Dance, song and good food are some of the main ways we come together to enjoy ourselves and spend time with one another. These creative acts don’t just revive us, they have transformative power. That’s why five events will take place this summer and autumn, culminating in a grand finale celebration at K.K. fon Stricka villa, which will invite people to dust off the cobwebs from the skills we all know so well: coming together to dance, sing, feast and celebrate. Celebrate what, exactly? We can always find a reason, and this skill has often helped us when the world around us is full of change and uncertainty.  

“We are good at celebrating, inviting visitors and being guests ourselves. And not just by sitting around the table, but also through movement and dancing together, song and harmonising together. The people of Latvia have used this as a unique cultural ability to bond and an underappreciated mental health skill even in times when onlookers might have thought it impossible. We came together to visit others, enjoy ourselves, dance and sing without bias: whether our cousin or neighbour, adults or children, everyone got involved. If the situation and our nerves required, we even quarrelled, so that we could go right back to laughing together,” explains event founder Mārtiņš Mielavs.

Global Dance Jam is a series of events for coming together to celebrate dance, food and song from Eastern Europe to India and back. Attendees will also be invited to take part in the creative process themselves. The programme has been developed by contemporary dance company SIXTH, chef Mārtiņš Sirmais, food culture researcher Dr. Astra Spalvēna, content creator Gokuls, musician and lecturer Linards Kalniņš, a choir, and others who know a thing or two about celebrating.

The programme will be announced soon, more details to follow.

More information: Mārtiņš Mielavs, [email protected], tel. 29988706