"This Must Be Experienced!" – Collectives from Võru Municipality Shared Experiences from the Song and Dance Festival

The 28th Song and 21st Dance Festival "Iseoma" in Tallinn from July 3 to 6 highlighted dialects, local peculiarities, and the authenticity of traditional music. Võru Municipality was represented by sixteen dance groups, eight choirs, and two orchestras. Additionally, many residents of the municipality participated by singing, dancing, and playing instruments in other ensembles from Võru County.

Our dancers traveled to Tallinn for rehearsals already on the Sunday before the festival. Kristi Vals, a cultural specialist from the Võrumaa Development Centre who accompanied them throughout the week in Tallinn, stated that despite the long and hot rehearsal days, the dancers' faces were still filled with smiles and their spirits danced even in the evening. Improvised singing and dancing evenings accompanied by guitar also took place.

The dancers from Lasva mixed group mentioned that it was easy and fun to dance on the practice grounds. According to them, each evening brought a sense of tiredness, but that was the result of five years of hard work. They praised their instructor Ulvi Toomik, the leader of Kagukandi Maire Udras, and the choreographers who were well-prepared. Although the mixed groups danced only two pieces, the Kagukandi dance sets "Haani miis" and "Kagukandi klaar," Lasva's mixed group described them as profound and meaningful. The male dancers were also noted, receiving extra attention during rehearsals - improving handholds and even receiving a new title as "kaabulised" (cloak-wearers) for Lasva men.

According to the dancers from Parksepa High School, their time in the capital went smoothly: their spirits were high, laughter was a daily occurrence, and they took over 30,000 steps per day.

The choirs and orchestras from Võru Municipality traveled to Tallinn for rehearsals just before the festival. They practiced at the rehearsals and gave performances of singing and playing instruments for the enjoyment of others, even staying overnight in school buildings.

Regarding the experience of singing at the festival for the first time, member of the mixed choir Claro Tõnu Hendrikson described it as powerful: ".../..feeling a sense of belonging with your people and harmonizing with others in one rhythmic beat. You simply must experience this because even with the boldest imagination and descriptions from others, I could not even come close to guessing it. Today, I can say that the nations that have a tradition of a general song festival possess something very valuable and unifying for the nation, which, I cannot imagine, could have any alternative.”

The orchestras had the honor of playing for both the joy of the municipality and the county: the wind orchestra Kungla marched behind the Võru County sign, and the Võru Municipality Youth Orchestra helped set the mood at the forefront of Võru Municipality. Representing Võru Municipality were Võru Municipality Mayor Kalmer Puusepp, Deputy Mayor Piret Otsatalu, Culture and Youth Work Specialist Sirle Muiste-Männik, and the Head of the Social Department Angela Järvpõld.

Võru Municipality was represented at this year's song and dance festival "Iseoma" by:

• Parksepa High School's 3rd-4th grade children's dance group (instructor Helle Liloson)
• Osula Basic School's 4th-grade dance group (instructor Kristina Siska)
• Parksepa High School's 7th-9th grade folk dance group (instructor Airi Pütsep)
• Vastseliina Gymnasium Family Group (instructor Annika Laanpere)
• Lasva Community Center Mixed Folk Dance Group (instructor Ulvi Toomik)
• Vastseliina Community Center Mixed Folk Dance Group Kullerid (instructor Inga Leelanss)
• Vastseliina Community Center Alumni Mixed Folk Dance Group Kae noh (instructor Inga Leelanss)
• Orava Cultural Center Mixed Folk Dance Group Tuulispääd (instructor Elina Sabalisk)
• Lasva Community Center Women's Group Vurr (instructor Ulvi Toomik)
• Puiga Community Center Mixed Choir Claro (conductor Ermo Talvik)
• Lapi Singers (conductor Silja Otsar)
• Puiga Basic School Children's Choir (conductor Kaari Kattai)
• Lasva Men's Choir (conductor Jane Reiljan-Prätz)
• Parksepa High School Boys' and Children's Choirs (conductor Endla Kersman)
• Parksepa High School Mixed Choir (conductor Silja Otsar)
• Vastseliina Gymnasium Children's Choir (conductor Jane Reiljan-Prätz)
• Wind Orchestra Kungla (conductor Märt Metsla)
• Võru Municipality Youth Orchestra (conductor Urmas Himma)

The 28th Song and 21st Dance Festival "Iseoma" in Tallinn from July 3 to 6 included a total of 813 singers, 552 dancers, and 27 folk musicians from Võrumaa. The event featured over 41,192 singers, instrumentalists, dancers, and folk musicians. 10,938 dancers delighted the audience on the Kalev Central Stadium lawn, with almost 44,000 people attending the dance performances. The folk music event showcased 88 groups and 65 individual performers. A total of 765 musicians participated in the summer folk music event. There were 32,022 singers, and the opening and main concerts were attended by a total of 79,000 people. The choirs and orchestras were led by 789 conductors. The festival featured 45 foreign groups with 1,545 participants. Among them were 31 Estonian groups from abroad totaling 1,067 people and 14 guest groups with 478 participants. The dance festival saw 38 foreign groups with nearly 600 participants.

The artistic director of the song festival in Tallinn in early July was Heli Jürgenson, the main choreographer of the dance festival was Helena-Mariana Reimann, and the creative director of the folk music event was Helin Pihlap. The festival was organized by the Estonian Song and Dance Festival Foundation.

We thank everyone who contributed to the preparation of the participants and provided support and assistance! The biggest thanks, however, go to the singers, dancers, and musicians who offered us wonderful experiences at this year's song and dance festival!

Last modified: 09.12.2025