It’s all about our love for dance and community…

A large group of people dressed in traditional folk costumes standing on the steps of a historic building, smiling and posing for a group photo.

How did our story begin?

On 4th February 2024, we met in Leicester for the very first time.
The idea was simple – to bring the Latvian community together after years of quiet.

We honestly didn’t know what to expect. But what happened next surprised us all. A big group gathered. Friendships formed. And for some, it even turned into finding their life partner.

Yes, dance is at the heart of it. But it’s never been just about the steps.

It’s about showing up each week. Having a place to switch off from everyday life. A space where you can reconnect with your Latvian roots or discover them for the first time.

And what makes it even more special is that it’s not only native Latvians on that dance floor. When non Latvians join in, share the rhythm and learn the traditions, culture doesn’t just survive – it grows.

One dance floor. Many stories. One community.

Group of people in traditional clothing outdoors, waving and smiling with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.

…and then we moved mountains!

Traditional folk costumes tell the story of the dance.

And very quickly we realised… we didn’t have our own to tell that story properly.

We were incredibly grateful to borrow costumes from local groups, but if we wanted to grow, perform more and truly represent ourselves, we needed our own.

So we did what we do best. We came together.

As part of our GoFundMe challenge, we set ourselves a slightly wild goal - to climb Snowdonia and dance on what was possibly our highest stage yet.

It wasn’t just about the climb. It was about proving to ourselves what we could do when we move as one.

Together, we raised £1,800 for our first 12 girl skirts.

That moment meant more than just new costumes.

It showed that when our community stands together, we really can move mountains. Literally.

Group of performers in traditional folk costumes posing in a banquet hall, some making heart shapes with their hands, with a chandelier overhead.

Where has this journey taken us so far?

Since day one, we’ve been an active group, always keen to share our dance, our community and our culture both locally and beyond.

We’ve performed in Spain, Scotland and across England. And we’re nowhere near done. This year we’re heading to Italy for Europeade and our big dream is clear. In 2028 we want to stand in Latvia at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival, dancing on the same stage as around 17,000 dancers. That is the goal. All of us, together.

Closer to home, we’ve represented Latvian culture at the Cosmopolitan Arts Festival and performed at Guildhall Museum as part of Crane Creative Folk Rhythms project.

Every performance is a chance to tell a story about who we are, where we come from and why these traditions still matter today. Whether someone in the audience has a Latvian connection or is discovering our culture for the very first time, we hope they leave having learned something new and with a smile on their face.

And if they leave wanting to dance a polka, even better.

And then we welcomed 41 Latvian groups to Leicester.

No pressure.

When we were given the opportunity to host Latvian Culture Day in our hometown, we knew it would be something special. Opportunities like this do not come around often, and to bring one of the biggest Latvian cultural events in the UK to Leicester felt both exciting and slightly terrifying.

At the time, we were still growing as a group ourselves, but somehow we found ourselves organising an event for hundreds of people. There were meetings, emails, spreadsheets, last minute changes and plenty of moments where we questioned our sanity.

One of the highlights was welcoming the Latvian Culture Day yarn ball as it travelled from community to community before arriving in Leicester. As the 10th hosts of Latvian Culture Day, and as the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary, it felt especially meaningful to become part of that story.

When the day finally came, every late night and every challenge suddenly felt worth it. Leicester was full of Latvian music, dance, songs, stories and smiling faces. For one day, our city became a meeting place for Latvians from across the country.

It was our biggest challenge. It was our biggest achievement. And it reminded us exactly why community matters.

See you in Edinburgh next year!