On Saturday, 17 October, at 5:00 PM, K. K. von Stricka Villa will host a vibrant celebration bringing together food experts, dancers, artists and researchers to explore Indian and Latvian traditions and their contemporary interpretations through dance, food and conversation.

The programme will open with a lecture by food culture researcher Dr. art. Astra Spalvēna on Latvian food culture in exile: “Longing and Belonging: Food, Identity and a Sense of Home”. It will be followed by a conversation led by chef Mārtiņš Sirmais exploring the stories and flavours of Indian and Latvian cuisine, and the places where these culinary traditions meet (and where they do not).

The evening will continue with the opening of a harvest feast featuring seasonal Latvian and Indian dishes, accompanied by a new dance created by the choreographers’ collective SIXTH together with members of the Indian community. Dancer Ravi Solanki and his “Bollywood in Riga” dance studio will also take the stage, followed by Latvian traditional dance and folk song workshops led by the folk musicians, dance leaders and artists of “Rīgas danči” as well as Rīga Stradiņš University folk dance ensemble ‘Ačkups’.

The celebration will culminate in a special dance performance created collectively by the performers and the audience.

For those ready to take a break from the dancing and feast, K. K. von Stricka Villa owner Mārtiņš Mielavs will offer short guided tours of the historic building, sharing stories about its unique history. Over the years, the villa has become a vibrant meeting place for diverse communities and people, as well as a venue for celebrations, concerts and cultural events.

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. 

Global Dance Jam is a cycle of cultural events which aims to promote the social and cultural integration of third country nationals in Latvia through interdisciplinary, artistic and creative tools. This project is co-financed by the European Union through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (75%) and the Latvian State Budget (25%).