Rita Spalva
1953
Educator, choreographer
Born 24 June 1953 at Šedere, Daugavpils District. Graduated from Daugavpils No 1 Secondary School (1970), then studied at the Rīga Cultural Workers Technical School (1972–1973) and the Choreography Department of the St. Petersburg Academy of Culture (1974–1978). Graduated from a stage-movement internship at St. Petersburg Theatre Academy in (1982–1986) and undertook post-doctoral studies at the University of Latvia (1998–2002).
Formerly Artistic Director of the Laima (Goddess of Fate) Folk-dance ensemble (1972–1974) and the Ritms (Rhythm) variety dance group (1979–1982). Teaching has also taken her to the Zelta sietiņš (Golden Sieve), Rotaļa (Dancing Game) (1978–1979) folk-dance ensembles, Liesma (Flame) folk-dance ensemble (1982–1985) and the dance studio at the Small Guild Cultural Centre (1993–2000).
Taught classical dance, dance composition and history at the Rīga Cultural Workers Technical School (1978–1990), worked as a choreographer at the State Young People’s Education Centre (1990–2000), and passed on her knowledge to future dance specialists at the Jāzeps Vītols Academy of Music Choreography Department (2000–2002). At the same time, was a lecturer and Pro-rector at the Rīga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy (1996–2017), but since 2000, has been working as a lecturer in the Department of Modern Dance of the Latvian Academy of Culture.
The artist’s choreographic contribution has been productive – about 300 new dances, many of which have won awards at dance competitions and been performed at Dance Celebrations, such as Lustīgs dancotājs (Jolly Dancer), Jumītis (Field Sprite), Igrišku laiks Latgalē (Igriški in Latgale), Latvijas novadu svīta (Latvian Rustic Suite), Visi ciema suņi rēja (Barking Village Dogs) and others.
Spalva is the generator and manager of many important projects – the group experience-exchange project Latvia-Belgium (2001), Introduction of Drama Teaching Methods in Latvian Schools (2002), the Children of Latvia Dance festival and a series of major dance concerts and other dance-related events.
Her academic and methodological publications include the notable Classical Dance and Ballet in European Culture (2013), her doctoral thesis Developing Dance-composition Skills in Students’ Artistic Activity (2006), Image and Dance Composition (2004), Fundamental Questions in Dance-composition Theory (1989) and a number of others.
A Chief choreographer at the 10th Dance Celebration, Honorary chief choreographer at the 15th-17th Dance Celebrations, A Chief choreographer and Artistic Director at the 7th Latvian Schools’ Song and Dance Celebration, Chief choreographer for Balvi (1996–1998) and Limbaži (2000–2002) District dance groups.
Noting the major contribution of dance educators to the preparation of the 15th Dance Celebration, Spalva says: “Dance – it is movement, emotion, power, dynamism. We especially feel this at the Dance Celebration, when the powerful energy created by the great number of dancers reaches and inspires every spectator. Everyone still has a vivid memory of the emotional impressions gained at the Song and Dance Celebration, there is a desire for it to linger in their memories once again, but this time we will celebrate a festival for dance and fete those who create the Celebration for others – dance educators and choreographers.” La.lv 24 October 2013)
Awarded the Latvian Ministry of Culture prize (1996, 1998) and the Latvian Music Society’s Milda Lasmane Award (1991). On October 18, 2023, the Chapter of Orders decided to award the Cross of Recognition for special services to the Latvian state and to appoint a choreographer, dance teacher, Dr. paed. Rita Spalva as an Officer of the Cross of Recognition.
