Kivikasukas ja Gypsy
Kivikasukas ja Gypsy is a group of ethnic folk dancers who will perform again in July of 2025 at the UNESCO Song and Dance Festival in Tallinn, Estonia: XXI Tantsupidu "Iseoma" 2025.
They have performed twice in 2009 and 2014, at this event held every five years. In traditional costumes, they do over three dances with the adult group and then with all the folk dance groups (children’s, teens’ and adults). Last time 8,000 dancers performed traditional Estonia folk dances for two hours in a soccer field. Also at the event 40,000 singers from choirs all over the country perform for five hours. Half of the country attends this incredible Festival and it is televised nationwide.
Male and females are encouraged to join their troupe for this festival and for other world folk dances performed throughout the year in southern California.
Our project involves preparation of the Estonian Folk Dances “Üleilma Kokku”, “Iseoma”, “Tuljak”, and “Lööme Loojanguni Lokku” by 8 dancers and 2 directors. We will travel to Tallinn, Estonia with the 8 dancers and 2 directors in order to participate in the 2025 Tantsupidu festival. Our group looks forward to introducing and promoting Estonian dance and culture to a wider audience by documenting our participation in Tantsupidu through the work of our dedicated ECONEWS videographing team who will compile a television program of this activity.
Eeve Sork, the dance co-director and organizer of this project, inspired us to participate in Tantsupidu. She is a former member of the Estonian dance group Kuljus, and teaches Estonian folk dance to both Gypsy Folk Ensemble and Kivikasukas. Emily Glick handles this project. Julie Nelson directs our Earth Cultures project.
We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for the financial support from three organizations that are helping to make this project possible:
Estonia Students Fund in USA
Estonian Relief Committee USA
Estonian American National Council
For more ethnic folk dance info, see https://www.earthculturesproject.org
Internship and Volunteer Opportunities can be found at www.ecoprojects.org/opportunities.htm.
Educational Communications Home Page (www.ecoprojects.org)