'Nou Pois Äläud-IV': it just keeps getting better!
- ellenvalter
- Sep 18
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Update #261
From more distant points like Oregon and Kentucky and closer by like Ottawa and Newmarket, dancers of all experience levels, ranging in age from 7 to 71 gathered yet again at Jõekääru Estonian Children's Camp in Udora, Ontario to dance in the 4th annual "Nou Pois Äläud" weekend Estonian folk dance retreat.
More than 70 registered for the 3-day retreat, this year including children 7-12 and young ladies 13-17, who brought even more energy and a good measure of sass to the weekend of fresh air, movement, good food, and friendship.
Instructors from Estonia, Marika Järvet (instructing her 4th NPÄ), with Ave Anslan (her 3rd), Agne Kurrikoff-Herman (her 2nd) and Tiina Kull (rookie-of-the-year) divided the more than 60 dancers into four groups: children, young ladies, and two women's groups.
Rehearsals culminating in local performance
Ideal weather, again, for NPÄ, meant that dancers took on the task of readying their learnings into a performance. The instructors choreographed a performance that echoed the traditional village gathering into the home yard of a farm, with games that included children. Each group had a chance to shine with their own dances.
"Ensuring that all generations stay connected and engaged with their heritage is the theme of this NPÄ performance, echoing the goal of KESKUS itself, where all generations of Estonians, their families and friends will gather to celebrate Estonian culture and its roots" said instructor Agne Kurrikoff-Herman.
Friends, families and Jõekääru locals gladly came out to watch the performance on Sunday, and stayed for lunch al fresco.
“It was a wonderful show!” said local Jõekääru resident, Heikki Kolga, "each year, it just keeps getting better!" With thanks to www.ruudiproductions.com for the video, you can watch the performance here:
Families reunited from near and far, mothers/daughters, sisters, cousins, to dance together. Participants came to dance from Europe, US, Canada. Some data points: 16 participants have attended all four NPÄs, and 21 attended for the first time, most of those being the next-gen children and young ladies. First this year was the cheerful participation of a high school exchange student from France!
Participants from Estonia (left) and USA (right). Photos: NPÄ participants
Rahvarõivad! Helmekeed // beaded necklaces!
The ebulliant Tiina Kull, not just a dance instructor, but also researcher with Estonian National Museum in Tartu, Estonia, added several additional dimensions to the weekend. Tiina provided individual rahvarõivad (folk costume) consultations, to help participants align rahvarõivad they have inherited or purchased, into properly assembled head-to-toe folk costume ensembles.
As part of Estonian Arts Centre's "Käsitöö lounge" textile arts program, Tiina also gave a talk regarding rahvarõivad (folk costume) fundamentals, with the second half of the talk focused on helmekeed (beaded necklaces). The first 40 to sign up for a helmekee//beaded necklace workshop were able to try their hand at making these workshops. Other retreat participants were able to try their hand at embroidery, with the embroidered book project celebrating 500 years of Estonian books, or to thumb through folk costume reference books:
Photos: NPÄ participants
Adding kids to the mix made it even more lively. Thanks to Emma Nipernado looking after the kids when they weren't dancing, the adult participants had plenty of time without distractions. Imbi Uukkivi was the weekend's lifeugard - thanks go to Emma and Imbi for their sunshine and flexibility, and to Liisbet Valter-Kalm for lifeguarding on Thursday.
"Kudos to Emma and Imbi for keeping the kids entertained and safe" commented one participant, and the feedback from all participants was that including kids and young ladies was 100% positive and should be continued. "It's powerful for my daughters to get to see women led, run, and organized spaces," noted one participant.
The week was full of intense fun summarized in this 1-min "behind the scenes" video:
Bobby Chong returned for a fourth time to teach linedancing on the Friday night of the retreat, after the outdoor talk re rahvarõivad (folk costumes) and helmekeed (beaded necklaces).
"I've been a dancer for decades, and this was my first go at line dancing - what fun!" exclaimed Eva Ensmann, 2nd time "Nou Pois Äläud" participant. The Jõekääru tradition of throwing those on their birthday into the pool, fully clothed continued, and swiming and sauna musts throughout the weekend.
Photos: NPÄ participants
Dancers nourished and supported
Dancers were well cared for on the nourishment side by Katrin Kütti-Otsa and her team that comprised Shannon MacDonald, Diane van Veen and Laine Nõmmik, with extra help from Eduard Otsa, Cassandra Morgado, Krista Kadai, Leena Liivet, Tom Tiisler. Katrin and her team are already in menu-planning mode for the fifth NPÄ, to make sure all dietary and allergy considerations are taken into account.
Photos: Peeter Põldre, Katrin Kütti-Otsa
A poem of gratitude was penned by a table of participants and recited by all after each meal, to thank the kitchen team:
Photos: NPÄ participants
A heartfelt thanks goes to Ellen Valter who volunteers to organize the event, to all of the volunteer helpers on site, to Estonian Arts Centre who presents this annual retreat, and to sponsors Integratsiooni Sihtasutus, Eesti Kultuurkapital, Estonian Students Fund in USA, Estonian Foundation of Canada, Estonian Relief Committee in USA, Northern Birch Credit Union, and Estonian American National Council thanks to whom registration fees remained unchanged from last year. And without the dedicated instructors, there would be no NPÄ - aitäh!
Some more photos of an exceptional weekend:
Photos: Peeter Põldre
Dancers are preparing for the next dance extravaganzas: KESKUS opening in August 2026, and the Women's Dance Festival in Jõgeva, Estonia in 2027 are but! Keep abreast of these plans by signing up for the KESKUS newsletter here so that you'll be sure to be the first to know of the next dance steps!
And once home, the earworms continue to burrow, and the toes tap restlessly, looking forward to Nou Pois Äläud-V.
"I loved doing this together with my daughter," noted Maarika Merirand, attending her 4th NPÄ, "we're back home and she is still dancing one of the kids' dances, "Tita Tots" taking breaks to draw striped skirts!"
The young ladies were reluctant to unbraid the red ribbons from their hair, and, as pictured on the left, getting out a broom to dance "Heinalised" a few more times at home. (Photo, right, E. Burgis)
All photos by Peeter Põldre unless otherwise indicated.
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