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Spindulys dancers performing at Los Angeles Lithuanian Days - Lietuvių Dienos - October 2nd/3rd

SPINDULYS dancers will perform at the annual Lithuanian Days (Lietuvių Dienos) festival at St. Casimir's Parish grounds on the weekend of October 2-3. This performance will include fundraising activities to support the group's upcoming trip to Australia in December (see below), and will feature some of the new dances that will be presented in Melbourne. For complete information on Lithuanian Days events, visit their website at www.ltdays.com.

Spindulys special fund-raising events in October and December

Later in October, SPINDULYS will host a fun filled Halloween Party Fund Raiser on Saturday October 30th - 7 p.m., at the St. Casimir's Parish Hall. This fund raising party event is open all families (come dressed in Halloween costumes - don't forget the kangaroo costumes!), and we welcome all to come and support the dance group's adventurous trip to Australia in December.

On Sunday December 19th - 12 noon also at St. Casimir's Parish Hall SPINDULYS will perform in dance the entire Austaralian program for our supporters and general public. This also is a fund raising event, symbolically called the "check out dive". The dancers will depart later the following week for 'OZ' (the land 'down under'), arriving on Christmas Day in Melbourne, Australia, where they will be staying for a 15-day trip of a lifetime!

Spindulys at Melbourne Lithuanian Days - Dance Festival (Lietuvių Dienos - Šokių Šventė) - December 28th

SPINDULYS is proud to announce that they will travel to the Australian Lithuanian Days - Dance Festival in December of this year. The Australian Lithuanians have been hosting such an event for many years, and the last time Spindulys had the chance to make that trip was 1982 (under the direction of Ona Razutiene) when 50 Spindulys members traveled to Melbourne for such an event, with concerts in Melbourne and Sydney.

Twenty eight years later, and from a new generation, 16 dancers - some already grown children of the original dancers of 1982 - will now travel to Australia to participate in all the festivities of song and dance and sports.

We are proud to announce that eight couples from Spindulys will be going and participate as the guest 'Lithuanian American Student Folk Dance Group' from Los Angeles, California. Another group from North America, 'Zilvinas', under the direction of Estera Washofsky, from Pennsylvania, will send 4 couples of the veteran dance group category to participate.

The festivities begin in Melbourne with the December 27th welcoming "atidarymas" and continue to the main event, the Folk Dance Festival, December 28th, where many groups from all of Australia, including the visitors from North America, will gather to dance, and will include musicians from Lithuania. As the week continues with sports competitions, art shows, and other festive activities, the week will culminate in a gala "New Years Eve celebration" bringing in 2011 in the land Down Under.

Visit the website www.ALD2010.org for more information on this event.

Summer News - Dance Workshop

SPINDULYS just completed a most unusual event in the heat of summer - a 'DANCE CAMP' - "Tautinių Šokių Kursai" right in our very own Los Angeles, St Casimir Parish, on the weekend of August 13, 14, 15. At this intensive workshop new dances were learned, old ones restored, and with a surprise to all a new choreographer, Dr. Romas Kudirka emerged.

All dances were taught by our own Spindulys teachers - Dana Scola, Linas Polikaitis, Sigita Barysiene, Danguole Varniene and Daina Zemaitaityte. Over three days, ten dances were taught, of which, two very challenging ones were needed for a future program. And lo and behold, working in between the requirements of the workshop, there suddenly appeared one new surprise in choreography: a former Spindulys dancer, Dr. Romas Kudirka came to this workshop with a a unique task and challenge, hoping to have an opportunity to test something very special to him. Romas, now a PhD professor of Chemistry, was writing an entry for a competition for a Science Award specific to chemisty, one that had to be writtten in a creative way. He wanted test his ideas with the Spindulys dancers on a project he called "Dancing Molecules". It worked! Romas was successful in nailing down his own project and filming it on the final day. He made the tests to successfully complete his application, one that might award him a prize. Congratulations to Romas! Everyone enjoyed the refreshing new twist to folk dancing! (D. Varniene)

1982 Spindulys group - click to enlarge 2010 Spindulys group members for Australia - click to enlarge 2010 Spindulys group members with Kudirka for Australia - click to enlarge 2010 Spindulys group members for Australia - click to enlarge 2010 Spindulys group members  for Australia - click to enlarge



2010 Jaunimo Šventė - Youth Festival - Photos

Held on June 6th, St. Casimir's Parish Hall, Los Angeles - photos by Ina Petokas
2010 Jaunimo Svente - Youth Festival announcement - click to enlarge in separate window as pdf 2010 Jaunimo Svente - Youth Festival  - click to enlarge in separate window 2010 Jaunimo Svente - Youth Festival  - click to enlarge in separate window 2010 Jaunimo Svente - Youth Festival  - click to enlarge in separate window

More photos of this event are posted on our 2010 Jaunimo Šventė photos page.



LB Spindulys previously hosted 'Blynu Balius' (Pancake Ball) on February 6th at St. Casimir's Parish Hall.
Photos of this fun performance are posted on our Blynu Balius photos page. Also, enjoy the 2-20-2010 article in Draugas and photos here.




Previously in 2009

LB SPINDULYS   Director Danguole R. Varniene interviewed in the Lithuanian Press.

click for full article in PDF format - opens in separate window - ENABLE POP UP

LB SPINDULYS   Director Danguole R. Varniene was interviewed in 'Amerikos Lietuvis' (Lithuanian American) recently. The interview is far ranging from personal, historical to recent events in her life as both Director of Spindulys and past Artistic Director of the last year's XIII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival. Illustrated with a wide selection of topics, this interview is certainly 'archival'.

To read the entire interview, in (Adobe Acrobat) PDF format (4 MB download) click here.




LB SPINDULYS   celebrated its 60-th anniversary with a visit to Lithuania!

click for multiple photo galleries of trip to Lithuania 2009 - opens in separate window

LB Spindulys made a short video and celebrated its 60th Year anniversary this summer with a trip to Lithuania in July to participate in the dance program at the 'Am?iu sutartine' - 1000 year celebration - in the capital city of Vilnius, and then had a party of its own at the medieval island castle of Trakai, Lithuania on July 7th, 2009.
To view recent postings from this trip and events see Lietuva 2009 - Flash Photo Gallery.




Aukso Paukste

'Aukso Paukšte' (Golden Bird) awarded to Spindulys dance group and director.

The Lietuvos Liaudes Kulturos Centras (Lithuanian Folk Culture Center), and its Director Saulius Liausa awarded Spindulys dance group, its teachers and its Director Danguole R. Varnas the 'Golden Bird' (Aukso Paukštė) award for emigrant cultural groups (išeivyjos kolektyvai) for 2008. To view the announcement and S. Liausa letter click here.

The director of Spindulys Danguole R. Varnas traveled to Vilnius, Lithuania and on March 11, 2009 accepted the award on behalf of the group and herself. This distinctive award is akin to a 'Academy Award' for folk dance work and all at Spindulys are moved by this award.

Read the interview with Danguole Varnas (in Lithuanian) for a Spindulys response to this award.

Read more (in Lithuanian) about the Lithuanian Folk Culture Center, their awards and activities at their website: www.llkc.lt.

S. Liausa, D. Varnas,  A. Daunoravicius - click to enlarge
S. Liausa, D. Varniene, A. Daunoravicius
E. Ladigiene, S. Einikyte, D. Varniene, L. Kisieliene, J. Norkeviciene, Z.  Rimkuviene -  click to enlarge
E. Ladigiene, S. Einikyte, D. Varniene, L. Kisieliene,
J. Norkeviciene, Z. Rimkuviene

Video clips - 7-8 min. (30 mB-40mB Flash Video) for high-speed/broadband connections:
Labas Rytas Vilnius  Lithuanian TV interview with Danguole Varnas - click for video page in separate window
'Labas Rytas Vilnius' - 8 min. Lithuanian TV interview
with D. Varniene, Director of Spindulys

click image for video page in separate window
Siandien Musu Svente video compilation - click for video page in separate window
'Šiandien musu šventė' - 7 min. video of song and dances and greetings to Lithuania
click image for video page in separate window

Home to Los Angeles
Spindulys dancers and teachers with Golden Bird - click for enlargement
Spindulys dancers and teachers celebrate the arrival of
the 2008 'Golden Bird' (Aukso Paukštė) to Los Angeles



Previously in 2008

Paskirtos 2008 metų
JAV LB Kultūros tarybos premijos


JAV LB Kultūros taryba, praneša, kad 2008 metų Kutūrinės premijos skiriamos šiems JAV lietuviams, kurie ilgus metus su dideliu pasiryžimu, dirbo visuomeninį ir kūrybinį darbą:

kult

JAV LB Krašto valdybos „Metų Kūrėjo premija”. Premiją paskyrė JAV Krašto valdyba, kurios laureatė yra Danguolė Razutytė-Varnienė. Premija skiriama asmeniui, kuris šiais metais savo veikla daugiausia prisidėjo prie JAV Lietuvių Bendruomenei reikšmingo kultūrinio renginio. Tautinių Šokių šventė kaip tik ir buvo toks šių metų svarbus renginys. Ši premija įvertina D. Razutytę-Varnienę už jos daugelio metų darbą ir kūrybingumą kaip tautinių šokių mokytoją ir choreografę, ir ypač sėkmingą šių metų XIII Lietuvių tautinių šokių šventę.

jasiu

Teatro premija. Teatro premijos komisijos pirmininkas Algimantas Žemaitaitis JAV LB Kultūros tarybos pirmininkei pranešė, kad komisija vienbalsiai skiria 2008 m. Teatro premiją a. a. Pauliui Jasiukoniui. Komisijos pirmininkas rašo, kad Paulius Jasiukonis, kuris netikėtai mirė šiais metais, buvo nepakeičiamas darbuotojas visame kame: teatre, filmuose, radijo programose ir ypatingai įamžinant išeivijos lietuvių kultūrinę veiklą. Paulius Jasiukonis gyveno Los Angeles, CA.

Sveikinu visus 2008-ųjų metų JAV Lietuvių Bendruomenės Kultūros tarybos premijų laureatus. Premijų mecenatas – JAV LB Krašto valdyba.

Dalė Lukienė
JAV LB Kultūros tarybos pirmininkė




XIII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival - July 6, 2008, Los Angeles

Spindulys dancers make their  entrance at  the XIII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival - click to  enlarge
Spindulys dancers make their  entrance at  the XIII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival - click to  enlarge
XIII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival - click to  enlarge
XIII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival - click to  enlarge
XIII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival - click to  enlarge
XIII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival - click to  enlarge
XIII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival - click to  enlarge
Conclusion - XIII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival - click to  enlarge

The JOURNEY of Los Angeles LB SPINDULYS to the 2008 FOLK DANCE FESTIVAL

"Los Angeles Lithuanian-American youth ensemble LB Spindulys took on the challenge to host the XIII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival. Spindulys, registering as the largest of the 40 participating groups from the North American continent, welcomed the task of planning and presenting the upcoming festival. Preparations for this huge event, which would feature over 1000 dancers in a large amphitheater performing to an audience of three thousand, took over a year of planning. This was to be the 13th such festival, occurring only every four years in North America, and now it was to be held for the first time in Los Angeles. What a challenge! "

Read the full illustrated and detailed story by Danguole R. Varniene here.

Visit the Lithuanian Folk Dance Institute site www.lttsi.org for news stories about the festival; also visit festival photo page for photo views of the dance festival as provided by a number of photographers..


To purchase a DVD of the Dance Festival, visit: www.sokiusvente.com


2007 Memories

PEFORMANCE IN LITHUANIA

SPINDULYS at the 2007 Lithuanian Song Festival - July 6th, Kaunas, Day of Dance

2007 Dainu Sventeje Lietuvoje - Sokiu Dienoje Kaune liepos 6 d. 19 LB Spindulio sokejai soko.

Photo page - 2007 Lithuania Song & Dance Festival


Repeticijos - Rehearsals:

To be announced.




MEMORY LANE

Visit performance archive page for extensive list of photos and videos of past events.

For videos of SPINDULYS performing at 2005 WORLD EXPO in AICHI, JAPAN visit
EXPO photos and videoclips page, or click photo below.


click for more on LB SPINDULYS dancers performing at Japan World EXPO

Photos from the 2004 12-th Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival - Chicago, Illinois

click for David Grieze photos  click for Varniene photos click for Polikaitis photos

Dance Festival photos posted on the Dance Festival Photos Page.

For a complete list of photos from previous events visit the Spindulys Photo Archive pages.


For further information on events or rehearsals contact:
Danguole Varnas - Director, SPINDULYS
3165 Harmony Place, La Crescenta, Calif. 91214


TELEPHONE:  Danguole Varnas - 818 - 249 - 7574
E-MAIL:   Spindulys@aol.com

News and web comments to:  alrazutis@hotmail.com (webmaster)

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