Amore Attends the 11th Estonian Youth Song & Dance Festival

33,000 Singers on a Stage! An Unforgettable Sight (and Sound)!

Temperatures in the 90s, a hot sun over our heads all day, crowds of people surrounding us. Sounds like it could be a bit miserable, doesn’t it? But when you’re watching and listening to thousands and thousands of singers and musicians on a single huge stage and seeing the Estonians in the audience linking arms, singing, swaying to the music, with tears in their eyes … well, it’s a memory that will be etched in our minds forever.

It was a performance-free day for Amore, a chance to be spectators instead. The day began with a huge buffet breakfast at the hotel followed by viewing the festival parade just steps from our hotel. All the participants in the Youth Song and Dance Festival here in Talinn “march” in a parade that lasts several hours. Colorfully-dressed in their native costumes, groups of singers, dancers, and musicians from a single town or area of the country walk together, holding flags or other signage identifying their community. It was a real treat to stand so close and see the beautiful, beaming faces of these young Estonians. Many of the Amore choristers are quite taken by the braided hairstyles they have seen – intricate designs of braids encircling a girl’s head.

We spent almost the entire day on the grounds of the festival. There were easily 100,000 people there – a sea of humanity. It was hot, hot, hot … but we all lathered ourselves in sunscreen, the chaperones checking and double-checking that all the girls had done so. The stage was filled with various groups of singers throughout the day – sometimes grouped by age, sometimes by gender. There were instrumental performances as well. The girls were free to wander the grounds with several “check-in” times to confirm we were all still there. Except for the heat, it was a stellar day. The girls shopped at the Estonian craft booths, ate a variety of foods, and did a great deal of people-watching.

The finale of the festival was exceptionally moving. All of the singers were joined together on the stage (we’ve been told the total is 33,000), the dancers gathered all around the grounds, and they sang and danced some of Estonia’s most beloved songs. We recognized many of the songs from the movie “The Singing Revolution.” On the large TV screens we could watch up close the beautiful faces of the singing children. We even recognized one of the conductors as the same man who is featured in “The Singing Revolution.” It was amazing to watch him and think about what he has seen and experienced through Estonia’s struggle for independence.

After the grand finale, we went by bus to dinner at a restaurant that sits right by the Baltic on a nice, sandy beach. After dinner, there was much frivolity, wading, and picture taking by the water’s edge. All in all, a super day!

• J Kinard

  7/4/2011 3:14 AM
  We so appreciate these updates, Kathy! Thank you! The pictures are beautiful and your description of each day is a pleasure to read.
• Michele Anderson

  7/4/2011 5:00 AM
  We also appreciate the blogs Kathy! Beautifully written and photographed, you are capturing and sharing the beautiful essence of the girl's experiences. A joyful pleasue for us. Thank you so much!!!
• Nancy Morton

  7/5/2011 7:59 AM
  I am so grateful for your blog, Kathy! I can keep up with my daughter and your descriptions are so clear and wonderful that I feel like I'm seeing everything through your eyes!