About us

Early dance group Ballare have celebrated their 5th anniversary in 2005 with concert at Column Hall of Museum of the history of Riga and navigation, and now we are going to celebrate our 10th anniversary with our guests in Bauska castle. The title of the dance group is originate from Italian word ballare and means to dance, to jump what actually the members of the ensemble – 16 dancers and 5 musicians – actively perform. Besides we use to invite the audience of our concerts to participate and learn elements of early dance, thus excange our pleasure of dance. The repertoire and costumes of Ballare represent XIV – XVII century of different European countries – e.g. Italy, England, Spain, France etc.

Ballare has participated in different open–air festivals:
-The roots of “Culture - International Medieval Youth Exchange, Poland (2001),
-Medieval festival «Наваградзкi замак», Belorussia (2002);
-Baltic Medieval festival, Cesis and Valmiera, Latvia (2003, 2004, 2005);
-International Early Music festival, Bauska, Latvia (2004, 2005, 2006);
-V International Ancient dance festival „Anno Domini”, Sanktpetersburg, Russia (2005) where some participants of Ballare has taken part in renaissance dance master`s classes by famous choreograph Diana Scrivener from Great Britain (assistant choreographer for Oskar-winning film ”Elizabeth” and „Casanova”);
-Medieval Day, Cesis, Latvia (2005);
-800th Anniversary of Cesis city, Latvia (2006);
-Medieval market, Tallin, Estonia (2006);
-Medieval Castle Days, Castle of Diosgyōr, Miskolc, Hungary (2006);
-and also have participated in different events in Latvian Academy of Art, Blackhead`s House, Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation, Bauska Castle, authentic medieval restaurant Rozengrals, Mezotne Castle, Riga Latvian Society House, Small Guild, The Museum of Foreign Art.

Since 2004 the artistic leader of Ballare is choreograph, pedagogue Guna Ezermale. She has graduated Riga School of Choreography, Latvian Academy of Music (master`s degree). She also has studied with Cecilia Gracia – Moura, Irene Ginger, and Beatrice Massin in master`s classes in Paris and has completed courses on Renaissance and Baroque music and dance in Basel, Switzerland. G.Ezermale has studied modern dance with instructors from England, Switherland and has made choreography for several stagings in International Early Music festival in Rundale, Latvia (Acis and Galatea, Les Petit Riens).