Bauska dance ensemble “Jandāls” charms Portugal with eight performances

From August 1 to 9, the Portuguese town of Cinfães hosted the international folklore festival “Folk Cinfães – Arts & Danças do Mundo,” which brought together folk dance groups from around the world, including troupes from Chile, Colombia, Slovenia, Georgia, Indonesia, North Macedonia, Mexico and Portugal. Among the participants was the folk dance ensemble “Jandāls” from the Bauska municipality in Latvia.

The dancers traveled to Portugal to represent Latvia, the Bauska municipality and the town of Bauska, and the trip became a memorable experience for the group. Over the course of the festival, “Jandāls” gave a total of eight performances in various Portuguese towns — appearing both at major festival events and at smaller gatherings, including senior care centers, where residents were treated to Latvian folk dances, music and traditional costumes.

Warm hospitality

Organizers provided a high standard of care for the group, offering three meals a day and local bus transport to and from performances. Ensemble representatives noted that festival organizers paid attention to every detail, allowing the dancers to focus fully on their performances and on connecting with participants from other countries.

The festival became a meeting point for different cultures, expressed through dance, music and the colors of traditional costumes. Audience applause at every venue showed that dance can bring people together even without a shared language. For the ensemble, the trip to Portugal offered not only the chance to perform on an international stage but also to discover new cultures and build friendships with dancers from other nations.