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Jūratė and Česlovas Norvaiša have been together for 65 years, and the marriage has lasted more than six decades. They are the human values that Česlovas and Jūratė also try to instill in their students.
“We educate dancers to be cultural people. Throughout the years of leadership, we have lost sight of any of the students smoking or drinking unless we notice. We try to prepare people by emphasizing a healthy lifestyle Č.Norvaiša admitted.
The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic slightly changed the Norwegians’ plans. Last weekend, the 56th International Sports Dance Competition “Amber Couple” would be organized. For the first time in history, the competition had to be postponed to next year.
However, Norvaša is optimistic about the future. Lithuanian standard dances, in the highlands, the Kaunas “Sūkuris” club, in the hands of reliable students and thousands of young dancers guarantee a bright future for this sport.
Jubilee interview with Č.Norvaiša – about family happiness, first victories, work and high level of Lithuanian dancers.
– How do you support yourself during the quarantine period?
– We follow all quarantine instructions and wait for it to finish. Another thing is that our work did not stop. We work remotely with some couples who have the conditions to dance at home and demonstrate what we tell them.
– You have been married to Jūrat’s wife for 60 years, and you started making friends over 65 years ago. What is the secret of such a long and happy marriage?
– The most important thing is that we are friends, not just husband and wife. Although we are different in certain places, we are generally the same. We are connected by common goals, common aspirations. We help each other all the time.
Photo from the album of eddies / Jūratė and Česlovas Norvaiša with the young coaches of “Sūkuris”
– You yourself were famous dancers, multiple champions of the then Soviet Union. What determined your sports achievements?
– We started dancing early, when sports dancing was developing. The first trainers, Tomas Petreikis and Vidutis Kamaitis, infected us with the dance virus. We just wanted to learn how to dance beautifully, we came to the courses and that’s how it started. And before that we were athletes, we both attended gymnastics, we tried many other sports. In those days there was no television, so everyone played sports in the hallways, ran, played soccer and basketball.
Sport gave us coordination that helped us catch up quickly on the dances with what was happening. Thanks to some coaches from Estonia and Lithuania, we started participating in competitions and we won them. Later we won the championship of the Soviet Union, then we could go to London to train. After returning to Lithuania, we switched to professionals, and since 1974 we have led the Club Sūkuris.
– What makes you happy with the pedagogical work, the leadership of the club?
– Kaunas Culture Center, where we work, is like a second home for us. Initially, dance was an art, and only later did it become a sport. Before that, the club was chaired by engineer T. Petreikis, and later, when we switched professionals, we assumed leadership of the club. We continue working here.
There are many achievements. Firstly, since our dance club was one of the first, most of the students, especially from Kaunas, became coaches. Also, many of our dancers went to work as trainers in the United States, various European countries. In addition, we have trained world champions and vice champions. We had victories. We are now being helped by our students, who also work at Whirlpool. One of them are world champions Lina and Donatas Vėželiai. It is gratifying that we are able to continue club activities with students.
– What values do you try to instill in the dancers?
– Our sport is special because everything here is very close to culture. It’s not just about sports. We are between sport and art. The greater the mastery of the dancers, the more artistic is the performance of the dance. We also educate our dancers to be educated people. Throughout the years of leadership, we have lost sight of any of the students smoking or drinking unless we notice. We try to prepare people by emphasizing a healthy lifestyle. We are doctors, that’s why we teach people to live in a healthy way.
– You have been organizing the Amber Couple competition for 56 years, which will not take place this year due to the pandemic. Did you expect that sports dances could attract a lot of Lithuanian interest?
– We were one of the initiators of this competition. This year would have been the 56th race, but due to the situation, we moved on to the following year. We start and organize the event with Kaunas Culture Center, L. and D. Vėželiai contribute to their organization. We expected popularity: people wanted and wanted to see the art of dance. Now, the World Sports Dance Federation has begun taking steps to bring sports dance to the Olympics, which could spark even greater public interest.
– How have sports dances changed in half a century?
– It has changed a lot. When we started dancing, we were not the first, the world danced before. Finally, I had to learn from the Estonians, who still kept the dance traditions after the war. Everything changed over time. Since dancing is already a sport now, everything happens faster, stronger, higher now. Others must decide whether it is better or worse, but, of course, sportsmanship has brought nuances to the dances.
Swirls / Česlovas Norvaiša album photo
– How do you assess the current situation of sports dances in Lithuania and the level of dancers?
– It must be recognized that Lithuania is a world leader in standard dances in terms of achievement. We have world champions of amateur sports, professional champions of multiple sports, vice-champions. We occupy elite positions in standard dances in the world.
It is good that in Latin American dances, although we are a little weaker here, we have strong athletes. The future is also bright because we have many young dancers. Hundreds of couples walk the parquet in youth competitions. It should be remembered that our state is not large, so the selection here is small. We are not in Russia, where one or two pairs out of a million can be selected and there will always be a change. We need to dedicate a lot of work and time to raising champions, but we have promising couples who will sooner or later make the name of Lithuania famous.
– What would the young generation of Lithuanian dancers like?
– I wish you stubbornness. You don’t have to think only about becoming a champion, but about becoming a good dancer. I want to become cultural and organized people. Not all will be professionals. The most important thing is that the dances point life in the right direction and the dancers become cultured and physically prepared people.
– Thanks for the chat and sincerely congratulations on a beautiful birthday!
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