Gints Baumanis
1963
Educator, choreographer
Studied at the Latvian State Conservatoire. From 1994 – educator and choreographer of the Zelta sietiņš (Golden Sieve) children’s and young people’s folk-dance group, later founded the Daugava dance group for Zelta sietiņš’ parents so they could participated in Dance Celebrations with their children.
A long-time dancer and soloist with the Rotaļa (Dancing Game) folk-dance ensemble, being its artistic director since 2002. Each season, Baumanis extends the group’s range of dances with new original repertoire – in 1998, a dance programme was staged in collaboration with Ainārs Mielavs and the Jauns mēness (New Moon) rock band. This was followed by several interesting new productions – Saule un mēness (The Sun and the Moon), Lecam pa vecam, lecam pa jaunam (Dancing Old and New Ways), Paēduši, padzēruši, pateicamies Dieviņam, (Ate Well, Drank Well, Thanks be to God) and Pa Saules ceļu (Follow the Sun, 2016).
At a time when middle-generation dance groups were gaining ever more prominence in the Latvian dance community, in 2012, Baumanis founded the Rotaļa XO middle-age dance group for former members of Rotaļa (Dancing Game), which a year later participated in the XXVth All-Latvian Song and XVth Dance Celebration, and was awarded the Highest Diploma.
Under the guidance of this experienced dance educator, in 1985 the Katvari young people’s dance group won 1st place in the Republic dance competition, but a year later achieved the title of People’s Folk-dance ensemble.
Remembering the 1970s, former Katvari dancer Alija Berkāne relates: “Although so many years have passed, the ballroom dancing classes are still a vivid memory for me, just like our famous Katvari dance group. Our director, Taisa Aruma, did everything from her heart, which is why she fulfilled her wishes. I really liked our dancers and so many machine-operators danced! After a hard day’s work on a tractor, they found the energy to dance. Amazing! Back then, the collective farm was very proud of its dancers and outstanding director.” (Melne, Edīte. And there was the pleasure of working together. Katvarupagasts.lv. 26 May 2017)
Her dances, including Līgo laiva uz ūdeņa (Līgo boat on the water), Saimnieks darbā (Farmer at work) and Caur sidraba birzi gāju (I Wandered through the Birch Grove), have won awards in new-dance competitions.
A Chief choreographer at the 10th and 11th Dance Celebrations, Honorary Chief choreographer at the 15th and 16th Dance Celebrations, A Chief choreographer at the 6th and 7th Latvian Schools Song and Dance Celebrations, chief choreographer for Valka District dance groups (1981–1990), Assistant to Uldis Žagata, Chief choreographer for Limbaži District dance groups (up to 1982).
Latvian SSR Educator of Excellence (1978), Latvian SSR Order of Honour for Cultural endeavours (1989), received the Ministry of Culture Honorary Certificate and the Medal of Honour of the Cross of Recognition.
