Front row, seated from left: 2 – community activist, writer, and artist Brone Mockuniene; 3 – group leader Vaclovas Ratkevicius. Second row, from left: 2 – Liuda Giniotyte (later Vitkuniene). Back row, standing from left: community figure Aleksandras Sliuzas.

Adelaide, [1948–1949]

Among Lithuanians in Australia, folk dancing was perhaps the most popular way to nurture and express their national culture. Young people eagerly took part – delighted by the chance to wear traditional costumes, dance to live music, and experience the joy of movement together. The first folk dance group was formed after the establishment of the Lithuanian Cultural Society in Adelaide on January 2, 1949. At its founding meeting, the newly elected board invited Vaclovas Ratkevicius, a former dancer, to organize a folk dance group.

Within just two weeks, the group was assembled, and rehearsals began in the hall of St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral. The leader and dancers faced many challenges – they had to prepare for the upcoming February 16 Independence Day celebration, yet had no folk costumes or musical instruments. The women purchased Scottish wool fabric to sew their own outfits, while accordionist J. Songaila practiced traditional dance melodies. At the Independence Day celebration held on February 18, 1949, in the same cathedral hall, the group performed three dances: “Lenciugelis” (The Little Chain), “Kalvelis” (The Little Blacksmith), and “Ozelis” (The Little Goat) – marking the beginning of Adelaide’s rich tradition of Lithuanian folk dance.

Lithuanian Central State Archives, TSK-000467

Group leader: Vaclovas Ratkevicius.

Adelaide, 1949

Australian Lithuanian Archives, Album “Lithuanians in Australia”

Group leader: Vaclovas Ratkevicius.

Adelaide, 1949

Australian Lithuanian Archives, Album “Lithuanians in Australia”

Group leader: Vaclovas Ratkevicius.

Adelaide, 1949

Australian Lithuanian Archives, Album “Lithuanians in Australia”

Barmera (South Australia), [early 1960s]

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0089

Front row, from left: 1 – Nikodemas Skidzevicius, 2 – Jurgis Naujalis. Second row: 3 – Nijole Plokstyte, 4 – Jurate Paliulyte, 5 – musician L. Karasinas, 6 – Vilija Petruskeviciute, 7 – Elena Dubulskyte. Third row: 8 – Bronius Baksinskas, 9 – Sigitas Visockis, 10 – Ona Mikalainyte-Bone, 11 – group leader Vaclovas Ratkevicius, 12 – Romas Petkunas.

Adelaide, [1960s]

Lithuanian Central State Archives, TSK-001023

Second from the left: community activist, journalist, and educator Augis Zamoiskis.

Adelaide, circa 1960

Lithuanian Central State Archives, TSK-000835

[Adelaide], circa 1964

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0765

Front row: 1 – Eugenijus Pocius, 3 – Ramunas Dunda. Second row: 3 – Emilija Dryza, 5 – Daugaliene, 6 – teacher Brone Lapsiene, 9 – Emilija Daniskeviciene. Third row: 3 – Augis Zamoiskis, 4 – Algis Bernaitis, 5 – Daugalis.

[Adelaide], circa 1964

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0766

Port Lincoln, January 26, 1964

Lithuanian Central State Archives, TSK-000895

Front row, center: community activist and choreographer Brone Lapsiene.

Adelaide, 1964

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

Lithuanian Central State Archives, 1-51421

Front row: 1 – Virginija Brazauskaite, 2 – Birute Mikuzyte, 3 – Rasa Paceviciute, 4 – Jurate Martinkute, 5 – Kristina Paceviciute, 6 – teacher Brone Lapsiene, 7 – Violeta Vasiliauskaite, 8 – Maryte Kersyte, 9 – Valdone Mikeliunaite.

Second row: 1 – Aldona Urneviciute, 2 – Emilija Matiukaite, 3 – Laima Radzeviciute, 4 – Emilija Siuksteryte, 5 – Irena Peciulyte, 6 – Aldona Mikuzyte, 7 – Laima Kuncaityte, 8 – Laima Daugalyte, 9 – Ruta Pimpyte, 10 – Elzbieta Pociute.

Third row: 1 – Jonas Morkunas, 2 – Alfredas Vasiliauskas, 3 – Rimantas Daugalis, 4 – Vytautas Straukas, 5 – Algimantas Radzevicius, 6 – Jonas Mikuzis, 7 – Augis Zamoiskis, 8 – Vygantas Mazelis, 9 – Eugenijus Pocius, 10 – Algimantas Bernaitis, 11 – Gytis Simkus

[Adelaide], 1970s

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

During the first years, the leadership of Adelaide’s Lithuanian folk dance groups changed frequently. From 1953, Brone Lapsiene took over as director and successfully led the group for 13 years. In 1966, leadership passed to Vytautas Straukas. In 1969, the folk dance group was officially named “Zilvinas”. By the end of 1972, R. Bielskyte became the group’s director. At that time, the group comprised 36 dancers and was affiliated with an ethnic dance organization.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0398

Adelaide, September 7, 1969

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

Lithuanian Central State Archives, 0-157028

Adelaide, October 12, 1969

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

Lithuanian Central State Archives, 0-157018

Front row: 1 – Linas Varnas, 2 – Irena Bielsyte, 4 – Robertas Sabeckis.

Second row: 1 – Aukse Stankeviciute, 2 – Bronius Sabeckis, 3 – Jurate Venciute, 4 – Gintaras Kubilius, 5 – teacher Ruta Bielskyte, 6 – Ramute Stankeviciute, 8 – Rita Lazauskaite.

Third row: 2 – Audra Bielskyte, 3 – Algis Staukas, 4 – Daina Neverauskaite, 8 – Linas Kubilius, 9 – Romas Vieraitis.

Fourth row: 1 – Vytautas Vencius, 4 – Loreta Rudzinkaite, 5 – Audas Kubilius, 7 – Laima Paskeviciute.

[Adelaide], May 2, 1973

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0674

On September 21–22, 1973, the Adelaide Lithuanian folk dance group “Zilvinas” and the Lithuanian Choir “Lituania” participated in an international festival at the Adelaide festival centre. Walking beside the building is Birute Budriene.

Adelaide, September 22, 1973

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

Lithuanian Central State Archives, 0-157320

Performing the Lithuanian folk dance “Blezdingele”.

Adelaide, September 22, 1973

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0672

Adelaide, 1974

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

Lithuanian Central State Archives, 0-157334

Adelaide, July 6, 1974

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0679

Adelaide, July 6, 1974

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0681

Adelaide, July 14, 1974

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0675

Adelaide, September 24, 1977

From 1975, V. Vencius took over the leadership and administration of “Zilvinas.” Folk dance instruction was provided by L. Macpanas and V. Neverauskas. At that time, the group mainly consisted of older dancers, with few young participants. The situation was improved by including school-aged children, which helped revitalize the group. By 1976, “Zilvinas” began to grow in both the number of dancers and the frequency of performances. To diversify the presentations, V. Vencius started creating folk dance montages – choreographed sequences combining multiple dances. In 1978, V. Vencius arranged with both Lithuanian weekend schools in Adelaide to accept children from the age of eight into the “Zilvinas” group. As a result, the group expanded to 66 dancers, divided into three subgroups: children, adolescents, and adults. Children were taught by R. Varnaite, while adults were instructed by B. Sabeckis.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0713

Front row: 1 – Audra Paskeviciute, 2 – Daina Pociute, 3 – Nijole Lloyd, 4 – Rima Daugelyte, 5 – Aldona Bernaityte, 6 – Rasa Pociute, 7 – Dana Kalibataite, 8 – Kristina Gudelyte, 9 – Nijole Bernaityte, 10 – Loreta Jablonskyte.

Second row: 2 – Angele Snarksis, 3 – Dana Baltutyte, 4 – Daniele Pociute, 5 – Birute Stalbaite, 6 – Lina Jablonskis, 7 – Paul Daugalis, 9 – Edmundas Gudaitis.

Third row: 1 – teacher Bruno Sabeckis, 4 – Anita Baltutyte, 5 – Andrius Dunda, 7 – Andre Paul, 8 – Linas Pocius, 9 – Darius Kalibas, 10 – Antanas Pocius, 11 – Gintaras Daugalis, 13 – Antanas Snarksis, 14 – Gudaitis, 15 – Darius Paskevicius, 16 – administrator Romas Jablonskis, 17 – administrator Vencius.

Adelaide, September 20, 1980

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

The “Zilvinas” ensemble was highly regarded by other ethnic dance groups and was always featured in the stronger part of the program. During the 1980 Lithuanian Days in Adelaide, the entire “Zilvinas” ensemble participated in the folk dance festival, accompanied in concert by the “Zilvinas” orchestra.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0741

Men, from left: 1 – teacher Bruno Sabeckis, 2 – Jaciunskis, 4 – Jaciunskis, 5 – Sabeckis, 6 – Linas Kubilius, 8 – Antanas Stankevicius, 9 – administrator Romas Jablonskis, 10 – administrator V. Vencius

[Adelaide], September 20, 1980

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0742

Adelaide, December 29, 1980

Photo by Eugenijus Pocius.

In 1981, after the senior dancers’ group disbanded, two groups remained, with little change in the overall number of dancers. At the beginning of 1982, leadership of “Zilvinas” was taken over by long-time dancer and teacher B. Sabeckis.

Lithuanian Central State Archives, TSK-000785