| Amber Burn ǟʀȶɨռʊֆ 2024, visual art by graphics team Jan and Andrej |
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The theme of Amber Burn in 2024, ǟʀȶɨռʊֆ, is inviting the community to create art, build it, and experience it. For many, making art can be a way to express oneself and connect with others. This is a burning reminder that our dreams and goals are within reach. Funding is available for effigies, installations, and/or interactive spaces to help them emerge in our temporary city. The art grant application, concept stage, is open until May 13. Hurry up, as it is the last day! Check out the link below for more information, and apply. The next Amber Burn co-creation meeting is on May 14 at 7 PM.
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Burning Creations of Lithuania Burners |
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Creativity is not always sculptures, effigies, or installations. It is not always material or tangible. We can find so many ways to express ourselves in Burning Man, Amber Burn, or other regional. One of the most expressive, inspiring, and freeing experiences is dancing. This time, we will bring to light what free dance is with Kamile.
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Kamile at Amber Burn 2023, photo by MayYouSee |
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Kamile, where did it all start? How was the idea of the dance workshop born? ''Free dance (also called ecstatic) entered my life in 2006, when I visited the first 5Rhythms workshop. The easiest way to describe free dance is "the way people dance alone at home, when no one is watching, but together with other people." The powerful effect of dance comes from allowing the body to move as it needs to in the moment by gently inviting it out of the usual patterns of movement. Do this for an hour, and you might feel most alive, creative, and happier than ever. Such dance has contributed to many creative processes: creating music, start-ups, healthier work habits, writing, choosing future professions, etc. The events where I invite people to dance free I call the Dance Space, and around it a community—the Dance Tribe—was born. Someone from our Dance Tribe came across burners and went to Amber Burn in 2020. I was informed that these two communities must meet: one has fantastic form, and the other has very valuable content. I didn't need much convincing. I already knew about the burners from Degantis Jonas,'' shared Kamile. |
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Moments from the dancefloor, photo by Mantas Žukauskas, Amber Burn 2023 |
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In her first Amber Burn in 2021, Kamile found a community of caring creators playing life, which is rare, she commented. Obviously, she brought her wireless speakers. It was very hot that year, and from 10:00 in the morning, it was impossible to be anywhere other than the lake. Morning dances in the water were a great success. People were dancing in the water, rolling off a pile of sand, or simply bathing in the sun's rays. ''I felt the strength of Lithuanian burners - excellent, magical material infrastructure. I realized I could add my skills and wisdom to create non-material, invisible infrastructures of well-being and joy.'' she said. |
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Moments from the dancefloor, photo by Ieva Matulaityte, Amber Burn 2021 |
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How does someone achieve such a mission - to keep dance floors alive? ''In my first Amber Burn, I was visiting empty dance floors where the DJ was playing. I would stand in the center, close my eyes, and do what I knew best. Regardless of my musical taste, every song invites the body to move in some way. After 15 minutes, I could see the dance floor already alive and would then continue to another camp, another empty dance floor.'' shared Kamile. In Amber Burn 2022, the memorable moments of the dance at the Dragon (SlibinCamp) during the opening fireworks were born out of this mission. So many unsuspecting burners joined the secret dances, which were the fruit of creation originating from the Dance Tribe, transforming the empty dance floors with liveliness.
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Last year, ''the dance advocates'' successfully continued the mission to bring music and dance to the right time and place. They initiated and co-created the rituals of burning the effigies, so they would be accompanied by a dance. For example, they helped Warmhole artists with the brilliant idea to accompany the burning of the effigy with classical music. It is unbelievable, how impressively synchronized the fire and the classics were.
''My heart sings when I see people dancing around the fire.'' opened up Kamile. |
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"Over Ruled", Black Rock City Honoraria, Burning Man 2023 |
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In Amber Burn 2023, there was the first free dance workshop that was not secret or spontaneous but planned ahead and included in the program. It was co-created with DJ Kaip Sau (Paulius Putna). Kamile commented that he has that special skill of choosing just the right music that keeps the dance floor alive.
The project—workshop and playlist—was named "Animalia in Motion" and was also meant for Burning Man 2023. In the desert, it turned out to be a great team-building exercise for the Lituanica Birds Camp that Paulius and Kamile stayed with. "It seems that everyone has become a little better for each other," someone commented. This is the classic impact of the dance. |
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The wettest Burning Man in history was nothing short of amazing. It was full of amazing desert art, journeys in all kinds of vehicles, dusty and muddy dance floors, unexpected jazz interludes, unplanned burnings, and rainbows.'' remembers Kamile. They stayed with Lituanica Birds because it is a dance-loving camp.
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Kaip Sau and Kamile, captured by Zaneta Pau at Lituanica Birds Camp, Burning Man 2023 |
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'’I chose Lituanica Birds Camp because they introduced themselves as a dance-loving camp," continued Kamile. ''The main test which the camp passed 100% was the rainy Friday. It must have been the ultimate neighborhood party when it poured. Often, people ask, How did you stay there in the rain? We danced to it. A lot of people danced. It turned out that probably every second member of Lituanica Birds was a DJ. The music started with the rain and didn't stop all night. It was impossible to go to sleep. The DJs played too well. Someone pulled things out of wet tents, others carefully sheltered their friends who were flooded, some burners got stuck in the mud out of stress, others swam in it at their own will, and some simply levitated... If you know how to play, improvise, and forgive the world if it doesn't meet your expectations, the wet Playa becomes a playground of the most creative decisions, the most caring hearts, and the most incredible magic—similar to a dance floor. Indeed, through free dance, we learn to find solutions to unexpected circumstances and become creators of our authentic life experiences.'' Kamile shared her insights and experiences. |
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Justina Kaniauskaite Animalia in Motion glimpse, Burning Man 2023 |
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These are just a few incredible examples of how the community can come together and become stronger than ever by sharing the free dance experience. ''My dream for the future is an art car that could drive wherever there is a need for dancing. I hope the magical encounter of the two communities—the burners and the dancing tribe—will finally take place for one big time dance.'' shares Kamile. The community appreciates the effort of all dancers, DJs, and Kamile for bringing these experiences and enriching our community. We are looking forward to our next meetings at the dancefloors and in Amber Burn 2024.
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Amber Burn ǟʀȶɨռʊֆ 2024, visual art by graphics team Jan and Andrej |
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The ticket sale is still open. Everybody must register (create an account at https://amberburn.lt/registration) and have a valid ticket to enter the gathering. For more information, check out the link below. Ticket Aid, offering low-income tickets, is also open.
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We continue to learn about the possibilities of co-creating and exploring regional events in Europe in 2024. |
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Borderland is largest Sweden's participatory event. The regional event will take place on week 30, as mostly every year, and in 2024, the dates are July 22–28. Borderland participants—borderlings—co-create dreams and realities in the cool wilderness of permanent burners home in Alversjö, Sweden. If you were unlucky to get a membership in the lottery, it is provisioned that transfers should open on June 1. The best place to find updates about memberships, all practical information, volunteering possibilities, etc. is on their website and discord at the links below. |
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