School Youth Song and Dance Festival to gather around 37,550 participants this summer

RIGA - The 13th Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival will attract around 37,550 participants this summer, including 33,630 children and young people, according to information compiled by the festival organizers after the registration closes.

Some 1,460 teachers and 2,460 accompanying persons will also take part in the festival. The number of participants will be finalized later this week.

The first repertoire competitions for the ensembles started last autumn. The festival is open to all ensembles that have obtained the highest, first and second grades.

As many as 301 choirs, 809 folk dance groups, 44 brass bands, 34 symphony orchestras, 56 kokle ensembles, 43 accordion ensembles, 80 folklore groups, 108 modern dance and hip-hop street dance groups, 53 small music groups and 258 visual and plastic arts groups have registered to take part in the festival.

Around a third, or around 10,000 participants, are expected from Riga. More than 1,000 participants will also represent Ogre, Valmiera, Bauska, Cesis, Tukums, Madona, Liepāja and Jelgava.

The largest number of collectives is from Vidzeme - 681 collectives. There will be 448 groups from Riga, 279 from Kurzeme, 240 from Latgale, 165 from Zemgale and 52 from Selija. Another 17 groups represent the diaspora, including one choir from Australia.

The events will take place in Riga on July 5-13. More than 30 events will take place in more than 15 venues.