LIVE ⟩ The joint conference of the Baltic countries asks: is there a reason to celebrate?

Photo: Taavi Sepp

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In November 2003, UNESCO added the Song and Dance Celebration tradition of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Now, 21 years later, stakeholders of the Song and Dance Celebrations from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania will gather in Tallinn for the joint conference, titled «Anniversary celebrations are behind us. Is there a reason to celebrate?»
The conference, held on November 22 from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, can be followed on Postimees.ee

This conference on the Song and Dance Celebrations is noteworthy for its unique approach within this field. It brings together organizers from the Baltic countries, experts of relevant artistic fields, and representatives from organizations responsible for continuing the tradition.

The conference is structured into five thematic sessions. In the first session, Margus Toomla, head of the Estonian Song and Dance Celebration Foundation, along with colleagues from Latvia and Lithuania, will discuss key issues in ensuring the sustainability of the Song and Dance Celebration tradition.

The second session will address the situation of artistic group leaders, while the third will focus on the conditions and development of Song and Dance Celebration venues across the three Baltic countries.

The fourth session, led by professor Anda Lake from the Latvian Academy of Culture, will feature a panel discussion on «The Future of the Song and Dance Celebration from the Participant’s Perspective.»

In the fifth session, Aarne Saluveer from Estonia, Jurģis Spulenieks from Latvia, and Ieva Krivickaitė from Lithuania will share inspiring experiences to help the tradition continue to thrive.

According to Margus Toomla, head of the Estonian Song and Dance Celebration Foundation, the conference aims to provide an up-to-date insight into Baltic cooperation and to spotlight critical sustainability issues concerning the Song and Dance Celebration tradition.

With participants from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the sharing of experiences will also be a central focus. The last similar conference in Tallinn took place in 2013, where Marju Lauristin and Peeter Vihalemm presented their renowned research on the Song and Dance Celebration.

On November 7, 2003, UNESCO listed the Song and Dance Celebration tradition of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage. The joint application process also fostered intergovernmental cooperation, leading to the formation of a collaborative council that has included experts from the Song and Dance Celebration field from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania over the years.

Officially known as the Baltic States Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Song and Dance Celebration tradition, it organizes information exchanges between the three countries and monitors the development of the tradition. Under the leadership of this joint Baltic committee, conferences addressing various aspects of the celebration have alternated between the three countries.

The first conference was held in 2001 in Riga during the application preparation phase, followed by Tallinn in 2005, Vilnius in 2006, Riga in 2007, Tallinn in 2013, Riga in 2016, and most recently in Vilnius in 2021.

The lead organizer of the conference is the Estonian Song and Dance Celebration Foundation in co-operation with Estonian National Commission for UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture, the Estonian Folk Dance and Folk Music Society, the Estonian Choral Association, and the Estonian Choral Conductors Association. Colleagues from Latvia and Lithuania also contributed to the conference’s thematic planning.

More information on the conference agenda.

The webstreaming will start on November 22 at 10:00
​A simultaneous interpretation will be available.

Live broadcast of the conference in Estonian: