Arvīds Donass
1914–1998
Choreographer, educator
Born 8 August 1914 in Zeltiņi Parish. Studied ballroom dancing at M. Kauliņš and M. Grebzde dance school, but studied folk-dancing elements with the Diždancis (Grand Dance, 1940–1942) dance group led by Jēkabs Stumbra. Studied at the Lilija Graudiņa-Āboliņa Rhythmoplastics Studio (1941–1945) and at the Cultural and Education Workers’ Technical College.
Immediately after World War II, founded the Jautrais pāris dance group (1946–1961) at the Printers’ Central Club, then one of the most popular groups not only in Latvia but also abroad. He passed on his experience to young dance-group directors at the Rīga Cultural and Education Workers’ Technical College (1954–1974), teaching Latvian dance, crowd games and dancing games, ballroom dancing and bookbinding, which is his second vocational qualification.
The talented choreographer is the author of many new dances and folk-dance arrangements. Several of them have been repeatedly included in the repertoire at Song and Dance Celebrations – Garais dancis (Long Dance), Mugurdancis (Back-to-back Dance), Visi ciema suņi rēja (All the Village Dogs Barked) and others. He has also been involved in collating and publishing methodological materials, the most important being the dance collection New Latvian Dances (1965). From 1960 to 1980, he took over the role of Director of the E. Melngailis Folk Art Centre.
A Chief choreographer at the 4th Dance Celebration, Chief choreographer for Dobele, Gulbene, Pļaviņas and Rīga Proletarian (now Vidzeme suburb) District dance groups, as well as organiser of several Song and Dance Celebrations, actively participating in dance-competition juries.
Latvian SSR Order of Honour for Cultural Achievements (1970).
