Folklore ensemble
Susiedai
The leaders of the ensemble are Ramunė Miškauskienė, head of cultural activities of the Alove department, Mindaugas Verbickas, art director of the Alovė branch.
The folklore ensemble was formed in 1989 by Danutė and Henrikas Janukaičiai from 22 members. They named the ensemble "Alovėlė". The ensemble's composition was constantly expanded with new members from the surrounding villages, so the previous name was no longer suitable. The vote of the members of the group also determined the name of the group - in 1994 the group was named "Susiedai". The hard work brought the team together and produced good results.
- 1991 - 1997; 2010 - 2019, participated in the International Folklore Festival in Druskininkai;
- 1994 and 1998 - World Lithuanian Song Festival in Vilnius;
- 1994 - 2006 "Grybų šventė" in Varėna;
- 1996 - in the Užgavenės Festival in Kėdainiai, "Dzūkų dienos" in Gudžiai, Varėna district;
- 1996 - folklore festival "Dzūkų godos – 25" in Alytus;
- 1998 - folklore festival "Dzūkų godos – 25" in Kapčiamiestis, 2nd World Lithuanian Song Festival in Vilnius, republican festival "Rudens gėrybės - 98" in Vilnius;
- 2000 - at the event "Dzūkų dienos" in Vilnius;
- 1999, 2002, 2005 - folklore festival "Skamba skamba kankliai" in Vilnius;
- 2003 - at the World Lithuanian Song Festival "Mes" in Vilnius; at the Three Kings Charity Concert in Kaunas; at the Republican Festival "Derliaus kraitė" in Kaunas;
- In 2006 went to the folklore festival in Suwalki province (Poland);
- 2007 Lithuanian Song Festival "Būties ratu" in Vilnius; "Dzūkų kraštas" in the courtyard of Vilnius Teachers' House in Vilnius;
- 2009 - at the celebration of the millennium of Lithuania's name "Amžių sutartinė" in Vilnius.
- Every year from 1994 to 2004, Susiedai represented Alytus district at the Easter Festival in the Folk Life Museum in Rumšiškės.
- In 2014, they took part in the folklore festival in Barzdžiai, Šakiai district, the Lithuanian Song Festival "Mes čia" in Vilnius, the Republican first pradalga festival "Ir dalgis prie klėties" in Žaiginiai, Raseiniai district.
- 2015 National Costume Procession, Vilnius.
- 2017 Republican Folklore Festival in Barstyčiai, Skuodas district.
- 2018 February 16th celebration in Debeikiai, Anykščiai district.
- 2012 - 2019 Participated in folklore festival "Atataria lamzdžiai" Kaunas, Lithuania.
- 2021 - participated in the republican folklore festival "Užsilėpso aš ont kalna", Rietavas municipality, Lithuania.
- 2021 - Folklore festival of the Dzūkija region "Žolynas slaunasai", in Veisiejai
The group participates in regional and national events, festivals, events organised by the Alovė branch.
Having made a name for itself at the district song festivals, since 1996 the ensemble has been performing outside the district as well. The ensemble has visited many towns and cities in Lithuania with its concert programme.
Now the ensemble has 15 members. The repertoire of the ensemble includes Lithuanian folk songs, songs of the region and concert programmes on various themes. To date, Susiedai have been performing at many regional and national events and captivating a wide range of audiences.
