Agris Daņiļevičs
1963
Choreographer, educator, stage director
Born 26 October 1963 in Sigulda. Studied at Sigulda Secondary School where became acquainted with folk dancing under the guidance of Daina Štāla and Guntis Puķītis. In 1985, graduated from the Latvian State Conservatoire’s Department of Cultural Studies in the Department of Dance Specialisation (1981–1985) and in 2008 received a Master’s degree in Theatre Direction from the Latvian Academy of Culture.
From 1981 to 1985, Daņiļevičs worked with the Gundega (Buttercup) folk-dance group, initially as a répétiteur and later as its artistic director. In 1985, he became the director of the Krimulda Parish dance group Dzirnas (Quern), in 2002, founded the Dzirnas dance school in Rīga.
Daņiļevičs is one of the most prolific and versatile creators of new dances – composing both Latvian folk dance and variety dance performances, enthrals and fascinates with unconventional and creative ideas and solutions. More than ten of his theatrical dances and dance arrangements have received awards in new-dance competitions – Čumuriņš, Ziņģu dancis (Ditty Dance), Diždancis (Grand Dance), Es gulu, gulu (I fell, fell), Sitam plaukstas (Clap Hands), Zaļumballes polka (Open-air Polka), Ampeļdancis (2017), Šķiraties, zosu pulki (Fly off, Geese, 2017) and many more. The artist has also written numerous grand choreographic performances – Mauglis (Mowgli, 1995), Mazā Nāriņa (Little Mermaid, 1999), Velna līgava (Devil’s Bride, 2003), Viena asins Tev un Man (Our Shared Blood, 2004), Satezeles zelts (Satezele Gold, 2007), Zirnekļa kāzas (Spider’s Wedding, 2008), Laimes depozīts (Deposit of Happiness, 2008), No zobena saule lēca (The Sun Rose from my Sword, 2009), Baltasara dzīres (Feast of Balthasar, 2009) and many more.
The versatile artist has participated numerous times as a movement director and choreographer in performances of the Latvian National Opera, the National, Valmiera and Liepāja theatres, as well as in the production of Opera Festival performances. The work of the director was highly appreciated – in 1998 the performance of Handel’s opera Alcina at the Latvian National Opera received the Spēlmaņu nakts (Theatre) award for the best movement direction of the year.
“We are very fortunate! With culture and traditions not found absolutely anywhere else. There are many countries in the world that are extremely wealthy, but at the same time, if people were asked to sing a song in their own language on the street, many could not. For Latvians, this is ingrained and I hope ... I believe it will never disappear. We know songs, we know melodies – people like them. Many countries abound with very wealthy people, but the big question is, are they happy? I count myself as one of the lucky ones.” (Ardis, Ingrīda. Agris Daņiļevičs: The Latvian edge must be maintained. Aprinkis.lv. 6 June 2016)
A Chief choreographer at the 12th, 15th and 16th Dance Celebrations, at the 7th Latvian Schools’ Song and Dance Celebration, Artistic Director and Choreographer for the second dance programme Spēlmaņu nakts (Players’ Night) at the 9th Latvian Schools’ Song and Dance Celebration, Chief choreographer at the Kurzeme Song and Dance Festival (2007), as well as the creator, director and artistic director of numerous grand dance concerts.
Bearer, Order of the Three Stars (2011).
