“Head iseseisvuspäeva! Happy Independence Day Estonia!”
The year 2024 marks the 90th anniversary of the 1st Üldtantsupidu (Estonian Dance Festival) held June 15–17, 1934 and the 90th anniversary of the first documented performance of Estonian folk dancing in Australia in Sydney.
To celebrate our heritage, culture and community Sydney Virmalised have released six recordings of our favourite dances on the 106th Anniversary of the Independence of Estonia.
You can view these dances online on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCboXfWcatmRoCnwHb98IA8I9P-r9AFwY
These videos are not only a public resource for anyone to use when rehearsing but form a snapshot and archive of our activities in Australia in 2024. As we put in our bid to perform at Tantsupidu in 2025 we hope to record more of our dances and make them available to the public!
These videos were performed on Wangal Country at Latvian House, Strathfield with filming and editing by Liam Black. We thank the Sidnejas Latviešu Biedrība / Sydney Latvian Society for allowing us to use their hall for recording.
Thankyou to all of our dedicated dancers Taimi Maidla, Tiit Simonlaster, Rachel Matwisyk, Warwick King, Jana Mõisa-King, Andrew Kass, Ella Scott, Ximonie Clark, Rhys Maidla, Esmee Okamoto, Lachlan Bell, Marissa Pikkat, Felix Parker and Charlotte Boyd and we hope to keep expanding our team and repertoire. Elagu eesti!
