diets

That Gatim’s role was not only due to acquaintance is confirmed by the casting, which was attended by many young people. And Gatis was chosen after proving his strength in trials. “Two factors were important to apply for the role: musical skills and visual appearance – similarity to one of the band’s musicians. It so happened that I have it all. That’s why the film’s director Aigars Graub, when he called to apply for casting, did not have to be particularly persuasive, ”says Gatis, who will have his first experience in acting and in front of the cameras, in a conversation with Kas Jauns magazine.

It could be difficult to compete with Gati in the likeness of his father to others, because visually, father and son are alike. Graver’s son is not unaware of the music either. Although the guy has not connected his professional path with music – he is an architect – Gatis has attended a music school since childhood, where he learned to play the piano, even participated in international competitions, so when filming at a keyboard, you can feel confident.

According to the press, Gatis formed the group “Sol Luna” together with Matīss Runtulis, a musician who has already passed away during school, and has worked in it, which Aigars has praised, saying that “nothing happens to his son”. Graver’s son had never felt the pressure of his parents to play music. After graduating from high school, he played in groups in France, but did not make money with music, it is his hobby. In the film Gatis will also be seen playing guitar and singing, because all the compositions will be performed by the actors themselves “live”.

Gatis studied at a French lyceum and, when he had to make a choice about what to become, he went to France to study architecture at the École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Montpellier. That’s how it is, – the young man asks why architecture determines. He has lived and worked in France, in Montreal, for ten years. It is rare to come to Latvia, and this time he will be here until the middle of October due to filming. “I don’t know what I have signed up for, now I’m just starting to guess what it’s all about. Filming and role-playing is an unfamiliar field for me, but I am open to trying something new, I really want to understand what it is, ”Gatis smiles on the first day of filming.

The fact that he is the son of Aigars will probably make it easier to feel the role. “I see other actors trying to capture the image of their hero – to meet and talk to the musician for at least half an hour to feel the person. I can pretty well imagine Aigars’ reactions to him in different situations. It’s a bit easier for me, ”says Gatis. Whether he is naturally like his father, however, he does not have to judge himself – it must be better visible from the outside.

Given the period of the film, it turns out that Father Gatis will be portrayed just before his birth. At the same time, the work in the film will give the young person the opportunity to learn more about the Awakening time, the work of “Jumprava” and its significance in it, because “for my generation, fanating about” Jumprava “has gone away”. “I am not in the generation that has heard this music a lot; just as much as I have listened to myself. But in filming, I see and understand that people older than me perceive the group as an essential part of their youth. ”

Asked whether the film will allow him to get to know his father better, Gatis is reluctant to answer, pointing out that he does not want to talk about private life, only about the film. But little is known about it yet. “If you ask this question when the film is finished, I will answer you, now I don’t know what to say,” explains Aigars.

Another dance plague?

The idea is quite simple. People from different organizations, companies and even cities come together to dance the previously learned steps to the accompaniment of “Jerusalem”. The performance is filmed and the assembled videos are posted by the organizers on social networks, passing the challenge on.

Meanwhile, historical sources contain information about an incident in July 1518 in the former capital of the Alsace region, now the French city of Strasbourg.

Both local doctors and clergy and chroniclers described a woman’s uncontrollable dancing fever. The lady suddenly started bending in the dance and did it for so long and persistently that she was joined by other, mostly younger ladies.

It lasted for days, gathering from 50 to 400 people. Seeing what was happening, the Strasbourg magistrate and bishop intervened, and the dancers were even taken to hospitals. In total, at least seven similar events from the 14th to the 17th century are known in Alsace. Over the years, both dark forces and – nowadays – stress-induced mass psychosis have been blamed.

About 400 dancers in Dobele

Maybe the stress of the pandemic is to blame now? Although the activity is spreading, in the language of the age of social networks, virally, this cannot be called the mystical dancing fever that once befell 16th century Europeans. It is believed that it was started for advertising purposes by the songwriter himself and was first moved by African dancers from Angola.

Dobele has already danced in Latvia, where local fitness coach, owner of the sports club “Gold Barbell” Ivars Cīrulis gathered about 400 people. Jelgava also stood out with a number of high-quality videos and dancers, which were followed and will certainly be followed by other municipalities. At Riga Airport, 70 employees danced it, challenging airBaltic.

The company’s involvement can be seen as a marketing-driven connection to another Internet fashion thing, but the motivation of so many people to spend time and energy requires explanation.

Compensation after self – insulation

Inese Ločmele, a psychotherapist of stature, the founder and teacher of the dance and personality culture center “I-DANCE HOUSE”, has a versatile opinion.

“Probably the first thing to mention is the songwriter’s own successful move, perhaps his fortune in releasing just such a song at this time. But otherwise, after months of feeling restricted in the pandemic, I think such a voluntary and motivated physical get-together is can be seen as compensation for isolation, most of which were practiced for health reasons, “says the psychotherapist,

“I think that in a way the simplicity of this dance also attracts. The simple in this sense will always be more attractive to the public than the complex. In my experience, I can also say that charismatic organizers and appropriate weather are always good for such events.”

A competition in which everyone wins

Ločmele also states that challenges in the dance world always mean more, not a serious competition with the winner and loser, but a binding way to get together and get the most out of it, while also maintaining a certain spirit of competition.

In his particular dance, he does not see a serious connection with African ritual dances – the steps danced to the accompaniment of “Jerusalem” are too simple.

“This is something that is popular now, but tomorrow will be forgotten, and something new will come in. If you look at the dance itself, then if we look carefully, we can understand that the steps of Jerusalem dance dictate that only the lower body moves. It shows a grounded, physically and morally strong dance, “adds Ločmele.

Heaven will be better …

Facebook user Dainis Briedis from Ventspils has come up with his explanation. He points out that he has once lived in Africa for quite some time and from contact with the locals knowing full well that for Africans, dance is not simply a dance in our understanding, but a religious ritual with a magical context.

“An important part of the religious beliefs that are included in the ritual content is the inclusion of the world of the dead in real life. The music of the mentioned dance is also based on the song of an ancient South African funeral ceremony. Should we Latvians challenge Fate and subject ourselves to African ritual dances? which implements the meaning even without understanding … And in which several times it is chanted: “Do not leave me here! My place isn’t here … “?” approaching lingerie, Dainis asks.

“Master KG” itself confirms that the words have a slightly religious orientation, but the composition is basically based on typical dance music traditions. In South Africa, “Jerusalem” belongs to the “Limpopo house” genre – fast-paced dance music, which originates in the province of Limpopo in northern South Africa.

What “Jerusalem” sings about

Jerusalem is my home

Protect me

Come with me

Don’t leave me here

My place is not here

My kingdom is not here