Zonta Club of Alytus celebrates 30 years of supporting young dancers

The Zonta Club of Alytus, Lithuania, marked its 30th anniversary with a special charity celebration, Bridges of Light and Hope – Alytus Zonta 30, uniting the community to support emerging dance talent. For the first time in their 24-year history, the young performers of the Aušrinė and Vakarė dance studios were the beneficiaries of a dedicated charity initiative, with all proceeds supporting their artistic development and upcoming competitions.

Held at the Alytus Cultural Centre, the event drew a full house and featured special guest performer Martynas Kavaliauskas, along with appearances by dancers Vakarė Jarmalavičiūtė, Orestas Vyšniauskas and Darvinas Tamulynas, as well as vocal studios Bel Canto and Vaja. Representatives from Zonta clubs in Marijampolė and Vilnius joined the celebration, alongside members of Rotary, LIONS and Soroptimist clubs. Lithuanian Members of Parliament Jurgita Šukevičienė and Daiva Ulbinaitė were also in attendance.

The charity event comes at an especially active period for the dance studios Aušrinė and Vakarė, led by Aušra Saulevičiūtė and Greta Žogelytė. The dancers are preparing for several major competitions: the IDO World Show Dance and Dance Improv Art Championships in Castellanza, Italy (18–22 November), followed by the World Contemporary Dance Championship on 29 November in De Panne, Belgium.

Competitions organized by the International Dance Organization (IDO) are considered premier global dance sport events, bringing together top performers who qualify through national rankings and rigorous selection processes. These championships demand not only artistic expression but exceptional technical ability, endurance, synchronization and stage presence.

“Participating in events of this caliber demands far more than a unique idea or artistry,” said studio leader and choreographer Aušra Saulevičiūtė. “It requires significant investment, continuous physical training, focus and the ability to deliver high-quality performance from the first step to the last.”

The Aušrinė dance studio has taken part in world championships since 2012, shaping generations of dancers and continually elevating its standards. “This is a long-term, evolving process,” Saulevičiūtė added. “Each generation builds on the discipline and ambition of the previous one. It’s a shared movement heritage passed down through the years.”

The club’s milestone event celebrated not only the organization’s 30 years of service but also the power of community support in enabling young artists to shine on the world stage.

Click here for the event video.