This past summer, BTG had five employees that participated in the 27th Nationwide Latvian Song and 17th Dance Festival that took place in Riga!  This was the 150th anniversary of the song festival tradition and included over 40,000 participants with more than 1,600 groups from Latvia and more than 100 groups from other countries, primarily consisting of Latvian diaspora.  The groups performed choir concerts and dancing performances, among other cultural performances, for over a week.  The participants, including BTG employees, spent long hours practicing the performances with their groups.  We congratulate you all for your hard work and dedication to the Latvian Song and Dance Festival!

BTG participants included:  Astra Kikute (Director of HR and Contract Operations), Rita Krasauska (Office Administrator), Ilze Kasa (Senior Systems Analyst), Juris Kuzis (Senior Systems Administrator) and Sandra Macata (Chief Accountant). Astra, Ilze and Sandra sang in the mixed choir group “Salve” from Riga, Rita sang in the mixed choir group “Vanema” from Tukums and Juris danced in the folk dance group “Jurdancis” from Saulkrasti.  

In the above pictures: 1) Astra and Sandra (missing Ilze) and their Salve choir group, 2) final dance performance stage, 3) Juris and his Jurdancis group at the final dance performance, 4) Juris and his Jurdancis group before the parade through Riga, 5) Sandra in her folk cosutme, 6) Ilze in her folk costume, 7) Rita, Juris and Astra at the Mezaparks Open-Air stage during the final choir concert, and 8) final choir performance at the Mezaparks Open-Air stage.