XVII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival of North America
From July 10–12, Chicago hosted the 17th Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival of North America, Between Two Shores, one of the largest Lithuanian diaspora cultural events in recent decades. The festival brought together more than 2,000 dancers representing 78 folk dance groups from Ireland, Scotland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Argentina, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Lithuania and others.
For many years, the Kazickas Family Foundation has proudly supported North American Lithuanian Song and Folk Dance Festivals, helping preserve Lithuanian culture, traditions, and national identity within the diaspora. The Foundation remains committed to initiatives that strengthen ties between Lithuanians living abroad and their homeland while ensuring that Lithuania’s cultural heritage is passed on to future generations. Neila Baumilienė, KFF Executive Director in the US, attended this year’s festival.
The tradition of the North American Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival began in 1957, when the Lithuanian community in Chicago organized the very first festival. Since then, it has become one of the most important cultural traditions of the Lithuanian diaspora, bringing together thousands of dancers and spectators every few years to celebrate their shared heritage.
The three-day celebration featured not only spectacular folk dance performances but also concerts, art exhibitions, educational programs, and creative activities that showcased the richness of Lithuanian culture and the strength of the global Lithuanian community.
Photos: Highlights from the festival, including alumni of the Alexandra Kazickas Lithuanian School – Leila, Kai, and Aiden Genender.
Photo credit: Gintautė Genender
