LITHUANIAN-AMERICAN NEWS JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER 2012

Dance groups rehearsed for the XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival wearing creatively designed T-shirts paying tribute to their home cities or states.

Photos: Ramun Kubilius, Vytenis Lietuvninkas, Bob Noeth and Kazys Razgaitis

table of contents
Vol. 36 No. 7 / September 2012 Bridges is the ofcial publication of the Lithuanian-American Community, Inc. www.lithuanian-american.org
EDITOR

Teres Vekteris
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, GENEALOGY

Richard Gostautas
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, FOOD

4
Philadelphia Boys Choir Tours Baltics Ambassadors of Song experience Lithuanian life and culture by Teres Vekteris

6
Tears and Joy Together A young community pulls together not one, but two, dance ensembles in record time by Teres Vekteris

Christiana Noyalas (Naujalis)

ART DIRECTOR

Daniel P. Craig, Jr.

SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER & TREASURER

Rimas Gedeika HOW TO CONTACT BRIDGES Business Ofce 78 Mark Twain Drive, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 gedeikar@aol.com Editorial Correspondence and Permissions 6125 McCallum Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144 bridges.terese@gmail.com Subscriber Services and Advertising 78 Mark Twain Drive, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 gedeikar@aol.com LAC, Inc. National Executive Board 2715 E. Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19134 Tel: 800-625-1170, Fax: 856-428-6014 LithuanianUSA@yahoo.com
All statements and opinions, including product claims, are those of the organization/advertiser making those statements or claims. The publisher does not adopt, or put forth, any such statement or claim as his own, and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reect the opinion of the publisher.
BRIDGES (ISSN: 87508028) is published 10 times per year (Jan./ Feb. & Jul./Aug. combined) by Lithuanian-American Community, Inc. The known ofce of publication is located at 78 Mark Twain Dr., Hamilton Square, NJ 08690. The editorial ofce is located at 6125 McCallum Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144. Periodicals postage paid at Trenton, NJ and additional locations. Vol. 36, No. 7. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections and changes to LAC, Inc./Bridges, 78 Mark Twain Drive, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690. SUBSCRIPTIONS: For subscription questions or address changes, write to LAC, Inc./Bridges, 78 Mark Twain Drive, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690. Subscription rates are: US: $20 per year or $38 for two years. Other countries: $35 per year, payable in advance in US funds. COPYRIGHT: 2012 by Lithuanian-American Community, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. PRINTING: Printed in the USA by Lithuanian-American Community, Inc.

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Thousands Fly to Lithuania Through Dance XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival creates lasting memories by Gloria Adomkaitis

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The Great Philadelphia Challenge The dancing continues as Jaunimlis makes a postfestival stop in Philadelphia by Rimas Gedeika

Departments
2 3 from the editor arts and culture A Dream Interview by Nomeda Lukoeviien 16 lac news Special three-choir concert; Central NJs Jonins; Indy LAC at Indy 500 19 sports Lithuanias Golden Mermaid Captures Medal and Hearts 20 genealogy tips & tricks First Things First: Creating Your Genealogy Time Line by Richard Gostautas 21 a taste of lithuania Chow-Chow From Your Autumn Harvest by Christiana Noyalas 22 current events 24 calendar

Cover: Dancers at the XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Boston. Photo: Kazys Razgaitis Back cover: Dancers celebrate the end of a successful festival. Photo: Daina Cepulyt-Puterien

September 2012

from the editor

Rising to the Challenge
All of a sudden Im feeling like an underachiever. As I give this issue a last read before going to print, I realize that its pages are packed with tales of seemingly impossible challenges met and obstacles overcome. This months stories are testament to what can be achieved with determination and commitment. Perhaps the biggest achievement was the 14th Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival, an epic event more than a year in the making. The Festivals organizing committee and artistic directors outdid themselves in creating a weekend of memories for the thousands who participated. The dance ensembles likewise outdid themselves, seamlessly weaving their individual steps into the larger cloth. On Festival day, no one could tell that these far-ung groups had not met, much less practiced together, until two days before the event. Leading up to the Festival, the relatively young Indianapolis Lithuanian community rose to the challenge of assembling two dance troupes in just six months. After the Festival, the Philadelphia community, with just a days notice, found places in their homes, hearts and historic venues for 30 visiting dancers from Lithuania. Switching from dance to song, we follow the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale on their Baltic tour. It was so inspiring to hear them sing the Lithuanian national anthem in practice just days before their departure. I heard Lithuanian spoken at home from the time I was little and still have difculty with pronunciation. I cant imagine learning to sing in three different, difcult languages in a few short weeks, but they did it. Also in this issue we interview the director of a soon-to-be-released documentary about the Lithuanian basketball team that rose to challenge of defeating the Soviets in the 1992 Olympics. And our coverage of expectations exceeded wouldnt be complete without the story of 15-year-old swimmer Rta Meilutyt, who inspired a nation with her stunning victory in this years Olympics. This month we also welcome two new contributing editors who are taking on the challenge of producing columns for each of our upcoming issues. Christiana Noyalas, our new food editor, will be sharing Lithuanian recipes from her grandmother, as well as those she has researched and perfected herself. She tells me that she has not yet mastered cepelinai, but is still up to the challenge. My rst few tries were failures, she wrote, but Im willing to learn from someone and write about it. Anyone willing to help? If youve ever embarked down the path of genealogy research, youre likely to know what its like to hit a brick wall that seems insurmountable. Some information is easy to come by, other times the search seems to meet a dead end. Our new genealogy editor, Richard Gostatutas, will be offering tips on breaking down those brick walls beginning with this issue. Before I sign off, I must recognize one more person for rising to the challenge. For the past eight years, art director Gema Kreivenas has designed the pages of Bridges and prepared each issue for the printer80 in allwithout interruption. Gema let me know as we were putting the previous issue to bed that it would be her last. Shes taking on new challenges in home improvement and has plans to travel. I was so grateful that she was by my side to guide me through my rst issue. Thank you, Gema! I think you can see now why I feel that I need to go out and challenge myself to do something already. What about you? Have you or someone you know overcome the odds to achieve something you didnt think possible? Has your organization or community successfully met a challenge? Send your inspirational stories to bridges.terese@gmail.com, and maybe youll nd them in these pages in upcoming issues.

Im betting this little guy from vyturys wasnt the only one who felt like Superman after the Dance Festival. Photo: Kazys Razgaitis

This months stories are testament to what can be achieved with determination and commitment.

Teres Vekteris, Editor

September 2012

arts & culture

A Dream Interview
By Nomeda Lukoeviien

Director Marius Markeviius reveals his inspiration for making The Other Dream Team, a documentary about the Lithuanian Basketball Team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
First, a little background: Marius Markeviius was born in 1976 in Santa Monica, California. He received a bachelor of science in business administration from UC Berkeleys Haas School of Business before earning his MFA from UCLAs School of Theater, Film and Television. He has produced several feature lms and co-produced Like Crazy, the dramatic Grand Jury Prize winner at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The Other Dream Team, a documentary about his familys homeland, Lithuania, and basketball, one of his lifes passions, is his directorial debut. Seattle Lithuanians ocked to three showings of the lm at SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival). Everyone had his or her own unique reaction to the movie. For some it stirred memories and emotions of the occupation of Lithuania, while others recalled visits of some of the athletes to Seattle and their private meetings with them. Now as I revisit those events so deeply etched in my memory, I feel like my heart might jump out of my chest. So Ill just get on with it and share with you the talk I had with Marius. Hi, Marius. To begin could you share with us something about your roots, your life, your studies and so on? My parents were both born in Lithuania. My mothers side is from Kaunas. They left during WWII and emigrated to Chicago where she grew up. My fathers side were farmers from akiai. They also left Lithuania during WWII, spent time in the displaced persons camps in Germany and nally emigrated to Montreal, Canada. Separately, my mother and father moved to Los Angeles, and that is where they met in the early 70s. My sister and I were born in Los Angeles and thats where I grew up. What movies have you directed? The Other Dream Team is my feature directorial debut. I was a producer on several features lms: Like Crazy, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Douchebag, Spooner and The Way Back. I directed a couple short lms and music videos as well. Everyone who saw your newest movie, The Other Dream Team, marveled at the subtle balance between sports and politics. How did you manage that? Yes, nding the right balance between sports and politics was denitely a challenge for us in making this lm. We always knew this was much more than a sports story. Basketball has always been a source of pride in Lithuania, even through the most difcult times. And basketball has always been intertwined in Lithuanias ght for freedom and national identity. During the 1980s, for example, there is no doubt that the victories of algiris over CSKA [the Red Army team] served as a very thinly veiled political statementthat the little guy can defeat the big guy. When Lithuanians werent allowed to wave a Lithuanian ag, they were still allowed to wave the green algiris ag and root for them to beat the Red Army team from Moscow. These victories were denitely seeds of the early independence movement. Our lm tries to capture this phenomenon of how basketball has really helped to forge Lithuanias cultural identity, proving that sports and politics are often intertwined. What did it mean to you to introduce this movie at SIFF? It was a huge honor to have our lm play at the Seattle International Film Festival. This is a very prestigious lm festival, with over 400 lms from all over the world being screened. So being accepted into the festival was a huge thrill. We had a great experience at the festival and really saw that Seattle has a strong lm culture with people who are passionate about independent lms, people who seek them out and really understand independent lms. It was a great environment and we were happy to be a part of it. What about future plans? Can we to expect some new productions by Marius Markeviius? Yes, I am working on developing several new projects. I have written a couple of screenplays that I am interested in directing. Ive also optioned a novel that I am thinking about adapting into a lm. I denitely think I will return to a narrative/scripted lm next. I loved the experience of making The Other Dream Team, but it will be hard to nd another documentary subject that I am as passionate about as this one, which was so personal to me. Maybe some day Ill nd it, but for now, back to the scripted world of lm. Nomeda Lukoeviien is a member of the Seattle LithuanianAmerican Community. This interview originally appeared in Seattle LACs newsletter,Tulpe Times.
The Other Dream Team will begin playing in theaters on September 28 in New York and LA, with other cities to follow in October. For more information, check out the lms website and Facebook page: www.theotherdreamteam.com and facebook.com/OtherDreamTeam

September 2012

Thousands Fly to Lithuania Through Dance

By Gloria R. Adomkaitis

XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Boston an Unparalleled Success

Borrowing a call from its host citys history, the Organizing Committee of the XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival proclaimed throughout the year that, The Lithuanians are coming! The Lithuanians are coming! On July 1, 2012, Bostons Agganis Arena and Sheraton Boston Hotel teemed with thousands of Lithuanians who came, saw and took joyful pride in their Lithuanian heritage. The XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival exceeded the organizers and spectators expectations in every way possible. More than 1,800 dancers lled the arena oor and entertained the 5,000+ audience members with toe-tapping, heartswelling dances and songs. They came from 15 states, Canada, Brazil, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Poland and Lithuania. The Vilnius University Song and Dance Ensemble provided wonderful, professional music and singing for some of the dances. Memorable moments abounded during the Festival weekend. Walking the halls of the Sheraton Boston Hotel, one could feel energy and excitement bouncing o the walls. Such exhilaration and euphoria at the events: Old friends reunited. Multiple generations of families enjoyed the delights of Boston. First-time visitors browsed bountiful vendor displays in the Lithuanian Marketplace. Young dancers from Brazil reveled in being part of something so big and wonderful, marveling that every one of us has a common bond in our heritage. The Festival program extolled the following: 1,800 dancers, 50 groups, 7 countries, 1 heritage.

September 2012

Group Practice: Bringing It All Together

Friday afternoon, as the groups practiced d in the Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton n Boston Hotel, one could feel the excitement for the Festival building. Finally, , after a year of independent rehearsals in n their hometowns, all of the groups came e together to weave a seamless performance. . Each dance group rehearsed while e wearing their individually created T-shirts s extolling their hometowns or states. Who o could miss the T-shirts from altinis, the e Detroit group (Motor City), that sported d an automobile transmission as part of f their logo? Or the cleverly designed shirts s worn by Grandis from Chicago that not t only paid tribute to their hometown but t also honored the host city with the Green Monster from Fenway Park on the backs of their shirts? The Sambris (Boston) group was easily spotted in their bright orange T-shirts with an amazingly similar replica of the hometown coee dynasty Dunkin Donuts logo. The orange- and pink-striped knee socks worn by the group set a sartorial high mark. After rehearsing most of the afternoon, dancers and other guests were rejuvenated when they returned to the Ballroom for a welcome dance. Here, almost 1,500 guests danced the night away surrounded by welcoming photos of the City

of Boston and candles housed in replicas fB t d dl h di li of Paul Reveres lanterns (remember? Lithuanians are coming!) The evening was capped o by a rousing performance by the Champagne Saints, a band of Lithuanians from Chicago and Detroit. A caravan of 30+ busses arrived early Saturday morning to transport the dancers to the Agganis Arena for an all-day rehearsal. Although the day was long and the rehearsal demanding, the dancers spirits remained high as witnessed by the participation of 1,300+ of them in the musical caf/disco in the evening at the Sheraton. The Info and Souvenir Booth at the Sheraton was a non-stop center of activity from morning to night, with a capable cadre of volunteers providing information and selling T-shirts, coee cups, beer glasses, buttons and koozies.

Above: Fridays welcome dance. Photo: Dalia Shilas. y Below: Practice makes perfect. Photos: Vytenis Lietuvninkas, Kazys Razgaitis and Daina CepulytPuterien. Opposite: Ballerina Mant Baliutaviiut danced the prologue, heeding the call to Fly, y to Lithuania, little white stork. Photo: Kazys Razgaitis

On Sunday, religious services were integrated into the flurry of activities, and included a Catholic mass presided by Monsignor Putrimas and other guest priests as well as a Lutheran/ Reformist service oered by Dr. Vilius

September 2012

Folk dance ensembles from all over the world came together for the festival.
Aidas, Kansas City, MO Aras, Philadelphia, PA Atalynas, Toronto, Baltija, Stockholm, Sweden Berelis, Hartford, CT Gija, Chicago, IL Gintaras, Montreal, Quebec Gintaras, Toronto, Ontario Grandinl, Paneveys, Lithuania Grandinls Veteranai, Cleveland, OH Grandis, Chicago, IL Gyvataras, Hamilton, Ontario Jaunimlis, Vilnius, Lithuania Juosta, Washington, DC Klevelis, Calgary, Alberta Labas, Seattle, WA Lankas, Seattle, WA Laum, Chicago, IL LB Spindulys, Los Angeles, CA Ltnas, Chicago, IL Lietutis, Seattle, WA Lituanica, London, UK Maironio Lituanistin Mokykla, New York, NY Malnas, Baltimore, MD Marguva, Paggiai, Lithuania Rambynas, Brazil, South America Retro, Los Angeles, CA Rta, Denver, CO Sambris, Boston, MA Saul, Arizona Saul, St. Petersburg, FL Saultas Krantas, Palm Beach, FL Spindulys, Lemont, IL Sugrus, Vilnius, Lithuania Suktinis, Chicago, IL altinis, Detroit, MI vyturys, Cleveland, OH Tiltas, San Francisco, CA Trepsiukas, Indianapolis, IN Tryptinis, New York, NY Vakarin, Philadelphia, PA Varpelio Vaiku Choras ir oki Grup, Randolph, NJ Viesulas, Jackson, NJ Vijnas, Indianapolis, IN Vilniaus universiteto dain ir oki ansamblis, Lithuania Vyiai, Punsk, Poland aibas, Madison, WI ilvinas, Philadelphia, PA

Dundzila. At the conclusion of services, the caravan of busses began its trek, transporting dancers and guests to the arena, a scant two miles away. At 1:45 p.m. a warning was given to the assembled audience to take their seats. At 2 p.m. the long-awaited, much-anticipated XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival began.

group included the founders son, who was accompanied by the founders grandson. As the veteran dancers were introduced, the audience stood, cheered and applauded with vigor, recognizing that these 1937 dancers were the pioneers of Lithuanian folk dancing. Many an individual wiped a tear from his or her cheek, so moving was the moment. The mighty group of eight was followed in by 168 members of the current group. When you thought that there could be nothing more to awe and delight, Sambris was followed into the arena by the Festivals dancing lobster mascots, Litas and Lietuna, who danced their way across the arena oor accompanied by thunderous applause.

Photo: Kazys Razgaitis oto: a ys a ga t s

Festival Day: We Awoke With the Sun

A warm welcome was extended and then the parade of dance groups commenced. Many in the audience commented that the Parade of Dance Groups was a favorite part of the festivities and likened the parade to the Olympics Opening Ceremonies, when athletes march in bearing the ags of their nations. The parade was thrilling and was met with enthusiastic applause as each group was announced and marched into the arena. The cheers and applause for the overseas groups were deafening. The audience seemed to want to express its appreciation for these groups long and arduous journeys with their hands and voices. The host group, Sambris, celebrating its 75th anniversary, was the last to enter the arena. The announcers paused and introduced the group as the oldest, continuing Lithuanian Folk Dance Group in the world, begun in 1937 in Boston by Mrs. Ona Ivaska. Eight men and women who were members of the very rst folk dance group from 1937 led the group. The

Mascots Lietuna and Litas. Photo: Rimas Gedeika

Try to imagine the sightthe arena oor lled with more than 1,800 dancers and teachers, each group proudly holding an artfully created banner proclaiming their groups name and city and the array of national costumes just begging for attention; young children gazing at the thousands in the audience, excitement in their eyes; students, shoulder to shoulder with others from around the world, just like them; veterans, the experience and joy of past festivals in their countenancesall sharing the same heritage. As the dancers stood quietly savoring the moment, the national anthems of the United States of America, Canada and Lithuania were sung and greetings from dignitaries were extended. Then it was time! The XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival was about to begin. Twenty-ve dances depicting the awakening of the earth and the planting and harvesting of the bounty were performed with energy and vigor. The transitions

10

September 2012

were awless, the performance outstanding. Be sure to visit the Festival website at www.lithuanianfolkdancefestival.org to watch the videos that will convey the emotion of the performance better than any words. At the programs conclusion, the Organizing Committee was invited to the oor and its members were adorned with beautiful Lithuanian sashes bearing the words Su Saulele Kliau, Bostonas 2012 (We Awoke With the Sun, Boston 2012). The orchestra then began playing Op Op Polka and the 1,800 dancers and others danced around the oor in sheer joy and happiness showered in red, green and yellow confetti. The music played as long as there were dancers dancing. The dancers and spectators were elated, experiencing an emotional peak that is hard to describe. The feeling that we are all part of one larger community prevailed. Some were heard commenting that having their children and grandchildren witness such a spectacle was the best reinforcement of their Lithuanian roots that they could ever hope to produce.

Past artistic directors were honored. Left to right: Rita Karasiejien, Dalia Dzikien, Jadvyga Reginien, Violeta Smieliauskait-Fabianovich, Danguol Razutyt-Varnien, Genovait Breichmanien, Nijol Pupien, Laimut Kisielien, Juozas Karasiejus. Laimut directed Lithuanias dance festival. Photo: Daina Cepulyt-Puterien

Lasting Memories
And so, the thousands of spectators and dancers scattered to their homes in far-ung places feeling prouder, happier and more solidly Lithuanian than they had a few hours before. And because of this, the XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival held in Boston on July 1, 2012, will be deemed a superb success and unparalleled achievement.

Ready to take a nal bow. Photo: Kazys Razgaitis bow

As the crowds dispersed from the arena, smiles appeared on faces young and old, as they witnessed the statue of football hero Harry Agganis adorned with a Lithuanian

straw hat and sash tied around his waist as well as the enormous Lithuanian ag that graced the ag pole on Commonwealth Avenue. For a few short hours, this corner of Boston belonged to us THE LITHUANIANS WHO CAME TO BOSTON. Sunday evening brought 1,000 people to the grand banquet and another 400 young people to the youth banquet. By 10 p.m., the Sheraton Boston was quaking under the dancing feet of several thousand guests in the main ballroom. Even though 1 a.m. came quickly and the band was preparing to leave, those remaining in the ballroom chanted, one more song and we wont leavewitness to their pleasure and reluctance to have the evening end. Monday morning arrived bright, sunny and hot. Festival guests made one last trip to the Info and Souvenir Booth looking to purchase that one more special souvenir that would remind them of the Festival and also to express their delight in the weekend and their gratitude to the Organizing Committee for such a superbly organized and executed Folk Dance Festival. As the last of the Committee members completed their required tasks, they took great satisfaction in the overall success of the XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival w while acknowledging the hard work of each and every volunteer who came forward to help. Many hands accomplished wonders! Although the site of the XV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival to be held in 2016

in the U.S. or Canada has not yet been determined, it is hoped that the energy and enthusiasm from this Festival will carry over and infuse the next Organizing Committee with the fuel needed to produce such a magnicent happening. We wish them well! Gloria R. Adomkaitis is vice-chairperson of the XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival Organizing Committee.

Meno vadovai (artistic directors) Vida Brazaityt and Romas Jonusonis. Photo: Daina Cepulyt-Puterien

Yellow, green and red confetti showered the oor at the conclusion of the festival. Photo: Rimas Gedeika

September 2012

11

calendar
SEPTEMBER 2012
September 13, 7:30 p.m.
Concert: Songs of the Vilna Ghetto Experience National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia, PA $35. Info: 202-625-2361

September 22-23
Jonins and Fall Picnic Combined Event Perry State Park, Lake Perry, KS Stay all weekend or join for food and activities on Saturday, 6-9 p.m. All ages. Info: facebook. com/KansasCityLithuanian Community, sallyzdannov@gmail. com to reserve cabin/camping

October 6-8
Walk-a-thon Fundraiser Camp Neringa, Vermont Info: www.neringa.org

October 20, 6-10:30 p.m.

St. Martin Night and Market Latvian Hall, 11710 3rd Ave., NE, Seattle, WA

October 7, 10 a.m.
Celebration of the 150th anniversary of Maironis birth Cicero LAC after Lithuanian Mass

October 20, 1-3 p.m.

Amber Roots Philadelphia Lithuanian Heritage Club Lithuanian Music Hall, 2715 E. Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia, PA English-speaking. Open to all. Bring a dish to share. Use side door, go downstairs. Info: milliemarks@aol.com, 484-231-8532

Sept. 14 - Oct. 12
Arvydas Zabulionis photo exhibition, Church World Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S. Pulaski Rd., Chicago, IL Opening with artist September 14 at 7 p.m. Info: 773-582-6500

September 23, 7:30 p.m.

Concert, Songs of the Vilna Ghetto Experience Holocaust Museum, Skokie, IL Info: 202-625-2361

October 10
Lithuanian Foundation Scholarship Program Application Deadline Supporting full-time students of Lithuanian heritage pursuing undergrad and grad degrees. Info: www/lithuanianfoundation. org/scholarship_guidelines

September 15, 1-3 p.m.

Amber Roots Philadelphia Lithuanian Heritage Club Lithuanian Music Hall, 2715 E. Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia, PA English-speaking. Open to all. Bring a dish to share. Use side door, go downstairs. Info: milliemarks@aol.com, 484-231-8532

September 24, 7:30 p.m.

Concert, Songs of the Vilna Ghetto Experience Jewish Historical Museum, New York, NY Info: 202-625-2361

NOVEMBER 2012
November 3, 3 p.m.
Vlins (All Souls Day) Roslyn Cemetery, Roslyn, WA

October 14, 2 p.m.

Ancestral Psalms Concert Ozinga Chapel Auditorium, Trinity Christian College, 6601 W College Dr., Palos Heights, IL Combined concert by Torontos Volung, Clevelands Exultate and Chicagos Dainava. $30 in advance, $35 at door, $15 age 17 and younger. Not recommended for children under 9. Info: www.dainava.us

November 3-4, 12-6 p.m.

Mug: Philly LAC Annual Fair Lithuanian Music Hall, 2715 E. Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia, PA

September 28-30
Lithuanian American Community 20th Council Session Atlanta, GA

November 15-18
Indianapolis Internatl Festival Indianapolis Fairgrounds West Pavilion. Visit Indy LACs booth. Trepsiukas and Vijnas will dance.

September 15, 1-8 p.m.

LithNYC - New York Lithuanian Festival Annunciation Parish school yard, 70 Havemeyer St., Brooklyn, NY

OCTOBER 2012
October 6-7
26th Annual Los Angeles Lithuanian Fair St. Casimir Parish, 2718 St. George St., Los Angeles, CA Largest Lithuanian culture fair outside of Lithuania. Info: www.lithuanianfair.com

October 19, 20, 21

Bard Festival Tegu daina gyvuoja visada! (Let the song live on) Dainava, Manchester, MI Info: Vunderys@msn.com, 734-261-4069

November 17, 1-3 p.m.

Amber Roots Philadelphia Lithuanian Heritage Club Lithuanian Music Hall, 2715 E. Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia, PA Info: milliemarks@aol.com, 484-231-8532

September 16, 10:30 a.m.

Community Day Blessed Matulaitis Mission, Lemont, IL

Please verify all events, as places and times are subject to change.

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24 September 2012

XIV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival weekend at a glance. Clockwise from top left: Vilnius University Song and Dance Ensemble performs on Thursday night (photo: Dalia Shilas); dancers practice their moves at the hotel on Friday (photo: Vytenis Lietuvninkas); VIP reception Saturday evening (photo: Kazys Razgaitis); dancers rest after a tiring Saturday practice session (photo: Vytenis Lietuvninkas); Paulius Riskus surprises Alexandra Habanek with a proposal before intermission Sunday (photo: Daina Cepulyt-Puterien); a row of smiles for a job well done (photo: Rimas Gedeika)

PERIODICALS POSTAGE

VOLUME 36

ISSUE 7

LITHUANIAN-AMERICAN NEWS JOURNAL