This list provides some useful resources to get in touch with people and organizations in Latvia working in and with ballet, contemporary, folk, street, jazz, show dance and not only. You can ask Latvian Dance Information Centre (info@dance.lv) about any dance issue in Latvia or address any of the organizations listed here more specifically. If you do not find a profile you are looking for on the list, ask info@dance.lv – we have everything in Latvia! Sometimes we just forget to tell it.
Latvian Dance Information Centre (LDIC)
LDIC is a non-governmental organization, established in 2017. It aims to promote the development of professional dance in Latvia through enhancing the interest of the society, facilitating international exchanges, and raising analytic discussions about dance processes. In cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, LDIC organizes the Latvian Dance Award that unites ballet, contemporary dance, stage folk dance, urban, jazz, and other styles.
+371 23307679
Akmenu iela 21-15, Riga, LV-1048, Latvia
Choreographers’ Association (HA)
A non-governmental organization with more than 50 members – professional dancers, choreographers, project managers, critics and producers.
Their local and international projects aim to develop and maintain the contemporary dance field and community in Latvia. HA host international artists and organizes educational workshops for professional dancers and choreographers, as well as projects for audience engagement including the annual Dance day.
Ina Locmele – the chair of the board
+371 29126544
Klusa iela 23–5, Riga, LV-1013, Latvia
Association “Party” and Dance Company “Ara”
This non-governmental organization unites professional contemporary dance artists and specializes in the creation and production of dance performances, events and workshops. They also organize annual International Contemporary Dance Festival “Laiks dejot” in Riga, Latvia (Time to Dance, www.laiksdejotfestivals.lv, laiksdejotinfo@gmail.com).
Olga Zitluhina – director, choreographer, teacher, dancer
Baiba Ozolina – producer
www.aracompany.lv, www.facebook.com/arakontakti
+371 29422999, +371 29643439
Theatre “Stars’ Well” (Zvaigznu aka)
Dance theatre company “Stars’ Well” is a project theatre that develops and popularizes the contemporary dance and dance theatre genres. It also organizes an annual international contemporary dance festival “Vides deja” (www.videsdeja.lv/t-en, videsdejai@gmail.com) where outdoor performances are created at specific locations.
Lilija Lipora – choreographer, director, artistic director, creator of “Vides deja”, artistic director
zvaigznuaka@inbox.lv, starswell7@gmail.com, lilijalipora@inbox.lv
+371 29472733
Association “Laukku”
An international collective founded in 2017 as a continuation of yearly laboratories and the dance festival “New Dance in a New Place” (Jauna deja jauna vieta) that has been held since 2013. Their aim is to promote contemporary art in rural and peripheral areas and to build artistic alternatives through challenging urban lifestyles in big cities and centres.
www.laukku.lv, www.facebook.com/laukkugroup
International Baltic Ballet Festival
An annual festival, established in 1996. It includes various forms of dance arts – performances, concerts, visual art exhibitions, films, and master classes covering multiple cities and regions of Latvia.
Lita Beiris – the director of the festival
info@ballet-festival.lv, lita.beiris@apollo.lv
+371 25486030
Riga Performance Festival “Starptelpa”
An international festival focused on performance art as a sovereign form of art in a contemporary context.
www.rigaperformance.lv, www.maatelpa.com
+371 29394500
Miera iela 15-3, Riga, LV-1001, Latvia
Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC)
A higher education institution, founded in 1990. Besides other programs in performing arts, arts management and theory, it offers a 3 year BA program in Contemporary Dance and 2 year MA program in Audiovisual and Performing Arts with specialization in Contemporary dance.
+371 67140175
Ludzas iela 24, Riga, LV-1003, Latvia
Zirgu pasts / Department of Performing Arts
+371 67243393
Dzirnavu iela 46, Riga, LV-1010, Latvia
Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music (JVLMA)
This higher education institution, previously known as Latvian Conservatoire, was founded at the end of 1919. Besides the vast variety of programs in music, it also offers BA and MA programs in Choreography focusing on ballet and stage folk dance. There is also a BA program Dance and Rhythmic teacher.
academy@jvlma.lv, birojs@jvlma.lv
371 67228684
K. Barona iela 1, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia
RISEBA Riga International University of Business, Arts and Technologies
Master programme’s Audiovisual Media Arts specialization “Multimedia Performing Arts” is a unique course due to its integrated approach to contemporary performing arts with the focus on the current demand and fast development of media types. It offers to study the synthesis of arts, learn how to create, organize and direct multimedia projects, concerts and performances of different kinds.
Simona Orinska – creative director of specialization “Multimedia Performing Arts”
+371 29394500
Durbes iela 5, Riga, LV-1007, Latvia
Vocational Education Competence Center “The National Higher School of Arts” Department of the Riga Choreography School
This accredited educational institution implements the program “Dance” at the level of professional orientation and secondary vocational education. The school offers classical dance education from the first skills to participating in ballet performances on the stage of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet.
Agnese Andersone – head of the Riga Choreography School
Kalnciema iela 12, Riga, LV-1048, Latvia
Agris Danilevics Dance School “Dzirnas”
A private professional educational institution specializing in merging classics, modern and folk dance for children between ages 3 to 18. It is also a vocational education centre specializing in the creation of original, evocative choreographies for dances, dance shows, theatres, operas, concerts and grand dance performances during the Song and Dance Celebration.
Agris Danilevics – director, choreographer, teacher, actor
www.dzirnas.lv, www.facebook.com/StudijaDzirnas
+371 26556787, +371 29966041, +371 29196461
Lacplesa iela 106, k-1, Riga, LV-1003, Latvia
Veizana Dance School
A private vocational education institution specializing in street dances, hip-hop dance styles, modern and popular dances for children and young people aged 3 to 18 in Riga, Adazi, Baldone. The school specializes in dance shows, concerts and dance performances, organizes international dance competitions, as well as professional development courses for dance teachers. The dance school is a platform for the training of young dance teachers and placement for dance students.
Edmunds Veizans – director, choreographer, teacher
www.dejuskola.lv, www.facebook.com/dejuskola.lv
+371 26367748, +371 29262327
Unijas iela 8, k-5, Riga, LV-1084, Latvia
Educational Programme “Butoh art”
The only butoh programme in Latvia, led by butoh and performance artist Simona Orinska. The programme is based on butoh techniques, improvisation dance, physical theatre and performance art.
Simona Orinska – director, choreographer, performer, tutor, dance movement therapist, supervisor
+371 29394500
Miera iela 15-3, Riga, LV-1001, Latvia
The Guild of Latvian Ballet and Dance
A non-governmental organization, founded in 2002 as a support fund for the Latvian ballet and dance. It organizes professional education activities, maintains ballet and dance traditions and organizes the International Baltic Ballet Competition (www.ibbc.lv).
Regina Kaupuza – chair of the board
Kalnciema iela 12, Riga, LV-1048, Latvia
The Latvian National Ballet
The only state-funded professional ballet company in Latvia. The more than ninety-year history of Latvian ballet has close ties with the finest traditions of the Russian school of classical ballet.
Aivars Leimanis – the artistic director
+371 67073777, +371 67073715
Aspazijas bulvaris 3, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia
Latvian National Centre for Culture
A state institution responsible for implementing culture policies in cultural and creative industries education, preserving of immaterial national heritage and folk art forms. Every 5 years it organizes a large-scale music and dance event – the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration (www.dziesmusvetki.lv, www.facebook.com/Dziesmusvetki).
+371 67228985
Pils laukums 4, Riga, LV–1365, Latvia
National Centre for Education (NCE)
A state institution providing a variety of activities outside the formal education for children and teenagers in cooperation with municipalities, including dance. NCE coordinates training seminars for dance teachers, organize competitions in street, jazz, and show dance styles and organizes the Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Celebration (www.facebook.com/dziedundejo).
+371 67216500
Valnu iela 2, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia
New Theatre Institute of Latvia (NTIL)
A project-based organization working in the field of contemporary performing arts. Since 1995 NTIL has been organizing the International Festival of Contemporary Theatre Homo Novus (www.homonovus.lv/eng). NTIL also produces and presents projects and long-term collaboration programs together with local and international partners.
+37167228477
Miera iela 39-2, Riga, LV-1001, Latvia
Theatre “Gertrudes ielas teatris” (GIT)
An independent contemporary art stage – a professional producing and presenting venue in Latvia where the audience is offered to experience theatre, dance and interdisciplinary performances created and performed by local and international professional artists.
www.git.lv, www.facebook.com/gertrudesielasteatris
+371 22020616
Gertrudes iela 101a, Riga, LV-1009, Latvia
Theatre “Dirty Deal Teatro” (DDT)
This independent professional theatre is a creative platform for both experienced professionals and new striving talents – directors, actors, choreographers and other stage artists.
+ 371 20119550
Talsu iela 1, Riga, LV-1002, Latvia