Biograafilised andmed / Biography

"Virmalised - Northern Lights - Estonian Folk Dancers" is Sydney's premier Estonian Folk Dance Group, that works in concert with the Sydney Estonian Community to provide a contemporary expression of Estonian culture and traditions in the context of multiculturalism in Australia. The foundation for "Virmalised" was laid in folk dance performances dating back to 1934, with the name "Virmalised" being adopted by the Group in 1969.

Since its inception, the Group has participated in many multicultural events. The Group was invited to participate in festivities associated with opening of the Sydney Opera House in 1973 and "Virmalised" were regular participants at subsequent Folkloric Festivals held there annually, performing both in the Concert Hall and at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. Other performance highlights include appearances at the Royal Easter Show, State and Local Government functions, charitable events such as the "Black and White Ball", the Group's participation at National Folk Festival in Canberra and multicultural performances of dance and music that have involved local Swedish, Finnish, Latvian, Lithuanian and Norwegian dancers and musicians. Within the Estonian community, the Group performs locally at a number of functions throughout the year in Sydney and surrounding districts. The Group is also an integral component of the Estonian Community's National Cultural Festival, "Eesti Päevad" ("Estonian Days"), which is held biennially, alternately in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

"Virmalised" is led by Madis Alvre, who commenced Estonian folk dancing in 1961 and was a founding member of the Group when it adopted its current name. Madis became Assistant Leader of the Group in 1978 and took over its leadership in 1979. Over the following years Madis has organised, choreographed and directed all performances for the Group. He was also co-director of Folk Dance performances at "ESTO 88" international Estonian Festival in Melbourne, which involved Estonian Folk Dance Groups from six countries and over 300 dancers, and coincided with celebration of the Australian Bicentenary. Madis has researched Estonian Folk Dance extensively during visits to Estonia in 1989 and 1994 and has been awarded the Estonian Society of Sydney's highest honour, a Gold Pin, for his long-term voluntary involvement and outstanding contribution to the Estonian community's cultural activities in Australia.

Numbering up to 45 couples over the years, "Virmalised" currently comprises approximately 20 participants. Individual members of the Group have had a variety of folk dancing experience with other Estonian Folk Dance Groups, including "Vikerkaar - Rainbow" in Adelaide and Folk Dance Groups in the USA. Members of the Group have performed at "ESTO 84" in Toronto, Canada, and "ESTO 88" in Melbourne. In 1990, "Virmalised" performed in Tallinn, Estonia, at the Estonian National Folk Dance Festival, along with Estonian Folk Dance Groups from the USA, Canada, Sweden and the UK. In addition, in 1994, members of "Virmalised" joined dancers from South Australian and Victorian Estonian Folk Dance Groups to tour Estonia as a combined Estonian Folk Dance Group from Australia, performing at the Estonian National Folk Festival in Tallinn and at open-air venues in other cities, as well as being featured on Estonian TV.

"Virmalised" carry on the traditions and dances of Estonia in the context of contributing to the diversity of multicultural artistic expression in Australia. The repertoire of the Group includes traditional dances, but also reflects creative evolution of Folk Dance, with incorporation of newer dances as they are developed in Estonia. Musicians "Salmiakki Pelimannit" provide musical accompaniment. The Group performs in traditional Estonian National Costumes, which are strikingly colourful, many and varied depending on regional origin and period in history when they were developed. Every effort is made to ensure authenticity of the National Costumes dancers wear, as the clothes worn by their forebears reflect the lives they lived, which in turn formed the basis for their creative expression in traditional dance.