Zanda Mūrniece
1970
Choreographer
Born 15 August 1970 in Saldus. Learned the basics of dance as a dancer in the Kursa folk-dance ensemble under the guidance of teacher Velta Lodiņa. Graduated from the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Department of Choreography (1988–1992), University of Latvia, Faculty of History and Philosophy (1997) and the Latvian University of Agriculture, Faculty of Social Sciences (2002).
When still a student, worked as a répétiteur for the Kursa dance group (1990–1993) and later took over the group’s artistic directorship (1993–1999). From 1999 to 2001, was director of the Ventspils Cultural Board, but since 2001, has been working as a senior expert in dance art for the Unit of Interest-related and Values Education at the National Centre for Education.
Mūrniece’s oeuvre comprises some 50 choreographic works, mostly based on the Suiti cultural heritage. For the Sudmaliņas (Flour Mill) International Dance Celebration (1999), the choreographer prepared the Meņģēšanās kurzemnieku gaumē (Swooning Kurzeme-style) programme, but in 2001 the Suitu godi sētā nāk (Here comes the Suiti festival) concert performance, based on Suiti wedding traditions. Her Saldus kadriļa (Saldus Quadrille), very popular with dancers, was performed at the 12th Dance Celebration and also danced at the Latvian Song Festival in Canada (2000).
A Chief choreographer at the 12th, 14th-17th Dance Celebrations, a Chief choreographer at the 9th Latvian Schools’ Song and Dance Celebration, A Chief choreographer at the Rīga-800 festival, Chief choreographer for Saldus (1993–1996) and Tukums (2003-2021), Jurmala State city and Tukums municipality (since 2021) dance groups, and an active member of dance-competition juries.
Received the Ministry of Culture Award for Excellence in Folk Art (2000).
