Pillerkaar began its performance with a brief fashion show, describing the origins of the national dress from various parishes of Estonia. The Pillerkaar dancers, along with Amalia Pleake-Tamm, in her first performance with Pillerkaar, danced eight traditional Estonian Folk dances. Pillerkaar director, Jeff Zelek, told the audience that in addition to their pleasing physicality, rhythmic patterns, synchronized steps and gestures, Estonian dances usually express a sentiment or mood, or illustrate a specific event or daily act. The dances began with two choreographed and authored pieces: the flirtatious Tule aga tule (Come oh Come), and the fast flowing waltz Vana viisi valss (An Old Tune Waltz), each with a different mood but a crowd pleasing ending. These dances were followed by two circle dances: Külavalss (Village Waltz) and Oige ja vasemba (Right and Left); the line dance Raksi Jaak (Estonian version of Krakoviak); Kalamies (Fisherman’s dance); and the vigorous Canadian/Estonian-choreographed Kungla Polka. Pillerkaar finished, as always, with the crowd favorite Tuljak (Wedding Dance) ending the performance on a literal high note with its dramatic lift. Many groups performed but most were better suited for Washington’s sweltering heat unlike the Estonians whose outfits were 100% wool. However, only the Estonians had the honor of representing their cherished heritage in this the centennial year of Estonia’s Independence!
Anu Oinas & Deborah Klepp