“Suktinis” Dance Group

One of the most popular and actively performing Lithuanian folk dance groups in North America is “Suktinis”. Formed in February 2005, the first directors and instructors were Salomėja and Vidmantas Strižigauskas. The current director Giedrė Elekšytė-Knieža has led the group since 2009.

“Suktinis” has an extensive performance history. For 12 consecutive years, it has presented a Lithuanian Christmas program at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois. At the invitation of the Republic of Lithuania’s Chicago General Consulate, “Suktinis” has staged many performances at Chicago’s Navy Pier, has performed in Chicago’s Millennium Park, as well as choreographed and danced in Chicago’s Lithuanian Opera Company productions. The ensemble has danced in the Los Angeles, Boston and Baltimore Lithuanian Folk Dance Festivals, in the visual segment of the Lithuanian Song Festivals of 2006 and 2015 in Chicago, as well as in the Song Festival’s evening celebration gala in 2006. “Suktinis” has traveled to Lithuania to participate in the 2014 and 2018 Lithuanian Song Festivals. In 2013 and 2015, the group was invited to perform in the Los Angeles “Lithuanian Days”, and has danced twice in Cleveland, OH, as well as in Madison, WI. In 2015, the dance ensemble had the privilege of representing Lithuania in the Chicago McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and in 2017, presented Lithuania’s Regained Centennial Independence Celebration with 100 participants in the same parade, viewed by millions of people.

In 2017, “Suktinis” has grown, adding “Lietuvos Vyčiai”, a children’s dance ensemble. The group continues to participate in countless Lithuanian community events and projects.

Artistic director: Giedrė Elekšytė-Knieža