Paper short abstract:

The aim of this presentation is to look at the case of Latvian folk dance today, the thoughts of dance practitioners on the process of dance inheritance based on documented dances. Also looking at the impact of the covid pandemic on the documentation of Latvian folk dance.

Paper long abstract:

Descriptions of Latvian folk dances have been preserved in archives since the second half of the 19th century. The oldest dance descriptions are very laconic and it is not always clear how to interpret the dance steps and movements. In the middle of the 20th century, when choreographers went on folklore expeditions the descriptions became more detailed. But when these notes are used practically to learn the dance it becomes clear that the written text alone does not make it possible to understand the dance. Most documentation of Latvian folk dance is text, in some cases a drawing or a photograph is added. There are very little video materials.

In the framework of the project “Urban Experiences: Narratives, Memories and Place Heritage”, which focuses on the cultural heritage in the city, dance group leaders and dancers have been interviewed. The interviews elicited a variety of practitioners’ reflections on the inheritance of dance and the process in which the documented material is crucial. There were also reflections on how to document dance when individual feelings and context is so important and cannot be captured even on video. Similarly, during the covid pandemic dance events and rehearsals took place online which further distorted the view of dance.

The aim of this presentation is to look at the case of Latvian folk dance today, the thoughts of dance practitioners on the process of dance inheritance based on documented dances.