Marga Apsīte
1945
Educator, répétiteur
Born 23 March 1945 in Rīga. Graduated from Rīga Choreography Secondary School (1964), learning from outstanding educators such as Tamāra Vītiņa, Valentīna Bļinova, Helēna Tangijeva-Birzniece and Bella Matisone. Graduate of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian State Conservatoire, Cultural Education Faculty, specialising in dance (1981–1986).
Started her career in the choreography department of the E. Melngailis Folk Art Centre, working as a methodologist (1964–1991). For thirty years, Apsīte has provided methodological and practical assistance to dance-group directors.
Helped develop and improve the mastery of many Latvian dance groups –was a répétiteur of Jandāls (1966–1968), Ogre (1979–1981), Liesma (Flame, 1971–1981), Sprigulītis (Little Flail) (1976–1987), Dzintariņš (Little Amber, 1990–1995) dance groups, and the State dance ensemble Daile (Beauty, 1991–1997). Since 2002, has directed the dance group of Rīga’s No 3 Secondary School.
Taught Latvian dance and teaching methods at the Cultural and Education Workers’ Technical College (until 2003) and at the Jāzeps Vītols Academy of Music (1998–2000).
First major experience of directing grand dance concerts was during the 1973 Song and Dance Celebration, assisting ballet master Elga Drulle.
A Chief choreographer at the 9th and 10th Dance Celebrations, Honorary Chief choreographer at the 13th-17th Dance Celebrations, a Chief choreographer at the 7th Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Celebration, Daugavpils (1975), Jekabpils (1978), Gulbene and Stučka (now Aizkraukle) regional dance festivals, and for Balvi District dance groups, also participated in dance-competition juries.
Bearer, Order of the Three Stars (2008) and recipient of the Rīga City Council Education, Culture and Sports Department’s Baltais zvirbulis (White Sparrow) annual award (2015).
