Originally posted June 2014. (Note: This website no longer exists, hence links to it no longer function.)
Did you all have a happy Jani? We sure did! As is now our annual custom, Namejs hit the road this past weekend and headed to Freehold, New Jersey to celebrate the Latvian Summer Solstice in serious style with all the good folks at Priedaine Latvian Center! Someone was smiling down on us this year, because we could not have asked for more perfect weather (always a fear for outdoor June performances). This year we learned two dances (an intro and a finale) on the spot. Thank you to Astrida Lizina for her choreography and for her patience as a teacher! We also performed Piebildzeni, Martindancis, and Toronaks in our sections of the program, and shared the stage for Sasala Jurina. After a long afternoon of rehearsing in the sun, we pitched our tents, suited-up in our tautas terpi, and hit the stage with our good friends from Philly Dzirkstele. We always enjoy working with these guys, but this year is especially significant because we’ll be working closely with them in less than two weeks when we will be dancing Sasala Jurina together at Dziesmu Svetki in Hamilton, Canada. Audiences in Jersey were lucky enough to catch a sneak-peek of the collaboration this weekend. Not too shabby, in our humble biased opinion. Take a look for yourself:
http://web.archive.org/web/20141221200111if_/http://www.youtube.com/embed/_Yl_4sTyVc8?feature=oembed
Cool video, huh? Want to see more? Of course you do! Well lucky for you, we have a few more available here in our video section. We also have a healthy collection of photos available here in our photo section. Thank you to every one of Namejs’ diligent camera-wielding friends and fans! Paldies, guys! If anyone else has any photos or videos to share, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Thank you to everyone who came out to see us perform!
And if you missed it, don’t fret, because we have shows coming up this Sunday in DC and the following weekend in Canada. Plan accordingly, and we’ll seeya then/there!
Helga without the H 