The activities of the community center “Resiliences Avots” are aimed at improving the quality of life by offering activities both individually and in groups.
Basic activities: exploring community resources, development planning.
Services provided by specialists (consultations, classes, lectures for individuals and groups, at the community center, outdoors, or remotely).
Events and initiatives organised by community members/volunteers; leisure space; support for volunteer work.
During the first six months of its operation, the main target groups have been identified, and the Community Center will respond to their needs. These are teenagers and young people, adults (seniors, people with disabilities, people who need help to integrate into society), and volunteers.
“Magic Carpets” project
CONTACT. Children of the Universe
Choreographer Laura Gorodko was selected as the first artist-in-residence. In her work with young people, she uses contemporary dance practices as a tool for discussing movement, emotions, mistakes, trust, and contact. During the residency, the composition of the participants changed, but gradually a stable core group of five young women emerged: Zane Gedjuna, Gerda Kovaļevska, Evelīna Zirjanova, Daniela Bērziņa, and Kristīne Kalniete-Raukte. A total of approximately 19 young people participated in the process.
The long-term goal of the project is to introduce young people to contemporary performing arts and to create a space where they can freely express themselves and tell their stories. In the first year, the emphasis was on building relationships and learning about performance practices. During the residency, movement-based events, interactive exhibitions, informal performances, and dance evenings were created, in which the boundaries between learning, socializing, and creativity were deliberately blurred.
As part of the International New Theater Festival Homo Novus, the young people, together with Laura Gorodko, presented the performative installation SKICE, transforming one of the community center’s rooms into a map of the process – wall notes, tasks, quotes, and photographs, a “strange snack” created by each participant, and a short dance performance. The event preserved the everyday warmth of the center, while giving it a festive atmosphere.
At the end of the residency, a short documentary film, “CONTACT. Children of the Universe,” was created, focusing on the experiences of young people and five individual dance solos. Video artist Aivars Šaicāns joined the filming process. The 23-minute film combines fragments of workshops and conversations, rehearsals, performances on the community center’s birthday, and solo dances in various locations in Riga – the Riga Circus, the forest, St. Peter’s Church, the National Library of Latvia, and the AB Dam.
The film premiered on December 4, 2025, at the K.Suns cinema, bringing together the young people’s families, friends, visitors to the community center, and a wider audience. The screening was followed by a public discussion with the participants, reflecting on both the process and the result.
The film and the entire project reveal a consciously created connection between bodies, people, and the community. Dance here is not perceived as a technique or an achievable result, but as a language that allows one to listen to oneself and others, to experience vulnerability, courage, and belonging. Solo dances do not strive for virtuosity, but for presence and authenticity.
“CONTACT. Children of the Universe” is both a documentation of an artistic residency and a testament to what can happen when young people are given the space, time, and attention to express themselves through movement.
Number of community members included in the project: 19
Reasons for participating in the “Magic Carpets” project: Interest in contemporary dance, a wish to do something together, get to know each other better, supporting the community center and each other, and leisure time activity.
“There are two dreams that the community of teenagers from the centre would love to do someday. The small dream is to go horseback riding all together. Some of them have never done it, and it has been their dream to do it. It would also be an opportunity to be together outside of usual circumstances and experience new things together, connect to nature and animals. The big dream is to travel together to Spain to experience their culture.” [Zane, Evelīna and Daniela]