SAULE IS LOOKING FOR MORE DANCERS Mrs. Dalia Motiejunas, director and dancing instructor of Saule, is interested in finding more dancers (seven-years-old and older). There will be opportunities to perform at a variety of Lithuanian and international cultural events. Folk dancing is a wonderful way to celebrate our Lithuanian heritage and to share it with others. For more information please contact Mrs. Dalia Motiejunas at (602) 493-8473 or folkdancer65@hotmail.com.

BEGINNINGS In 1999, through the efforts of Dalia Motiejunas and Aldona Vaitkus, a Lithuanian folk dance ensemble called Saule (or Sun in Lithuanian) was organized in Arizona. It began with veteran dancers living in the metropolitan areas of Phoenix, Tucson, and Casa Grande. The goal was to perform at the upcoming 11th Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Toronto in 2000. Dalia Motiejunas agreed to become the dancing instructor for the group and attended a week of intensive training at Dainava in Michigan in the summer of 1999. To practice dancing a location was found equidistant from Phoenix and Tucson - the American Legion hall in Florence, Arizona, and practice began in the fall of 1999.

Saule dancers in Florence, Arizona, in the spring of 2000: in the front row of the left photo are Siga Eidukonis, Violeta Juodakis, Aldona Vaitkus, Rima Reklaitis, Ruta Motiejunas, Antonija Petrulis, and Maryte Tallat-Kelpsa; in the back are Kestutis Eidukonis, Rimas Vaitkus, Rimtis Tallat-Kelpsa, Don Adamavich, Algis Motiejunas, Vytas Reklaitis, and director/instructor Dalia Motiejunas.

Arizona's Saule ensemble in 2001.

SOME OF THE EVENTS AT WHICH SAULE PERFORMED

July 2, 2000: 11th Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Toronto

October 14, 2000: Tucson Heritage Experience Festival

February 11, 2001: Lithuanian Independence Day Commemoration

February 10, 2002: Lithuanian Independence Day Commemoration

lithaz.org: Internet home of Arizona Chapter of Lithuanian-American Community, Inc.