Imants Magone
1936–2008
Choreographer, educator
Born 18 April 1936 at the Taureskalns farmstead, Balvi District. Acquired his basic education at Balvi No 1 Secondary School and took his first dance steps under M. Aizpure. Continued his studies at Cēsis No 1 Secondary School (1953–1955), becoming a member of the Cēsis Young people’s dance group, led by Milda Letiņa. After one successful performance, he was invited to dance in the Sakta (Brooch) State dance ensemble.
Studied for four years of at the Law Faculty of the State University of Latvia (from 1955), however, dance took precedence and all his subsequent years were dedicated to it.
While a student, danced in the Dancis folk-dance ensemble with Harijs Sūna (1955–1958) and performed with the Latvian National Opera ballet company (1958–1959), as well as leading the Rīga Pioneer Palace dance group (1958–1961). As the children grew beyond Pioneer age, Magone moved with the entire former-Pioneer group to work at the Printworkers’ Cultural Centre. This is the beginning of the Liesma (Flame) folk-dance ensemble (1961). The ensemble’s repertoire is diverse, including folk, new and variety dances, which. Magone was the first to stage – also creating the first Latvian variety dance production Zēns paņēma līgaviņu (The Boy Wed).
In collaboration with Raimonds Pauls, created the impressive set of choreographic miniatures, Māsa Kerija (Sister Kerry, 1976). Has been chief choreographer for major-scale dance concerts Kur dziesma – tur “Liesma” (Where There’s Song – There’s Liesma, 2001), Mēs sākam (We Begin), Mēs turpinām (We Continue, 2001). Magone’s most beautiful dances were first performed by Liesma – Skani, mana tēvu zeme (Resound, My Fatherland), Alsungas polka, Svētku solis (Festival Step), Sanāciet, sadziediet, sadancojiet (Come Together, Sing, Dance), Spēlē, spēlmani (Play, Minstrel), Dancī savu nolūkoju (I Found my True Love Dancing) and many others. More than 15 of the choreographer’s new dances have received awards in new-dance competitions, and many have been included in Dance-celebration programmes.
Magone founded the Dzirkstelīte (Tiny Spark) children’s folk-dance ensemble at the Printworkers’ Cultural Centre, directing it until 1993, and in 1973, founded the Sprigulītis (Little Flail) folk-dance ensemble at Ādaži, a Rīga District collective farm. The groups he has led have always served as role models for others, both in artistic and strategic-organisational terms.
When the Printworkers’ Cultural Centre closed down, Magone founded Liesma , a private folk-dancing and music club (1992), where more than 600 members sing, dance and play in nine amateur ensembles. At Liesma, the artist performs the duties of both choreographer and director. “My whole life is dedicated to learning Latvian culture and art and passing it on to all generations. I felt a little uncomfortable and yet really pleased reading the following words about myself in the Song and Dance Celebration Catalogue (1998): Imants Magone’s fantasy in dance has always arrived as the ninth wave, encompassing everything current in the dance scene and often anticipating what the dance floor, stage, arena will be asking for tomorrow.” (Magone, Imants. Imants Magone and the Sprigulītis folk-dancing ensemble. Adazubildes.blogspot.com. 27 March 2014)
A Chief choreographer at the 8th and 10th-12th Dance Celebrations, Honorary Chief choreographer at the 13th and 14th Dance Celebrations, a Chief choreographer at the Rīga-800 Festival, as well as for numerous grand dance performances.
Latvian SSR People’s Performing Artist, Bearer, Order of the Three Stars (1998), Lifelong Stipendiate of the State Culture Capital Foundation (2003).
