RISE AND SHINE

An international partnership project to promote creativity has begun, in which six different organizations from Latvia, Finland and Wales will exchange experiences and explore how to use different movement and dance-related approaches and methods for social inclusion and supporting young people. Lūznava Manor invited women aged 16 to 30 from Lūznava and surrounding rural territories to participate in the project, to address important issues for themselves, realize their potential and “flourish” through movement/contemporary dance classes.

In each country, experienced contemporary dance specialists and youth and social workers worked with groups of young women and men for more than a year to give them the opportunity to learn more about themselves and better utilize their potential – to “flourish” – through practical movement lessons and various non-formal learning activities.

In Latvia, two organizations were involved in the project: Lūznava Manor, a center for contemporary art and culture in Latgale, known for its role as a hub for new ideas and its active engagement with the local community, and LAUKKU, an international group of like-minded individuals. LAUKKU is an association that brings together dance professionals and enthusiasts from various art forms and other disciplines to foster collaboration, experimentation, and socially-oriented art projects.

Building on the experiences and discussions shared throughout the project, it culminated in a dance performance titled “Fairy Revolt.” The project continued at Lūznava Manor, with the organizers visiting Tampere, Finland, in early June to plan a youth exchange event. From August 15^th to August 20^th, all cooperation partners and participants from Finland, Great Britain (Wales), and Latvia came together at Lūznava Manor for this event.

Within a few days, an “International Dance Performance” was created. During the project, there were meetings with colleagues from Finland and Wales who carried out similar activities in their countries.