Gunta Raipala

Répétiteur for the Kalve (Smithy) folk-dance ensemble (1985–1987) and ballet artist with the Daile (Beauty) Latvian Philharmonic State dance ensemble (1987–1994). For two years, worked as deputy director for arts at the Rīga City Council Culture and Folk Art Centre Ritums (Passage, 1995–1997). At the same time, led the Rīga State Technical School dance group (1995–2005), later the Bulduri Horticultural Secondary School dance group (1998–2002), the Daugmale children’s and young people’s centre children’s dance group (2002–2016) and, since 1990, has been known as the long-standing artistic director of the Gatve (Avenue) folk-dance group. The numbers of people wanting to dance have grown over the years, which is why separate ensembles have been created: the middle-generation dance ensemble Gatve and middle-generation dance ensemble Gatve – otrā iespēja (Second chance). Under Raipala’s guidance, the ensembles participate in a variety of events and festivals both in Latvia and abroad and have won awards at dance competitions and festivals. Gatve performed brilliantly at the Cheonan World Folk Dance Festival in South Korea (2014), where it won 2nd place, and won 4th place in the All-Latvia A section at the 2013 Song and Dance Celebration, receiving the highest grade and the title of laureate. In recent years, the principal members have proven themselves not only in Latvian classical dance, but also in major performances such as No zobena saule lēca (The Sun Rose from my Sword), Lec, saulīte (Rise, Dear Sun), Savīt laiku dejā (Entwining Time and Dance, 2016) and Vēstījums rakstos (A Message in Patterns, 2018).

Gatve dancers admit: “Our Gunta is very good at rallying the troops. This is also her trump card on the road to Gatve’s evolution. She can clearly define the task and make sure it is achieved. Gunta always knows how to find the right phrase to cheer and loosen up the dancers. Without Gunta, there would be no Gatve as it is today. We all have big personalities and Gunta can combine these personalities into a single major power – “You are the force”. That is also why we love and respect her.” (Raipala, Gunta. Gatve.lv. 2017)

Has participated in the preparation of major concerts, including being a chief choreographer for the Zemgale dance groups’ grand concert Lielais rits (2017) and the performance Gredzenus mijot (Exchanging Rings, 2016, as well as artistic director of the concert performance LĪGOdama ... DANCOdama ... (2016).

In collaboration with Gregory Hancock of Indianapolis, has taught Latvian dance at children’s summer classes (1996, 1997). To achieve a better quality repertoire at dance festivals, the choreographer has presented seminars and classes for exile Latvian dance groups and their directors in Ireland and Australia.

A Chief choreographer at the 15th Dance Celebration and the VIIIth Middle-generation Dance Festival Dievs man deva maizes zemi (God gave me a Bountiful Land, 2015), Chief choreographer for Dobele, Auce and Tērvete regional dance groups, and is an active jury member at dance competitions.