Estonian Folk Dance

Since the the independence of Estonia in 1991, participation in Estonian folk music and dancing has waned in North America.  In 2006, to reverse this trend and energize our young people to our traditions, the Estonian Folk Dancers of the Washington D.C. area, called Pillerkaar, organized a major dance festival:
Ida Ranniku Eesti Küla Simman – which means East Coast Estonian Village Festival or IREKS  for short.   

We invited all the Estonian dance groups we knew, but found that many of them – from New York, Toronto, Connecticut, Lakewood – had dispersed. Who was left? The Baltimore Estonia House had a children’s program, but only Portland, Oregon had a program as active as Pillerkaar’s.

To widen the appeal of the Simman, we elected to host a major dance group from Estonia – Kandali. And we invited our fellow Balts to dance with us. The results were spectacular – an integrated Baltic celebration on April 28, 2007, that brought in nine dance groups, singers, an all-Baltic string band, and an audience of 350 people – Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, as well as non-Balts.  

The event was held near Dulles Airport in northern Virginia. All agreed that it was a memorable occasion, and that we should do it again. So here it is, 2010, and another IREKS is coming in a few months – a festival that will include three Estonian groups, four Lithuanian groups, two Latvian groups, and various singers and instrumentalists.

Our hope is that these festivals will be fun for our young people – so that they will really look forward to taking part in traditional Baltic cultures. Our three nations share much history, after all, and we can help each other remain strong and viable in changing times.

Due to the success of IREKS 2007 and 2008, there will be another
IREKS on Saturday April 17, 2010 at the Lithuanian Hall from 12-6 pm
in Baltimore, Maryland, just a few blocks from the bay. 

We have listed the names of some hotels at the Inner Harbor 
in the section below which are fairly close to the Lithuanian Hall. 

You will have time on Sunday to visit the beautiful Baltimore
Inner Harbor if you have never seen it.

                                            Lithuanian Hall
                                     851-853 Hollins Street
                                      Baltimore, MD  21201
                                         1-410-685-5787

                 As street parking is limited, please see below for
                                 information on where to park.

As there is little street parking around the area of the Lithuanian Hall, we have found another parking lot, just two blocks from the Lithuanian Hall, to be open from 9am until midnight on April 17, 2010:

Bio Garage (only 10 story building in area)
1 North Poppleton Street (corner of Poppleton and Baltimore Streets)
Baltimore, MD
1-443-367-1880

Cost:  $10.00 for the full day

An attendant will be there all day to ensure that the garage is secure.

Pillerkaar – Estonian Folk Dancers from Washington DC Metro Area

Kirile Loo - Traditional Estonian singer from Tallinn

Lithuanian Kristionas Donelaitis School - Rockville, MD

Malunas - Lithuanian Folk Dancers from Baltimore

Jore - Lithuanian Folk Dancers and Singers from Baltimore

Ausrine - Lithuanian Folk Dancers from Philadelphia

Vasingtonas Namejs – Latvian Folk Dancers from the DC Metro Area

Filadelfijas Dzirkstele – Latvian Folk Dancers from Philadelphia

Sudravavots – Latvian Folk Ensemble from Washington DC Metro Area

Baltic String Band - Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians

April 17, 2010, at the Lithuanian Hall, Baltimore, MD

12:00-1:00 pm - gathering and cocktails (cash bar)

1:00-2:00 pm - Buffet lunch provided by Lithuanian House Catering

2:00-3:30 pm - Baltic Folk Dancing Program

3:30-4:00  Intermission

4:00-6:00 pm - Baltic Folk Dancing Program

***

7:00 pm - ? Dancing and improvising (bring your own instrument if you would like to jam)

Lithuanian Hall is open for dancing, drinks, and dinner

Tickets (includes buffet lunch)

Cash bar

Adults and teens: $25 each purchased in advance ($35 at the door)

Children 8-12:  $10 each purchased in advance ($15 at the door)

Children under 8:  free

Performers - free

To purchase tickets in advance

Send your e-mail address, phone number, and check made out to IREKS

 for the above amount and mail to

IREKS, P.O. Box 25334, Alexandria, VA, 22313

You will receive the ticket by e-mail with a confirmation number in a few days.

If you do not have an e-mail address, please insert a self addressed and stamped envelope in the envelope with your check

and the ticket will be mailed to your home.

For questions, send e-mail to:  IREKStickets@gmail.com

DEADLINE FOR ADVANCE TICKETS: April 5, 2010 

SUPPORT A SUCCESSFUL IREKS 2010
BY BUYING AN ADVERTISEMENT
IN THE IREKS PROGRAM!

Post your business card, your personal ad,
or just your name(s) as a contributor!  Cost:

Full page advertisement (7"x4") ...............$50
Half page advertisement (3.5"x4")...........$25
Name and 1-line greeting …………………….…...$10

To contribute to IREKS 2010, please send a
check made out to "IREKS"

and mail to:
IREKS, P.O. Box 25334, Alexandria, VA 22313
with details of what you would
like us to post. 
You may also send the
details of the ad directly by e-mail to
IREKStickets@gmail.com with a follow-up
check. 

Deadline:  April 1, 2010.    

These are just some hotels located near the Inner Harbor and just blocks away from the Lithuanian Hall.  April 17 is a popular day and some hotels are already sold out for that day so we suggest you book your hotel EARLY!

Days Inn Inner Harbor
100 Hopkins Place
Baltimore, MD  21202
410-576-9437
www.daysinn.com
0.69 miles from Lithuanian Hall
Rates from:  $170/nt

*****
Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore
20 West Baltimore St
Baltimore,  MD  21201
410-539-8400
www.radisson.com
0.82 miles from Lithuanian Hall
Rates from:  $149/nt

*****
Mount Vernon Hotel
24W Franklin St
Baltimore,  MD  21201
410-727-2000
www.mountvernonbaltimore.com
Rates from $99/nt
0.93 miles from Lithuanian Hall

*****
Holiday Inn Express Stadium
1701 Russell Street
Baltimore, MD
410-727-1818
www.hiexpress.com
1.01 miles from Lithuanian Hall
Rates from $143/nt

*****
Holiday Inn
301 West Lombard Street
Baltimore, Maryland
410-685-3500
Rates from $209

*****
Marriott Hotel
110 South Eutaw Street
Baltimore, MD  21201
1-410-962-0202
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bwiih-baltimore-marriott-inner-harbor-at-camden-yards/
Rates from $189

*****
Quality Inn South
1491 Bloomfield Avenue
Baltimore, MD
Rates from $179
5 miles from Inner Harbor and Lithuanian Hall

*****

Sponsored by

Pillerkaar, Estonian Folk Dancers of the Washington DC Metro Area

Supported by

Eesti Abistamiskomitee (Estonian Relief Committee, Inc.)

ERKU/EANC (Estonian American National Council, Inc.)

Contributions may be made by check to "IREKS"

To contribute to IREKS, please send a  check made out to "IREKS"

and mail to: IREKS, P.O. Box 25334, Alexandria, VA 22313.  

 If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to IREKStickets@gmail.com

IREKS - Ida Ranniku Eesti Küla Simman - East Coast Estonian (and Baltic) Village Festival

Overview of the

East Coast Baltic Festival in Baltimore

28 April 2008

On the 26^th of April 2008, the second East Coast Baltic Festival (IREKS – Ida Ranniku Eesti Kula Simman) found its niche in the Baltimore Lithuanian Hall due to its spacious rooms and amazing location.  It turned out to be an ideal place for such a large and well respected folk festival.  The initial plan was to carry out such a function every two years but due to the inertia of IREKS 2007, it was decided to keep the festival in motion by having it again in 2008.  Over 400 people gathered in the Lithuanian Hall in Baltimore with close to 100 performers in colorful national dress!

Upon entry, each guest received a colorful program in which all the dances and dancers were listed as well as advertisements and greetings from people who supported this rich Baltic program.  Right past the entrance there were many sale items: t-shirts and paraphernalia from the last IREKS; lottery tickets for Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian handicrafts, bountiful baskets of fruit and crafts, and the book by Priit Vesilind called “The Singing Revolution". 

Tasteful fragrances of Lithuanian food swirled from the main hall - dutifully prepared by the Lithuanian cooks.  Two bars were set up from which one could purchase any kind of refreshing drinks including indigenous beers from Estonia (Saku!), Latvia, and Lithuania.  Adjacent to the main bar, the basement level housed a very large room dedicated to the selling of Baltic and Scandinavian handicrafts.  A small room in front of that offered a pool table for those wishing to try their hand in a few rounds.

A very large main hall with a stage was set up with 40 tables which were garnished with beautiful flower settings in each of the country’s colors.  To accent the mood of the festival, sounds from the Baltic String Band (leader David Pivorunas) were echoing from the main hall as one stepped in the front door to purchase a ticket!  The string Band consisted of violins, accordions, a string base, a home-made washtub base, bagpipes, and sundry rhythmic instruments.  Various plucked string instruments peppered the band: kannel (Estonian name for the kantele, a traditional Finnish plucked string instrument); kankles (Lithuanian plucked string instrument related to the zither - similar in construction and origin to the Latvian kokle, Russian gusli, Estonian kannel, and Finnish kantele); kolke (Latvia’s traditional instrument in the form of a triangular box made up of a max of 33 plucked metal strings and traditionally played by women); Lithuanian cimbolai (hammered dulcimer) and birbynes (Lithuanian aerophone producing sound primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate, without the use of strings or membranes, and without the vibration of the instrument itself, sometimes considered the national instrument of Lithuania, a status shared with the kanklës).

The program began with the entrance of the three Baltic flags and Anu Oinas, the organizer of this event, began with the opening speech about a common heritage and love for our living culture – folk dancing – with a hope of embellishing and keeping alive the tradition of our folk dances with this ongoing festival.

The program announcer, Rima Vesilind, also a member of the Pillerkaar Estonian Folk Dancers, introduced all the dance groups along with providing some background on their groups and translating the dances they were to dance.

The children’s groups performed first: the Baltimore Estonian School Youth (leader Lea Kiik) with Mulgipolka, Kaera Jaan, Jämptpolska, Naljapolka, and Kahetuuriline (translations of all dances were listed on the program).  Following them were the Kristionas Donelaitis Lithuanian school youth (leader Rasa Kasetiene) with Duja, Malunelis, and Trepsiukas.

The Philadelphia Latvian Folk Dance group Filadelfijas Dzirkstele (leader Astrida Lizins) then performed with three combined groups, many of whose dancers had participated in the previous summer’s Latvian Song and Dance Festival.  Especially noteworthy was the older group’s performance of Spideklitis and Gredzentins, which astonished the audience with their decorative and spinning effects.

The Baltimore Lithuanian Ensemble Malunas (led by Rytis Grybauskas) was, at that time, preparing for the XIII International Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival which was held in the beginning of July 2008 in Los Angeles, California.  They performed three of the planned dances for the LA Festival for our audience.  It is clear that IREKS brought together the elite dance groups from the Baltic Countries.

Performing with traditional songs and dances, the Lithuanian Folk Music Ensemble, Jore (leader Vaida Meizys) displayed their versatility and talent with several complex harmonious folk songs.  Joining them for their final song was Sudrabavots (leader Daiga Rutins) who also performed after that with several Latvian folk songs.

For a change of pace, two Baltic String Band members performed a duet on the violin and kannel (David Pivorunas and Ed Hopf).  Soon after, the riveting folk dancing continued with the Latvian Folk Ensemble, Vasingtonas Namejs (leader Alberts Ozols) with four lively dances.  Namejs has also performed at the Washington, DC Kennedy Center and many Latvian song and dance festivals.  Still another Lithuanian group performed after that – Ausrine (leader Darius Sypalis) whose motto is “Polka arba Mirtis!” or “Polka until Death!”.

Lastly, the creators and sponsor of the IREKS program, Pillerkaar (leader Anu Oinas), performed with Mustjala pulmarong, Tule aga tule, Piibumeistritants, Vöötants, Meie Mari, Kosjalugu, Jõgeveste polka, and Vanaema venna polka.  The performers were radiating with dancing joy while the audience shared their joy by clapping along with the music.

All the dance leaders were called to the stage at the end of the program where they were presented with a bouquet of flowers and thanks for all their diligent work for IREKS.  The spirit of the whole IREKS event was Anu Oinas whose tireless work and unending spirit for creating and organizing such an industrious event to bring the Baltic countries together was rewarded with a beautiful bouquet of yellow flowers.

Singing in unison, performers and audience members from all three Baltic countries sang from songbooks specially made for IREKS, in their own languages, traditional songs from each country.  They were accompanied and directed by select singers from each group and ended the “official program” and began the “unofficial program”.  Music is truly an international language since it seemed that no one in the audience had any trouble following the words of the songs in each of the languages!

Accompanied by the Baltic String Band, the audience then got up to dance along with a dance from each of the Baltic countries.  There was much laughter when people went the wrong way, stepped with the wrong foot, or plain stepped on someone else’s toes! 

The tireless Baltic String Band played for several more hours with people doing energetic polkas and dynamic waltzes.  Slowly, the people scattered, whether to go home, downstairs to buy crafts, drinks, or food until the dance floor held only those eager to continue dancing until the stars came out!  It was amazing that the String Band was able to play almost anything the audience requested until the dance floor sparsely displayed its final debut.

Many thanks goes to the supporters of this IREKS event:  the Lithuanian Hall Committee for its spacious and gracious hall and catering service; the Estonian National Committee and Estonian Aid, Inc.; for their generous donations; to all the people who placed ads in the program; to Priit Vesilind for the beautiful design of the program; and to Epp Kai Minnick for the advance ticket ordering. 

Special thanks goes to Pillerkaar, Estonian Folk Dancers of the Washington, DC Metro Area for their energy and love of folk dance which has given birth to such a happy and joyful event as IREKS.

Written by Tiina Ets in Estonian and Translated by Anu Oinas