Baiba Rasma Šteina
1940
Choreographer, educator
Born 22 April 1940 in Rīga. Studied the fundamentals of dance in the private studio of Helēna Tangijevaa-Birzniece (1946), and improved her knowledge by dancing in the dance group of the Cultural Centre of the Latvian Republican Trade Union Council (1946–1958) and in the Dancis (Dance) folk-dance ensemble (1958–1969) led by Harijs Sūna and Uldis Žagata. At the same time, Šteina graduated from the Latvian State University, Faculty of History and Philology (1966) and worked as an editor at the Rīga Documentary Film Studio (1965–1996).
Has written many documentary scripts and helped found several specialist film magazines. Šteina nurtured the Pionieris (Pioneer) magazine which evolved into Pastarītis (Youngest Child) during the national awakening, and she received the State Prize in 1989 for her work on the Gaismēnas (Chiaroscuro) film magazine.
At the age of 18, began working with children, leading the children’s dance group of the Teachers’ Centre (1958), which in 1975 continued its activity at the VEF Palace Cultural, now renamed Zelta sietiņš (Golden Sieve). For half a century (1958–2007), under Šteina’s directorship, the group achieved major success by actively performing in Latvia and abroad and winning high-level competitions.
Šteina has choreographed more than 50 new dances, composed 30 original dance productions, including being the author and producer of the Rīga-800 children’s programme Dāvana manai Rīgai (A Gift for my Rīga) and was Chief choreographer of the 41st Europeade Rīga children’s programme (2004). The choreographer has collaborated with composers Raimonds Pauls, Zigmars Liepiņš, Valts Pūce and others. She has conducted master classes on Latvian folk dances and dancing games, folk costume and traditions around the world, staged concert performances at international children’s camps in the USA (1998, 1990).
From 1994 to 1998, was a lecturer at the Choreography Department of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. Has paid particular attention to methodology in working with children, the content and composition of children’s dances.
A Chief choreographer at the 9th Dance Celebration, a Chief choreographer at the 6th-9th Latvian Schools’ Song and Dance Celebrations, Artistic Director of the 7th Latvian Schools’ Song and Dance Celebration, as well as of countless dance concerts.
Awarded the Latvian SSR State Prize (1988), Latvian SSR People’s Performing Artist (1988), Commander, Order of the Three Stars (1999), Recognition Certificate of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia (2014).
