A Brief History of Vetra

The following material was on Vaiva's hard drive, dated in 2004. The authorship is uncertain, it may have been prepared for the program book for the 2004 festival in Chicago, Vetra's final participation in a major festival. The facts are all accurate.

The Vėtra Lithuanian folk dance group was founded in New Haven, Connecticut in 1983. The initial incentive in establishing the group was the desire to participate in the 7th International Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Cleveland, 1984. Most of the founding members of the group were adults of Lithuanian extraction and many of them participated in other Lithuanian folk dance groups when they were children, adolescents and students. The members of the group range, in age, from 9 to 60 years. Most of the dancers reside within or near the greater New Haven area. The founding director was Ruta Mickunas but since 1987, the director and instructor has been Vaiva Vebraite Gustiene. The group’s current manager and co-instructor is Nancy Pawasauskaite.

Primarily, the group performs Lithuanian folk dances that are choreographed for adults. Occasionally, they perform some dances that would be customarily performed by youth and student groups. Relatively unique for Lithuanian folk dance ensembles in North America, the Vėtra membership does not consist solely of dancers of Lithuanian heritage. Many of the dancers are of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Anyone who is willing to learn, dance and perform Lithuanian folk dances is welcome to become a member of Vėtra.

Vėtra has performed at numerous occasions throughout Southern New England, New York and Pennsylvania. The group has participated in the 7th International Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Cleveland, 1984, in the 8th International Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Hamilton, Ontario, 1988, in the 9th International Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Chicago, 1992, in the 10th International Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Chicago, 1996 and in the 11th International Lithuanian Folk Dance Fesitval in Toronto, 2000.

In July, 1994, Vėtra proudly participated in The 1994 World Lithuanian Song and Dance Festival which was held in Vilnius, Lithuania. Just a few years ago, this would have been impossible, due to Soviet occupation.

Vėtra has performed for the Knights of Lithuania at their National Convention in New Haven, 1985 and at Ellis Island by the request of the United States Department of National Parks in 1991. We participated in numerous fund-raisers to benefit the Special Olympics World Games in New Haven, 1995. Also, Vėtra has danced at many other festivals, picnics, fairs and events of Lithuanian, American, multinational, and other ethnic heritages. In the past Vėtra has hosted an annual dinner dance that customarily featured a program of their latest repertoire and the performance of a guest dance group of different ethnic heritage. In the past few years, Vėtra has had guest ensembles such as: Bavarian Schuhplattlers, Scottish Highlanders, Estonian Folk Dancers, Swedish Folk Dancers, Ukrainian Folk Dancers, Polish Folk Dancers, and Irish Folk Dancers. In their effort to preserve the art and tradition of Lithuanian folk dance, Vėtra has achieved public recognition and popularity well beyond the local Lithuanian community.

Vėtra has sponsored and organized the local performance of several folk song and dance ensembles from Lithuania. In 1989, Vėtra presented the "Ratilio" Folklore Ensemble of Vilnius University. In 1990, Vėtra presented "Šviesa", the Folklore Ensemble of the Vilnius Pedagogical Institute.

"Vėtra", is literally defined as "sudden storm" in the Lithuanian language. It also carries overtones of surprise and exuberance.

The group conducts weekly dance rehearsals at the parish hall of St. Michael's Church, on Wooster Place in New Haven. Vėtra is currently performing its repertoire at various events around the Connecticut and Massachusetts area. In the last few months, the group has performed at the Knights of Lithuania New England District Festival at Maironis Park in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, at Holy Trinity Church in Hartford, Connecticut, at St. George’s Lithuanian Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut and at Vėtra’s annual Vakaras in West Haven, Connecticut.