Picture (standing left to right): Jeff Zelek, Kelsey Biggs Kiik, Leena Sirp, Andrus Kiik, Eve Tisler, Arney Smits, Deborah Klepp, Laila Oinas, Jyri Erik Kork, Age Langra Robinson, Helen Mandel, Kadri Kallas Zelek, Mauno Kork. Seated: Lauri Tisler, Märt Agu, Tiina Kreek, Anu Oinas.  Picture: Anu Oinas

On the rainy weekend of March 19th and 20th, 2016, the Washington Estonian Society, in collaboration with the Embassy of Estonia, sponsored folk dance workshops with Märt Agu in Rockville, Maryland and McLean, Virginia.  

Pillerkaar, Estonian Folk Dancers of the Washington DC Metro Area, participated in this riveting event in which Märt taught two new contemporary dances which he choreographed.

Choreographer Märt Agu is a renowned choreographer of modern Estonian folk dances based on centuries-old traditions. He has been the artistic director of the famous Estonian "Tantsupidu" Dance Festival in Tallinn, Estonia, that happens every four years, bringing together tens of thousands of folk dancers for one massive performance weekend.

Märt is founder and creative director of Tallinn Dance Academy, and has been a producer, coordinator and creative director for various dance festivals and events in Estonia, as well as a teacher of Estonian folk dance. With centuries-old traditions, Estonian folk dance is still very much alive today.

On March 17th, a special dance workshop  Mixing Old and New: Estonian Folk Dance in the 21st Century with choreographer Märt Agu took place in the Great Hall of the Silver Spring Civic Building.

The workshop was dedicated to Estonian folk dance, and was also made possible through a collaboration with the Embassy of Estonia.