Latvian Folk Dance Group ‘Jampadracis’ (the name means hullabaloo or riot in Latvian), started life in the spring of 2006 after a suggestion by the Latvian Society in Ireland (LBI) to form it’s own folk dance group.  Notices were put in the Latvian newspaper ‘Sveiks’ and experienced teacher and leader Solveiga Slaidina was found.  She in turn advertised in the newspaper and on the internet and organised the first 4 pairs of  dancers for a performance of ‘By the Amber Sea’ (Pie Dzintara Jūras) at the Independence Day celebrations in November 2006 in Dublin’s Teachers Club. Tears of emotion were noted in the audience, and the applause was heartfelt, and enthusiastic.