Academic Centre
University of Latvia Folk Dance Group "Dandari" invited musicians Hannah Cumming and Jon Dyer from the United Kingdom to host an open rehearsal.
The goal of this cross-border rehearsal was to be able to learn from each other and fill themselves up with inspiration. The Folk Dance Group of University of Latvia (UL) are not only dancers, but also musicians, while Hannah and Jon are not only musicians, but also singers and love to dance too. They taught the Folk Group and their guests six dances in total, which are traditional ceilidh dances.
On their Facebook post, Folk Group "Dandari" invited everyone to join them at the European Folk Day concert "Pearls of a River". After the European Folk Network's initiative, September 23 has been declared European Folklore Day, during which various events related to folk music are taking place throughout Europe, showing the splendor, diversity and comprehensive nature of Europe's traditional heritage.
Hannah Cumming and Jon Dyer are from the south west of UK and they have been related to folk music since early childhood. Performing together in different groups, they have developed a natural and intuitive interplay. Both are talented multi-instrumentalists with a love for traditional music inspired to create unique and uplifting arrangements based on Hannah's strong and emotional voice and John's virtuoso accompaniment.
Hannah and John have performed in concerts all over the UK and were part of the UK/Canada tour of the musical Fisherman's Friends. Both are active community musicians in the Wren Music organization.
To see the behind the scenes from rehearsal, go to Dandari Facebook page here.
Learn more about Folk Dance group "Dandari" here and about Hannah and Jon here.
Photos by: Oskars Patjanko
