P1060400 Horse riders in medieval attire

in a parade celebrating the millennium of Lithuania on July 6, 2009.

P1060402 A parade on the streets of Vilnius

celebrating the millennium of Lithuania on July 6, 2009.

P1060406 Lithuanian Song Festival (Dainų šventė)

in Vilnius on July 6, 2009, celebrating the millennium of Lithuania

P1060408 Performers in Lithuanian ethnic clothes

Performers in the Lithuanian Song Festival (Dainų šventė) take a break before its their turn to go on stage.

P1060409 Performers backstage

Performers in the Lithuanian Song Festival (Dainų šventė) socialize backstage before going on stage.

P1060410 Lithuanian Song Festival (Dainų šventė) performers backstage

These girls are wearing t-shirts of Balys Dvarionas Music School, where I went to when I was their age (decades ago). In fact, I performed at the Song Festival with my school choir. Back then in Lithuania we did not have logo t-shirts.

P1060413 Cheerleaders in polka dots

Cheerleaders at the Lithuanian Song Festival (Dainų šventė)? Hmm, definitely a new concept to me. It didn't have them in my day. But then, I haven't gone to Dainų šventė for decades.

P1060135 Dancers in Lithuanian ethnic costumes

(Well, not exactly ethnical -- more like stylized medieval costumes). They rehearse before the Evening of Ensembles (Ansamblių Vakaras) -- the first night of the Lithuanian Song Festival (Dainų šventė) begins.

P1060139 Dancers in Lithuanian ethnic costumes

socialize before the beginning of the Evening of Ensembles (Ansamblių Vakaras) -- the first night of the Lithuanian Song Festival (Dainų šventė).

P1060148 The opening sequence of the Evening of Ensembles

The opening sequence of the Evening of Ensembles (Ansamblių Vakaras) -- the first night of the Lithuanian Song Festival (Dainų šventė).

P1060150 The opening sequence of the Evening of Ensembles

The opening sequence of Evening of Ensembles (Ansamblių Vakaras) -- the first night of the Lithuanian Song Festival (Dainų šventė). Dancers in stylized medieval costumes dance to vaguely New Age'y pagan pop, slightly resembling Enya.

P1060153 The opening sequence of the Evening of Ensembles

has a distinct medieval / fantasy flavor. Guys brandish swords while a black bat comes down the stairs dancing to the strands of vaguely New Age'y pagan pop, slightly resembling Enya.

P1060154 The opening sequence of the Evening of Ensembles

had a distinct medieval / fantasy flavor. Guys brandish swords while a black bat comes down the stairs dancing to the strands of vaguely New Age'y pagan pop, slightly resembling Enya.

P1060161 Dancers assemble a cloth ram

As nonsensical as it sounds, I have no other way to describe what they are doing. This was part of the performance at the Evening of Ensembles (Ansamblių vakaras), the opening evening of the Lithuanian Festival of Song (Dainų šventė).

P1060162 Dancers tussle over a cloth ram

Yes, another surreal caption. This was part of the performance at the Evening of Ensembles (Ansamblių vakaras), the opening evening of the Lithuanian Festival of Song (Dainų šventė). Alas, its symbolism completely escapes me.

P1060162 Green flowers over blue neon stairs

were projected on the stage during the ram-tussling sequence (see previous picture)

P1060165 Green garland dance

at the Evening of Ensembles (Ansamblių vakaras), the opening evening of the Lithuanian Festival of Song (Dainų šventė).

P1060422 A Renaissance dance troupe Banchetto Musicale

wait for their turn at a Renaissance music concert in Vilnius