The Indianapolis Lativan Folkdance Ensemble "Jautrais Paris" ("The Merry Couple") was founded in 1950 by young Latvian-Americans in Indianapolis, who wished to preserve the dances and customs of their homeland.  Many Latvians had been forced to flee their small country on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea in 1944 when Soviet troops marched into Latvia.

Today, the second and even third generations of the ensemble's founding members are keeping the Latvian folkdance traditions alive through their participation in the the ensemble, which includes a 15 member children's group (ages 3 - 13), and a 20-member advanced group (ages 14 and up).  All of the dancers' colorful, traditional costumes are handmade, usually by mothers and grandmothers,and occasionally ordered directly from Latvia.  The color and design of variations are representative of specific regions of the country:  the most brightly colored costumes can be found in the western region (Kurzeme), while earth tones dominate in the southern region (Zemgale).

Throughout its years, the ensemble has performed at Latvian Song and Dance Festivals in Chicago, Illinois (1953), Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1956, 1983), Cleveland, Ohio (1963, 1968, 1973, 1997), Boston, Massachussetts (1978), Indianapolis, Indiana (1988), Los Angeles, California (1989), Toronto, Canada (1970, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996), Munster, Germany (1984), and Riga, Latvia (1990, 1993, 1998).  Other performances have included ethnic/folk festivals in Dayton, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio (Ameriflora '92); Cincinnati, Ohio; Columbus, Indiana; Portland, Indiana; and Indianapolis, Indiana.  The ensemble has also performed at nursing homes, church organizations, university groups, the Indiana State Fair, the Indianapolis Children's Museum, and the Indianapolis/Marion County Public Library.  Jautrais Paris also performs frequently for the Indianapolis Latvian Community.

The ensemble's repertoire includes not only traditional, Latvian folk dances, but also Latvian folk dance choreographies - dances of a more intricate nature, which reflect the spirit and temperment of the Latvian soul in the present day.  Several folk dance choreographies created by ensemble director Iveta Asons and performed by Jautrais Paris have won awards at Latvian Song and Dance Festival Folk Dance Choreography Competitions.  Most recently, Ms. Asons was awarded an Individual Artist Grant from the Indiana Arts Commission to create a Latvian folk dance choreography commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the ensemble.

Since the ensemble's 40th Anniversary in 1990, a vocal/instrumental group (composed of ensemble members) has on occasion provided accompaniment for dances at performances.  Many of the traditional Latvian instruments used in the group include:  Latgales kokle (board zither of Latgale), stabule (wood flute), cītara (chord zither), lielā ģīga (bass trough fiddle), mazā ģīga (trough fiddle), dūdas (bagpipe), koka taure (wood trumpet), and āžrags (goat horn).  Many of these instruments were acquired in Latvia as part of an Individual Artist Fellowship grant from the Indiana Arts Commission. 

Indianapoles tautas deju kopa ,,Jautrais pāris" nodibināta 1950. gadā.  Bērnu grupā piedalās apmēram 15 bērni no 3 līdz 13 gadu vecuma.  Vecākā grupā piedalās apmēram 20 dejotāju.  ,,Jautrais pāris" ir piedalījies daudzos latviešu dziesmu un deju svētkos:  Čikāgā, Illinojā (1953), Milvokos, Viskonsīnā (1956. g., 1983. g.), Klīvlandē, Ohaijo (1963. g., 1968. g., 1973. g., 1997. g.), Bostonā, Masačusetā (1978. g.), Indianapolē, Indiānā (1988. g.), Los Andželosā, Kalifornijā (1989. g.), Toronto, Kanādā (1970. g., 1976. g., 1981. g., 1986. g., 1991. g., 1996. g.), Minsterē, Vācijā (1984. g.), un Rīgā, Latvijā (1990. g., 1993. g., 1998. g.).  Grupa ir dejojusi arī etnogrāfiskos/internacionālos svētkos vairākās Indiānas un Ohaijo pilsētās, kā arī vietējās veco ļaužu mājās, baznīcās, skolās, muzejos un bibliotēkās.  ,,Jautrais Pāris" protams arī bieži piedalās vietējos latviešu sarīkojumos.

,,Jautrais pāris" dejo gan tradicionālas latviešu tautas dejas, gan  jaundejas.  Vairākas vadītājas Ivetas Asones choreogrāfijas apbalvotas latviešu dziesmu svētku jaundeju skatēs.  Iveta arī nesen saņēma dāvinājumu no Indiānas mākslas komisijas atbalstīt grupas 50. gadu jubileju.

Kopš ,,Jautrā pāŗa" 40 gadu jubilejas 1990. gadā dažreiz grupu pavadījis vokāls/instrumentāls ansamblis, kuŗā piedalās ,,Jautrā pāŗa" dalībnieki.  Ansamblis spēlē daudzus tradicionālus latviešu instrumentus (Latgales kokli, stabuli, cītaru, lielo ģīgu, mazo ģīgu, dūdas, koka tauri, āžragu), kuŗus iegādājās Latvijā ar citu Indiānas mākslas komisijas dāvinājumu.

Iveta Asons took over as director of the Jautrais Paris dance ensemble in 1988.  She had helped with the group for many years prior to that, and organized the dance group for performances in the 1990, 1993, and 1998 Song Festivals.  She teaches dance at the Latvian summer camp in Three Rivers, Michigan.  Iveta was the director of the dance performances for the 1988 Song & Dance Festvial held in Indianapolis.  Iveta has choreographed 12 original dance choreographies, including the popular "Vidzemes Polka".

Last modified: September 23, 2005