Dance Celebration

The preparation of the dances starts years before and the selection process for the groups accepted to the celebration happens a few months before. Dancers from all over Estonia come to Tallinn one week before the celebration to put together a show that will be performed three times.

Author: Raigo Pajula

Three identical dance performances will take place during the dance celebration:

  • 1st performance of the XX Dance Celebration on Thursday, 4 July from 7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.
  • 2nd performance of the XX Dance Celebration on Friday, 5 July from 11.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
  • 3rd performance of the XX Dance Celebration on Friday, 5 July from 6 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

There will be tickets of different price ranges, from about 5 euros to 50 euros. Ticket sales will begin in the beginning of 2019.

The venue is called Kalev stadium, located Staadioni 8,  just a few kilometers from the  centre. The stadium fits only about 10,000 spectators in addition to the 8,500-10 000 dancers. The best place to see the performances is from the upper level seats.
The performances will take place in the open air. If it rains, we ask you to wear raincoats. Umbrellas are not permitted during the dance performances because of visibility issues.

The preparation of the dances starts years before and the selection process for the groups accepted to the celebration happens a few months before. Dancers from all over Estonia come to Tallinn one week before the celebration to put together a show that will be performed three times.

An artistic director is chosen for each celebration who creates the theme and the story to be told with the performance. Every celebration is assigned a specific theme that is symbolic to the time we live in and to what society is coping with. The production of the Dance Celebration follows this theme and narrates a story via dancing. The theme of the 2019 celebration is “My Fatherland is My Love”.

The main choreographer is Vaike Rajaste

The programme of the XXVII Song and XX Dance Celebration “My Fatherland is My Love”:

  • Relay of the Flame 1.06 (Tartu) – 3.07 (Tallinn). THE JOURNEY PASSES ALL ESTONIAN COUNTIES IN 33 DAYS
  • Choral concert at St Mary’s Church on Thursday, 20 June IN TARTU
  • 1st performance of the Dance Celebration on Thursday, 4 July at 7 p.m. KALEV CENTRAL STADIUM IN TALLINN
  • 2nd performance of the Dance Celebration on Friday, 5 July at 11.00 a.m. KALEV CENTRAL STADIUM IN TALLINN
  • 3rd performance of the Dance Celebration on Friday, 5 July at  6 p.m. KALEV CENTRAL STADIUM IN TALLINN
  • Folk music concert on Friday, 5 July at 2 p.m. Freedom Square IN TALLINN
  • Procession on Saturday, 6 July from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. FROM THE CENTER OF TOWN TO THE SONG FESTIVAL GROUNDS
  • 1st concert of the Song Celebration „To the Teacher“ on Saturday, 6 July at 7 p.m. TALLINN SONG FESTIVAL GROUNDS
  • 2nd concert of the Song Celebration on Sunday, 7 July at 2 p.m. TALLINN SONG FESTIVAL GROUNDS