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Folk Dance Groups

Large group wearing embroidered traditional Eastern European folk costumes posed for formal photograph.

Diždancis

The Toronto Folk Dance Group Diždancis was the first exile community group to be founded outside the refugee camps. Its founder, Fredis Aigars, had danced with Diždancis in Rīga under the tutelage of Jēkabs Stumbris. Their first performance was at the Canadian National Exhibition in 1948. The honourary consul in Toronto R. H. Bryson was responsible for arranging this great honour.

Gallery

Large group wearing embroidered traditional Eastern European folk costumes posed for formal photograph.
Group of people in formal attire gathered around table outdoors, vintage black and white photograph.
Group portrait of dancers in traditional folk costumes arranged in three rows, September 1953.
Large group wearing traditional Eastern European folk costumes standing on stage with white curtain backdrop.
Large theatrical ensemble in period costumes performing on stage beneath a gnarled tree set piece.
Six people in traditional Eastern European folk costumes and formal wear pose together indoors.
TLB Dīždancis Latvian folk ensemble group photo, Toronto 1948.
Vintage group portrait of twelve people in traditional Eastern European folk costumes and headdresses.