Paper short abstract:

In Latvia there are two kinds of "folk dance" - the "traditional" one and stage folk dance, which was formed in Soviet times. Nowadays youth dance more stage folk dance. The aim of this paper is to show, what thought youth in Soviet times about stage folk dance, and what young people think nowadays.

Paper long abstract:

In Latvia there are two kinds of "folk dance". The "traditional" one, which is a social dance, part of the everyday life and festivities of the society, the dances which has unknown author, where there is no standardized movement and everyone can participate. And stage folk dance, which was created in Soviet times - all movements, costumes, face expressions were standardized and they were mainly danced by the young people, because it represented the vitality of the soviet society.

Nowadays the stage folk dances have changed, but some part of the "soviet intonation" has remained. Many young people have been participating in dance groups all around Latvia that dances stage folk dance. It is a very popular form of folk art among youth. Every 5 years there are Song and Dance festival, where dance groups want to participate. To gain an opportunity to participate in this festival dance groups have to go through a contest process - only best dance groups can be part of it.

The aim of this paper is to show, what thought youth in Soviet times about that kind of dancing. And what young people think nowadays, when they go to rehearsals few times a week, dance in concerts more than one time a month. Many of them don't go to party's with friends because they have dance rehearsals. What is "folk dance" in their eyes?