Press release, 3 July 2016
During her working visit to the USA, Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, greeted the participants and guests of the XV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Baltimore.
“I am particularly pleased to be with you in this festival of dance and the Lithuanian spirit. It is your enthusiasm and love for Lithuania that have made it possible to enjoy the sounds of the Lithuanian language, folk music and dances here for several decades now,” the Speaker said and stressed that dances and songs had always been a source of strength and inspiration for Lithuanians, helping them to survive even the most difficult of times.
Photo of the Archive of the Office of the Seimas
The Speaker of the Seimas was convinced that the festival was yet another opportunity to raise the profile of Lithuanians and Lithuania across the world.
“It represents the most beautiful and meaningful journey to yourself and Lithuania. Regardless of the distance, we all are the children of Lithuania,” the Speaker of the Seimas underlined and wished everyone to enjoy the festival.
The first Lithuanian folk dance festival was organised in 1957. It was a historic milestone for the Lithuanian community in the USA. From that day on, the Lithuanian Folk Dance Institute together with the Lithuanian-American Community and the Lithuanian-Canadian Community have organised the folk dance festivals approximately every four years with the aim to preserve and nurture the art of folk dancing together with its music, authentic costumes, and traditions. Folk dance groups from Lithuania joined the North American Lithuanian Folk Dance Festivals for the very first time in 1992.
Neringa Mikėnaitė, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6344, mob. +370 698 42 759, e-mail: [email protected]
