Vēra Rulliņa

1905-1974
Folklorist, teacher, folk dance group leader

Vera Rullina (née Matease, formerly Krauze) was born on 21 March 1905 in Cesis. She studied at the Cesis Gymnasium, then at the Latvian State Institute of Physical Education where she graduated in 1925 with a diploma of a sports teacher. She studied the genre of Latvian folk dance with J. Rinka, J. Bernsons and M. Kaulins (M. Kauliņš), and in 1933 attended summer courses in musical and rhythmic gymnastics in Austria, gaining valuable foundations for the creation of larger productions.

She worked as a physical education teacher at the Daugavpils Teachers' Institute (1925–1937) and at Daugavpils Secondary School No. 2 (from 1937) and was a physical education teacher at the Daugavpils Guard Regiment. She has conducted various sports courses, summer camps, school gymnastics and sports festivals as well as staged a Midsummer performance at the Daugavpils garrison.

In 1944, Rullina went into exile, initially to Germany and later moved to England. It was in England where Rullina became particularly active in folk dance, leading the folk-dance groups “Kamolins” and “Sakta” (1954-1960). She also founded dancing group "Saktina" for younger dancers and participated in international dance events in England, Germany, Holland, France, and Ireland.

In 1953 Rullina founded and for many years headed the Daugavas Vanadzes group in Bradford, performed the duties of the Daugavas Vanadzes Foundation folk dance rapporteur, organised and headed various events – children's festivals, folk dance and game training courses, dance performances. She was also a member of the English group of the Latvian Press Society.

She compiled her knowledge of Latvian folklore in her book “Soli pa solim” (1969) as well as in numerous publications and lectures and carried out significant research work in the genre of folk dance.

In 1974, the Vera Rullina Award (Kokle and Certificate of Recognition) for folk dance groups was established.

She was the director of the folk-dance performances at the 2nd European Latvian Song Festival in Hanover (Germany, 1968) and the 3rd European Latvian Song Festival in Cologne (Germany, 1973).

She was awarded the Daugavas Vanagi Golden Badge (1967) and the Gophers Foundation Recognition Award (1969).


Information sources

Apvienotā kora un tautas deju priekšnesumu vadītāji. (1968). No 2. Eiropas latviešu dziesmu svētki Hannoverā : 1968. gadā no 1. līdz 4. augustam : svētku vadonis (21. lpp.). Hannovera : 2. Eiropas latviešu dziesmu svētku rīcības komiteja.

Rulliņa-Krauze, Vera. (1979). No Trimdas biogrāfiskā vārdnīca (109. lpp.). Īstlansinga; Grand Haven: Gauja; AKA.

Rulliņa–Krauze, Vera. (b.g.). Letonika.lv. Enciklopēdijas – Vidusvidzemnieku biogrāfiskā vārdnīca. Rulliņa–Krauze Vera

Vēra Rulliņa. (1987). No Latvju enciklopēdija 1962–1982 (3. sējums, 164. lpp.). Rockville: Amerikas Latviešu apvienības Latviešu institūts.