Kursa 2027 | Dance Week and the West Coast Latvian Song and Dance Festival
Sveiks, sveiks, sveiks!
We are already very excited to begin preparing for the 2027 Latvian Song and Dance Festival in Seattle, and for a special Kursa Dance and Culture Days, from June 26th at 12:00 noon through July 1st, when the students will head to Seattle for the West Coast Latvian Song and Dance Festival!
What will the program include? This won’t be just a week of rehearsals! Between dance rehearsals, there will be crafts, swimming, yoga (for some much-needed stretching!), games, movies, campfires, and just time together at Kursa. And, of course, lots of dancing!
Why is this important? This will be the first time in many years that Kursa students will have the opportunity to participate together in a North American Latvian Song and Dance Festival. We can’t easily travel by bus to Latvian Song and Dance Festivals in the Midwest or on the East Coast, so when the festival is happening right here on our side of the country, we’ll be there!
Our students were already very excited about this opportunity last summer. In a survey conducted during the 2026 school year, more than 32 students expressed interest in participating! (That could give us two full groups of eight couples!)
Dance director Vilnis Humeyumptewa received the festival dance list well in advance, so students were able to begin learning the dances already in the summer of 2026. In 2027, it will be important to come together again, establish couples and dance formations, and refresh everything we have already learned so that we can arrive at the festival ready to dance.
Who can participate? Current Kursa students, students who will just be starting at Kursa, and recent Kursa graduates are all welcome.
If a student also dances with their local folk dance group, they do not have to choose just one group. Kursa students may dance both with the Kursa folk dance group and with their home dance group if they would like to participate in both. Dance group leaders will coordinate rehearsals and dance formations with one another as much as possible. Similarly, Garezers students dance at the Song and Dance Festivals both with GVV and with their local dance groups.
Which dances will they perform? So far, the students have learned and will perform: Jātnieciņu dēliņš biju, Vysi muni gosti beja, Balabaskas četrupaŗu dancis, Ļaudaviņa.
About Seattle and student supervision: During the Kursa Dance and Culture Days, we will care for and supervise the students as we normally do at Kursa. However, upon arrival in Seattle on July 1st, each student will need to be under the supervision of a parent or another adult, authorized by the family.
Following the practice at previous festivals, Kursa will be responsible for students during Kursa dance rehearsals and performances, but we will not be able to provide counselor supervision throughout the day outside of those activities. Families will need to arrange in advance which adult in Seattle will be responsible for their student during the rest of the festival, as well as where they will be staying.
Let’s keep costs down during the rehearsal days! We are trying to keep the cost of the Dance and Culture Days as low as possible for families. If you are able to volunteer for even two days (or all five days!) please indicate your interest on the form.
Please fill out this short interest form:
For now, our main goal is to get an idea of how many students are planning to participate, which students will also be dancing with their home groups, and which adults may be able to help us during the Dance and Culture Days.
Thank you! We are very much looking forward to bringing the Kursa students together again, and this time, heading to the Song and Dance Festival together as well!
See you at Kursa!
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