Madison-Vilnius Sister Cities, Inc.

Žaibas (pronounced Zhy′ bus) is the Lithuanian word for lightning bolt. We chose that name because it brings to mind the nature of both Lithuania and Wisconsin.

Žaibas Lithuanian Dancers perform at folk fairs, school programs, dance festivals and other cultural events. As a Madison Vilnius Sister Cities' project, Žaibas works to share, preserve, and promote Lithuanian heritage.

Žaibas was founded in 1991, in Madison, Wisconsin, by Vida Kazlauskaite Stark. Our purpose was to preserve Lithuanian culture, particularly folk dance, within the small Lithuanian community in South Central Wisconsin, as well as to make that culture known to the residents of Madison, the Sister City of Vilnius. Žaibas premiered at the Madison International Folk Festival, and has continued to dance annually at that event and other ethnic fairs and festivals throughout the Madison area. Together with other Lithuanian dance groups, Žaibas has participated in Lithuanian dance festivals in Chicago & Toronto, and was chosen to represent Wisconsin at a cultural festival in its Sister State of Chiba, Japan . For over 13 years, Asta Sepetys was the guiding spirit of our dance group. When she retired, Nijole Semenaite Etzwiler became the leader and teacher.

Partially funded by Madison-Vilnius Sister Cities, and loyally supported by Madison's small Lithuanian community, Žaibas participates in the Vasario 16 Lithuanian Independence Day Commemorations and holds a summertime picnic. It is a proud participant in four "Šokiu Šventes," Lithuanian Dance Festivals, in Chicago and Toronto.
Žaibas performs annually at Madison's International Festival, Celebrate Madison, and other ethnic and cultural fairs. We staff information tables, give demonstrations, talks and slide shows to organizations and schools.

Our Members:
Our ensemble consists of people who love Lithuanian culture. Some were born in Lithuania, some are of Lithuanian descent, some have married Lithuanians. And some have joined because they simply enjoy Lithuanian dancing.
Membership is open to anyone.

Our Repertoire:
In 15 years of dancing, Žaibas has performed the following dances:Abruselis, Blezdingele, Cigonelis, Deg Ugne, Dzuku Polka, Geguzine Polka, Gyvataras, Iskilmingas Trejinis, Kalatinis, Kalvelis, Karklai, Kepurine, Klumpakojis, Kubilas, Landytinis, Lenciugelis, Malunas, Mikitiene, Musu Proteviu Žeme, Olinderis, Pasiutpolke, Per Giria Girele, Prades Ausrele Austi, Putinelis, Rusnietis, Subatele, Suk Suk Rateli, Suktinis, Telsiu Valsas, and Vakaruskos.

Contact:
We are always willing to share our culture and traditions with others. If you are interested in having members of our ensemble perform or speak for your function, please call Nijole at 608-356-6549, or email netz@g2a.net
We welcome new dancers. Practice is held on Sundays, on Madison’s East Side.

 Žaibas buvo įsteigtas Vidos Kazlauskaites Stark, su tikslu pagyvinti lietuvišką veiklą, puoselėti tautinius šokius ir per juos skleisti lietuvių kultūrą Wisconsin'e. Trylika metu vieneto šokių vadove buvo Asta Šepetytė, o dabar vadovauja Nijole Semenaite Etzwiler . Žaibas "sužaibavo" pirma karta, 1991m., Madisono Tarptautiniame Festivalyje, ir nuo to laiko pasirodo jame kasmet, visados su visų šeimų vaikais. Taip pat dažnai pasirodo įvairiuose lietuvių, universitetų, ir tarptautiniuose renginiuose. 2002 m. Žaibas buvo išrinktas atstovauti Wisconsin'o liaudies kolektyvą Japonijoje, ir buvo pakviestas šokti "Draugo" koncerte, Chicago'je.

Madisone nėra daug lietuvių, bet jie nuoširdziai remia Žaibo veiklą. Žaibas, kartu su Madison-Vilnius Sister Cities Inc., veikia Madisono lietuvių naudai: rengiami susirinkimai, minėjimai ir šventės. Dauguma Žaibo šokėjų gyvena Madisone, bet net keletas atvažiuoja iš toliau Wisconsin'e, iš Mineappolio ir Chicago's.

Žaibas dalyvavo IX , X ,XI, ir XII Tautinių Šokių Šventėse, Chicago'je ir Toronte, ir pasirode Dainu Šventej Vilniuje.