Opening show of Druskininkai – Lithuanian Capital of Culture 2025, a large-scale cultural event blending music, dance, visual arts and community engagement.
The main objective of Didysis Ciurlys (The Great Ciurlys) was to inaugurate Druskininkai’s year as Lithuania’s European Capital of Culture by creating a landmark cultural spectacle merging heritage, innovation, and community participation. The event aimed to translate Ciurlionis’s artistic vision into a contemporary large-scale performance, inspire pride, strengthen local identity, attract tourists, and sell out all hotel beds in the resort city. 122 dancers performed under 7 international choreographers, engaging the community and connecting audiences with Ciurlionis’s symbolism, leaving a lasting cultural impact and setting the stage for 350+ follow-up events.
Didysis Ciurlys (The Great Ciurlys) merged heritage, innovation, and large-scale spectacle. Inspired by Ciurlionis’s symbol of the bird (ciurlys), the event featured 122 dancers performing Murmuration choreography, guided by 7 international choreographers. An electronic symphony by local artist Liudas Lazauskas bridged Ciurlionis’s legacy with contemporary sound. Visual dramaturgy included a tightrope walker, a flock of live sheep, choreographic inscriptions conveying poetic messages, and 300 Ciurlionis paintings animated through Artificial Intelligence. For the first time in Lithuania, a Capital of Culture opening was broadcast live, reaching 75,000 viewers. The project combined community engagement, innovative choreography, immersive visuals, and live media integration, creating a multi-sensory experience that transformed the city’s square into a living artwork..
