On 13 May, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the creative team behind the XIII Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival at the Riga Castle to discuss the upcoming festival, related organisational matters, and particularly the accessibility of the event and the vision for the future development of the song and dance festival movement.
“I would like to thank the entire creative team of the XIII Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival for their energy and dedicated work in preparing what promises to be a truly festive and memorable event – for participants, spectators, and the whole of Latvia. In discussions surrounding the Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival, we often overlook the most important question – what is the true purpose of this festival? First and foremost, it should be a festival created by and for our children and young people from all across Latvia. This festival should unite, not discourage the younger generation from wishing to participate. The tradition of the Song and Dance Festival is a creative process, and it requires collaboration and respectful dialogue from all involved. This is also an inclusive process, culminating in a celebration. In many ways, it is a celebration of Latvian song and dance tradition – not an event for cultivating only excellence. This is particularly important now for several reasons. First, the future of the Song and Dance Festival movement and its continuity largely depends on skilful and well-considered organisation of the events. The pandemic deprived children and young people of the opportunity to experience the festival in person, and as a result, many distanced themselves from the movement and did not return. Second, demographic trends in the coming decades are not favourable. This makes it even more vital to consider how to attract, engage, and retain children and young people who wish to take part in the Song and Dance Festival movement. It is therefore essential to involve all children and young people from across Latvia in this festival. I call on the creative team to think ahead and act wisely, so that future generations of young people in Latvia remain engaged with this unique cultural tradition and continue to participate in it,” said President Rinkēvičs after the meeting.
On 14 April of this year, during a meeting with Minister for Education and Science Dace Melbārde, President Edgars Rinkēvičs assumed patronage of the XIII Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival.
The President of Latvia met with the artistic director of the folk dance grand performance "Es atvēru Laimas dārzu", Dagmāra Bārbale, the artistic director of the closing concert "TE-AUST", Edgars Vītols, the artistic director of the contemporary dance production "Kastaņa puslode", Edīte Ābeltiņa, the artistic director of the staged dance performance "Viedvasara", Jānis Ērglis, the director of the parade and wind orchestra concert, Inga Krišāne, the vocal ensemble and choral music expert, Antra Strikaite, the expert in wind orchestras, symphony orchestras and vocal-instrumental ensembles, Egils Šķetris, the folklore programme expert, Māra Mellēna, the Head of the Cooperation Department of the State Education Development Agency (VIAA), Agra Bērziņa, and the Head of the Organising Committee of the XIII Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival, Inga Vasiļjeva.
