Zinaīda Zeltmate

1920–1991
Ballet dancer, choreographer, educator

Founder and developer of Latvia’s children’s folk-dance ensemble traditions.
Zinaīda Zeltmate (Dondukova) was born in Tyumen, Siberia on 2 October 1920, but returned to Rīga with her family in December 1920. She learned the fundamentals of dance in Beatrise Vīgnere’s rhythmic courses, but at the age of 14 began her studies at the Helēna Tangijeva-Birzniece Ballet School (1941–1944). After graduation, danced at the Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Rīga Operetta Theatre (1944–1949).

The young dancer liked working with children, initially directing children’s dance groups at the Printworkers’ Club and in Labour Reserve System schools (1945–1953), but in 1953 she founded the well-known children’s dance group Dzintariņš (Little Amber), leading it until the end of her life. In 1975, Dzintariņš became the first People’s Children’s folk-dance ensemble in Latvia and performed with great success abroad, while Zeltmate became a huge authority on children’s dance art throughout the former USSR. It was Dzintariņš which became the first skill ‘laboratory’ for such outstanding dancers and educators as Aivars Leimanis, Lora Lubčenko, Marians Butkevičs, Baiba Šteina and others. “In essence, we are all Zeltmate’s children” says Baiba Šteina, director of the Zelta sietiņš (Golden Sieve) children’s dance group. “And the fact that we all work so differently now, not copying her, is also part of her legacy.” (Zeltmate’s heirs will dance. Diena.lv, 10 October 2003)