Iluta Mistre
1969
Choreographer, director of dance groups
Born in Lielvārde. Graduated from the E. Kauliņš Lielvārde Secondary School in 1987 and began studying dance education at the Rīga Cultural Workers’ Technical School. Enhanced her folk-dancing skills by dancing in the Lāčplēsis folk-dance ensemble under the directorship of Vairis Ceimeris and Daumants Olis. Has a Master’s degree in Dance Teaching.
Her subsequent career is linked to Lielvārde – Mistre’s cherished idea is the Pūpolītis (Pussy Willow) children’s and young people’s dance group, which she founded at the age of 18 and has been directing for more than 30 years (since 1987). Over the years, Pūpolītis has grown from a children’s dance group into a major dance troupe of eight groups.
Under Mistre’s directorship, they have won awards at dance reviews and competitions, and have successfully participated in international dance festivals in Italy, France, the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland. “I believe that quality dance art cannot be taught without rigour, just through compliments. Patience, discipline, diligence and love are the foundations of good results. Everything should be in balance. I try to teach them respect for one another. The ensemble is not each individual alone, but all of them together. I see that, when former dancers meet after many years, the ensemble’s unifying spark has never disappeared. Pūpolītis is a family. Pūpolītis is a school of Latvian dance, a culture of wearing one’s folk costume properly. Never will any Pūpolītis dancer step onto a stage with a torn skirt or lop-sided crown. This is respect and pride for the preservation of the intangible cultural heritage of our ancestors and its passing down from generation to generation.” (Iluta Mistre: My students won’t let me grow old! Lielvārde District News, 27 December 2017)
In 2008, founded and directs the middle-generation dance group Vēji (Winds). Has created around 100 new dances, many of which were specifically for her dance groups, and have frequently won awards at dance competitions. Her very first dance Teci rikšus, kumeliņi (Trot faster, foal – 1990) won first prize at the All-Latvian review in Valmiera. Many interesting dances have been created in collaboration with composer Jānis Grigalis and Juris Vaivods, but two original dance performances with Modris Krūmiņš – Šūpuļdziesma Pērlei (Lullaby for a Pearl) and Circenis Frīdis un viņa piedzīvojumi (The Adventures of Fred the Cricket), with Mistre composing both the choreography and libretto. “The highlight for me is the moment of creating a new choreography. And I was particularly excited, having unforgettable feelings in 2008 at the XXIVth All-Latvian Song and XIVth Dance Celebration, seeing the performance of my own dance Timā upes molā (On the Tula River Breakwater) by thousands of dancers at the Daugava Stadium. Being a Chief choreographer at the great festival was my dream. I wanted to create something lasting for myself.” (Iluta Mistre: My students won’t let me grow old! Lielvārde District News, 27 December 2017)
A Chief choreographer at the 14th and 15th Dance Celebrations, Latvian Schools’ Song and Dance Celebrations (2010, 2015), as well as for numerous dance concerts.
Received a Certificate of Recognition from the Ministry of Culture (2017) and a Certificate of Gratitude from the Lielvārde Municipality (2017).
