grūti sameklēt pārtikas veikalu, lai stiprinātos nākošai dienai. Bet izturēju piektdienas mēginājumu un tad vēl divus sagatavošanās koncertus sestdien un gājienu un koncertu svētdien. Pretstatā 2008. gadam šoreiz bija strādāšana un izturības pārbaude, ne atpūta, vai garīga izklaide. Es apbrīnoju klausītāju izturību baudīt 5 ar pus stundu garo sniegumu!

Rasma Gaide (Toronto, Kanāda):
Dziesmu un deju svētki mani apgaro ar iespēju tos pilnīgi baudīt no jebkura skatu punkta. Dejotājs, dziedātājs, skatītājs, puķu pārdevējs, brīvprātigais darbinieks, Mežaparka priedēs gavilējošs bezbiļetnieks svētkos gūst savu neatkārtojamo prieku. Šogad dziedāju kopā ar četrdesmit diviem Kanādas apvienotā kora dalībniekiem, dziedāju kopā ar padsmit tūkstošiem citu koristu un kopā ar savu vienu vienīgo mīļo latviešu tautu. Manas pagājušo svētku sajūtas ir vārdos neaprakstāmas, vien dvēseliskā dziesmā izdziedāmas. 

Dāvids Zemdegs (Melburna, Austrālija):
Dziesmu Svētki to me is the “Mecca” for choir singers. I find it hard to express in words the incredible experience this was for me. I shall never forget that concert. I have decided to go to every Dziesmu Svetki for as long as I live!

Elīna Rikarde (Adelaide, Austrālija):
Dziesmu svētki iedvesmo, saliedē un dod ticību nākotnei. Šie svētki ir kā spēcinošs un dziedinošs svaiga gaisa malks. Visas nedēļas laikā daudzi latvieši pastiprināti gāja uz dažādiem pasākumiem, lai tikai vairāk uzņemtu īpašas sajūtas, kas pavadīs mūs nākamos 5 gadus.

Sally Cīrulis (Melburna, Austrālija – took part in the Dance Festival):
It was an awesome experience to be a participant in the dancing at Dziesmu Svētki. The rehearsals were long and hot but so worthwhile once the concerts started. On the first concert where my children and father-in-law were watching, I was feeling emotional and proud to be dancing Latvian dancing with my husband in Latvia. It was so exciting to be involved. A huge spectacle and something amazing to be part of. I thoroughly enjoyed it, a real buzz. I will return to dance in 5 years.

Edgar Vegners (Melbourne, Australia):
Taking part in both the Jauktais Koris and Vīru Koris was utter madness, but ensured that I had the best view and sound during the final concert. The days in the sun rehearsing were brutal and fun in equal measure. Some moments of the actual concert were sublime and transcendental. I loved Riga in summer (a first for me). It is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet.

Dace Mažeika (Rīga, Latvija):
Brīnišķīga, tautu apvienojoša sajūta. Vairākkārt biju lieciniece sabiedriskā transporta sarunām, kad latvieši vai latviešu izcelsmes dziesmu un deju svētku dalībnieki gan pacilāti, gan lietišķi apspriežas ar rīdziniekiem. Padomi, pieredze, informācijas apmaiņa un neizmērojama kopības un visiem vienlaikus svinamu svētku sajūta. Kaut izdotos vismaz daļu no tā realizēt mūsu ikdienas dzīvē un darbos gan Latvijā, gan pasaulē!