Lithuanian heritage embraced by local youth

Tadas Mikuckis, a 16-year old La Cañada High School student with short goldish brown hair, sits quietly across from a visitor. Al, his father, switches on a video of a past Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Toronto. Immediately, countless dancers in simple yet ornate costume circle, cross and intertwine to form an elaborate tapestry of shapes.

“You need to actually commit to it in your mind to make it a part of your life. Being American doesn’t detract but rather adds a dimension to who we are. We are proud as Americans and proud of our culture,” said Vaida, Tadas’ mother, about the importance of preserving one’s unique ancestral heritage.

A second-generation Lithuanian American, young Tadas Mikuckis has inherited his parents’ vision and proudly embraces his heritage. He celebrates his Lithuanian identity and helps propel public awareness for this unique culture by dancing in the Lithuanian folk dance troupe known as Spindulys, which translates into “rays of the sun.” Although he has devoted hours every weekend practicing, especially for the upcoming 13th Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival, held once every four years, Mikuckis has studied Lithuanian folk dancing since as far back as he can remember. For him, “sleeping in” is a luxury that’s never existed.

“When you start when you’re 4 years old you don’t really think about it,” said Mikuckis. “The pain is worth it in the end. I’d be mad if I didn’t do it.”

As he has done for the past 12 years, every weekend he rises from bed bright and early to attend Lithuanian school, where he receives teachings in the language and culture. Like Mikuckis, children of Lithuanian descent from all over the greater Los Angeles region gather at St. Casimir Church, united under the umbrella of shared heritage. Folk dance training begins within the first years of Lithuanian school as a vehicle to convey the culture to the young children. When the children reach junior high, folk dance training separates from the general curriculum, only available to students for further specialization if desired. Subsequently, practice time becomes significantly longer.

As a dancer on Spindulys, over the years Mikuckis has performed around the world including as far as Nagoya, Japan.

“The best part is meeting new people and becoming friends with everyone,” said Mikuckis.

During certain performances, the troupe occasionally coordinates with other groups. For example, for the Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival on Sunday, nearly 40 troupes have arrived here in Los Angeles from across the United States, Canada, and Lithuania.

The immense amount of time required in synchronizing this number of people in dance sequences that rely on precise timing leads to friendships that transcend borders.

Most impressive of all, however, in perhaps a testament to discipline and excellent time management skills, is that living what he jokingly refers to as a dual-life has not impeded his social or academic life at LCHS at all.

Not only does Mikuckis manage to maintain straight A’s, but he is also a boy scout and a member of both the sophomore basketball team and junior varsity golf team.

“If I didn’t have anything else I’d get bored,” said Mikuckis.

When asked what his friends thought about his secret second life he says with a chuckle, “Well, none of them can say they polka dance so I would say that they’re impartial.”

Perhaps his friends should give the topic more thought as it seems folk dancing can sometimes even grant super powers. Mikuckis recalls a strange instance when the group performed a traditional pagan-rooted dance in Lithuania just last year.

It had been raining for days, but at the conclusion of the dance as the group raised their hands to the sky the rain just suddenly stopped. He still laughs thinking back at that time.

“Strike up a dance of joy,” is the theme of this year’s 13th Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival. Tadas Mikuckis performs with Spindulys this Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the University of Southern California Galen Center. This is the first time that the Festival has ever been held on the West Coast.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased either online through the USC box office ( www.uscticketoffice.com) or event website ( www.lithuaniandance.com), or can be purchased at the Galen Center box office on the day of the event.