To mark the 75th anniversary of the Lithuanian community in Australia, the Lithuanian Central State Archives, together with the Australian Lithuanian Archives, invites you to revisit the story of how Lithuanians settled and built their lives on this distant continent. Continuing a year-long series of ten-part virtual exhibition throughout 2025, this part is dedicated to the vibrant Lithuanian folk dances, choirs, and ensembles of Adelaide – a celebration of culture, creativity, and community spirit that has united generations.

Among Lithuanians in Australia, folk dancing became one of the most beloved ways to celebrate and preserve national culture. It was especially popular among young people – they were drawn by the joy of dancing to live music, wearing traditional costumes, and experiencing a strong sense of togetherness. The beginnings of the folk dance movement can be traced back to January 2, 1949, when the Lithuanian Cultural Society was established in Adelaide. During its first meeting, the newly elected board invited Vaclovas Ratkevicius, a former dancer, to form a Lithuanian folk dance group. This marked the start of a long-lasting tradition of Lithuanian dance in Australia, which became an essential part of the cultural life of the Lithuanian diaspora.

The initiator and organizer of the Adelaide Lithuanian choir “Lituania” was Vaclovas Simkus. In August 1949, shortly after his arrival in Adelaide, Simkus began gathering singers and, within a month, led a male choir of twenty voices onto the stage. Later, the group evolved into a mixed choir, whose repertoire grew to include around one hundred Lithuanian folk songs as well as works by Lithuanian composers. The Adelaide Lithuanian Choir flourished, performing not only for Lithuanian audiences but also for the wider Australian public. The city’s Lithuanian community soon saw the emergence of other vocal groups and ensembles as well: the men’s octet “Klajunai” (The Wanderers), the women’s ensemble “Nemuno dukros” (Daughters of the Nemunas), and the girls’ choir “Eglute” (Little Fir Tree). An especially important role in the community’s musical life was played by the St. Casimir’s Church Lithuanian Choir, renowned for its beautiful performances of sacred music.

The virtual exhibition “Lithuanians in Australia. Part 7” is divided into two sections: “Adelaide Lithuanian Folk Dances” and “Adelaide Lithuanian Choirs and Ensembles.” The exhibition features photographs of the Adelaide Lithuanian folk dance group “Zilvinas”, the Adelaide Lithuanian Choir “Lituania”, the men’s octet “Klajunai” (The Wanderers), the women’s ensemble “Nemuno dukros” (Daughters of the Nemunas), the girls’ choir “Eglute” (Little Fir Tree), and the St. Casimir’s Church Lithuanian Choir. Visitors can also explore images of the choirs’ and ensembles’ conductors, group portraits, and captured moments from concerts and community events, offering a vivid glimpse into the musical and cultural life of Adelaide’s Lithuanian community.

Traditionally, the exhibition presents documents preserved in the Lithuanian Central State Archives and the Australian Lithuanian Archives. We are grateful to Daina Pocius for making the documents kept in Australia accessible to the wider public.