The first performance of the Tantsupidu was amazing! The only way to truly feel what it is like of course is to be there in the stadium but I hope you can get an idea  from the photos I took.

We went over a bit early to Kalev stadium

...the performers went to have their dinner after dress rehearsal and we wanted to stroll the booths and settle in before it all started. Can you imagine feeding 10,000 people within a limited time schedule???

Off to dinner in Spordihall

Each dance group had a spot to gather and relax on the hillsides around the stadium which is located in a large park. Some dancers were having a nap or just enjoying some shade...

some were just having some fun...

Every time I come to this festival I feel transported in time because it is so incredible to walk in town and see lots of people dressed in folk costumes waiting for the bus or buying something in a store. It really is a bit surreal for me.

The stadium is empty but the show will begin soon...it is 6 p.m.

Some dancers going onto the field...others are lined up on the field edge to the right and coming down the stairs on the stands across the field.

The flame we saw at Harku is now arriving on the field..

When the flame is lit the music begins....

There is a storyline to the program...the theme is touching and it begins with the grandparents, then parents and children and how the touch of the family is passed through time and generations.

"We all come from our childhood...We get home patterns from our mother and father. Home music is full of sounds from the days bygone, including the tunes from the childhood of parents."(from the program)

Here are the groups of families who tell the first part of the story...behind them are all the children's dance groups:

Each dance builds on the theme of "touching" and dance groups are also women, men & boys, mixed groups...also teenagers and falling in love and then the many stories of life events...this is really a short explanation but each set of dances creates patterns on the stadium floor which are based on motifs found in Estonian art and culture...

Children 1280 dancers

Women 1332 dancers

Men and boys 1088 dancers

The Portland dance group Tulehoidjad are in the mass of dancers below...I can find them but it is too hard to explain how to locate them! They did a terrific job!

What I am continually amazed about is how in three days of practice, thousands of dancers (10,000 this year) from all over Estonia and part of the world, put together such a precise program! The transitions from one part to another of the program are seamless and the coming on and going off of the various groups is part of the whole.

There was not one seat available in the stadium and we could see people watching from the apartment decks behind the stadium.

a panorama view but still not what it really is

It was a perfect evening and light until late...summer in Estonia!! These are "our family" dancers!!! And a little fan!

After the Saturday morning performance there was a 5 kilometer  parade to the song field...it lasted about 5-6 hours!!!...a steady stream of dancers and singers moving through the streets. Eda and I went so we could call out "Elagu!" (best wishes) to all of our dancers/singers/musicians.

I took this picture off the TV of the starting part...you can see the paraders at the bottom of the picture.

Look...this place has my name!!!

 It was hot sitting in the sun for 3+ hours...see the tee shirt on my head???

The Portland group finally came by so we could shout "Elagu!"

 Those poor dancers...a program in the morning then waiting for hours to get into the parade line then walking the route...whew! one cannot say that Estonians give up easily! I didn't see a grumpy face in the parade or on the sidelines.

Next some pictures of the Laulupidu but this is all for today!