Ilmārs Dreļs
1966
Choreographer, folklorist
Conserver and populariser of Latgale region folklore, master of folk-music instruments.
Born 24 December 1966 in Viļāņi. Graduated from the Cultural and Education Workers’ Technical College (1989), then continued his education in the Choreography Department of the Jāzeps Vītols Music Academy, graduating in 1998.
In parallel with his studies, led the seniors’ dance group at the Lūznava Agricultural Technical School (1987–1991). Since 1991, has been the director of the Dziga (Jig) dance ensemble in Rēzekne, where he dances, sings and plays in the band. Under the directorship of Dreļs, the ensemble has paid particular attention to popularising Latgalian folkloric heritage – danced and sung ethnographic dances and folk songs of the Latgale region, collected and discovered by themselves.
Their concerts also feature choreographic arrangements of ethnographic dances and new dances, often awarded prizes in new-dance competitions, such as the Lūznava Dance, Ozeits, the Rozentova Quadrille and others. The group’s dance programmes Auzu Jumis (Spirit of the Oats), Lūkošanās (On the Prowl), Kāzas (Wedding) and the Latgale Region Dance Programme have been performed at Latvian Dance Celebrations and international folkloric and dance festivals in Latvia, Poland (1992, 1994), Finland (1995), Estonia (1995), Holland (1996) and the Czech Republic (1997).
“Dance is a genre that has to be judged from the sidelines. For the most part, I always try to look for a deeper meaning – why we do it this way, how we do it, why we make these particular movements, or step out these figures, I also pay attention to the text being sung” says Ilmārs Dreļs. (Igavena, Guna. A Choreographer, a Chief choreographer at the Dance Celebration, Ilmārs Dreļs: I always try to find a deeper meaning in dance. Lsm.lv. 12 February 2017)
The artist’s choreographies have become an integral part of our intangible cultural heritage and have been regularly included in the repertoire of Song and Dance Celebrations since the 1980s. “For a choreographer, this is, of course, the highest achievement – that you have been recognised, that your dances are included in the great Song and Dance Celebrations. But in terms of feelings ... I prefer dancing out in the stadium – the best feelings are when I dance” admits Dreļs. (Igavena, Guna. Choreographer, a Chief choreographer at the Dance Celebration Ilmārs, Dreļs: I always try to find a deeper meaning in dance. Lsm.lv. 12 February 2017)
Lecturer at the Rēzekne Higher Education Institution, Department of Music and Choreography, and actor at the Rēzekne People’s Theatre (since 1992).
A Chief choreographer at the 12th, 13th, 15th - 17th Dance Celebrations, the Rīga-800 Festival, as well as Chief choreographer for Rēzekne District and City (since 1991) and Balvi District (since 2003) dance groups.
