25th Song and 18th Dance Celebration “To Breathe as One” July 02 – 05, various locations in Tallinn, www.laulupidu.ee.

What defines a nation? The Italians have their cuisine, the Americans have their ‘American Dream’, the Aussies have the ‘Outback’, but Estonians? Well, Estonians have the Song Festival. In case you’re not quite sure what a Song Festival is, it’s a large group of choirs who come together to sing national songs, joined by a large audience who also sing along with them. The power of these festivals is not easy to describe, let’s just say that if you haven’t ever felt religion, you’ll feel it at an Estonian Song Festival. Although this aural gathering may not be the most ancient of traditions, only having been first organised in Tartu in 1869, it has become well ingrained in the hearts and souls of Estonians around the world for many generations. Since 1896 The festival has been held in Tallinn and currently takes place every 4 years, with the “Youth Song and Dance Festival” held every alternate 4 years. The festival now incorporates a folk dance celebration, which was first held in 1934, and the combined festivals have now been renamed 'Song and Dance Celebrations'.

If there’s any doubt as to the power of song, would you believe it if we told you that singing would ultimately lead to Estonia becoming independent. Well, it’s a proven fact that in the period of time between 1988 and 1990 several singing demonstrations took place all across Estonia, starting with the “Tartu Pop Music Festival” where 5 banned and patriotic songs were sung. The movement would eventually lead to the more populace Tallinn and culminated in an impromptu Night Song Festival where over 100,000 people were in attendance, singing outlawed songs and demanding freedom. At the height of the melodious demonstrations over 300,000 people gathered to sing for their freedom. Similar, but smaller demonstrations were to be held through the Baltics also leading to Latvia and Lithuania regaining their independence. Although the responsibility of the restoration of independence cannot solely be shouldered by the Singing Revolution, it certainly played a very significant part. So significant that in 2003, UNESCO would add the collective Baltic Song Festivals to its list of masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage, further solidifying their importance.
This year’s celebration entitled “To Breathe as One”, should also set the stage for a brilliant and powerful joining of voices and bodies as it were. In the Estonian language the words ‘soul’ and ‘breathing’ come from the same stem and when tens of thousands of people breathe, and indeed sing and dance together, it’s no doubt that their souls and hearts will also move as one. The celebrations have always been at their strongest when there is some uncertainty in the social or political scene and given the current economic situation in the country, we think that this festival will draw more souls than ever before. When the times are tough, the tough, in Estonia anyway, sing and dance. The raw emotion and all-embracing song, unites the hearts and minds of the people here like nothing else and can stop armies if not move mountains. Estonia is indeed a singing and dancing nation and you’re invited to join in regardless if you know the words or can dance the steps.

Tickets: Dance Celebration concerts 80 - 300kr. Song Celebration concerts 100 - 500kr.

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