Smiltene dance studio’s summer masterclasses teach more than just dancing
Nearly 40 contemporary dancers from the dance studio ‘Kristāls’ took part in a five-day workshop at Blome Community House in July. The sessions aim to build leadership, communication and other life skills in addition to dance technique.
The children’s and youth contemporary dance studio ‘Kristāls’, led by Kristiāna Vincjuna, brought together almost 40 dancers from Smiltene, Valmiera and Cēsis for a five-day masterclass held at Blome Community House in July. The group included six children who are not regular studio members; two of them are girls living abroad who joined while visiting their grandmothers in Latvia this summer.
Participants ranged in age from 7 to 20. Vincjuna has been organising such workshops during school holidays for nine years. Initially open to Smiltene dancers only, the sessions have now expanded to include dancers from Valmiera and Cēsis, where she runs private studios.
The programme covers more than dance steps, with past classes led by actors, nutritionists, masseurs, hairdressers, beauty specialists and yoga and fitness instructors. In August, participants are expected to try capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that combines acrobatics, dance and play. Vincjuna emphasises that the workshops give young people stage experience and help them develop communication skills useful in job interviews, as well as leadership and teamwork abilities.
Dancers explore styles such as hip-hop, contemporary and jazz dance. Teachers are invited from across Latvia and, in some years, from abroad; a recent masterclass was led by backing dancers for the band ‘Bermudu Divstūris’. The team has been growing, and the studio has said it is running out of space in Smiltene.
Blome Community House provided a welcoming setting, allowing activities outdoors and trips to the lake for swimming. Participants Karīna Nagla and Alise Krilova, both ninth-graders, said they gained new friends, experience and better physical fitness. Karīna has danced with ‘Kristāls’ for six years and Alise for two and a half, with both having competed in Lithuania and Estonia and earned first places.
The studio plans more events: ‘Crystal Winter fest’ in Smiltene in late November or early December, ‘Crystal Friends Cup 2026’ in late February or early March, and ‘Super Crystal Cup’ in Valmiera in spring. New members aged 7 to 18, and possibly older, can apply through the studio’s social media accounts.
