The main goal of the project is to share our experiences with experts like the Latvians. If we compare our two cultures, we can see that the Latvian trainees, musicians and participants are much more skilled than the French ones. The goal being to raise awareness among a rural public with low income, by creating innovative and free events. We wished to reach a large public as we all have a cultural heritage to share. As much as the Italian emigrants are concerned as other communities. By proposing Occitano- Latvian bals we can spread the events. Therefore, we can mobilize not only the followers of the Occitan culture but also our elders for whom this culture is simply a vague memory. Bals are places for social diversity, at the same time for volunteers, host families and musicians transcended by Latvian folk. The goal is to share our citizen values, and how they influence our living together. The discovery of local dances from other people allows to create links to keep ones’ identity at the same time as enriching oneself from the difference of the other.
It was about creating an event for the 10 years anniversary of the twinning with Italy. Bassano, in Italy is a very active village as far as the cultural side as the protection of the heritage are concerned. Latvia appeared to us as an ideal partner and this for many reasons. The Baltic countries among which Latvia have succeeded in maintaining the traditions of their songs and dances even though periods of Russian and German occupation. This tradition remains thanks to the establishment of various celebrations of songs and dances since 1873. And thanks to the protection of the « Danais » or Latvian dances since 1920, Latvia counts the largest collection of traditional songs. On the Italian side, we have noticed that during the local festivals, all generations mingle and dance together. They dance very modern dances as well as dances of their cultural heritage such as the Mazurka and the Polka. For us, French people, this cultural heritage has been buried within the memory of the elder and is shared only in very special places. It seemed interesting to us to give life again to these traditions of dancing and singing with the occitans but also with all people of Italian descent who also have a singing and dancing culture.