Skaidrīte Darius
Skaidrīte Darius | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 6, 1927 |
| Died | April 21, 2024 (aged 96) |
| Alma mater | Australian National University |
| Awards | Order of the Cross of Recognition V class |
Skaidrīte Darius (1927-2024) was a Latvian folk dancer and computer scientist. She founded the Latvian folk dance group, Sprigulītis. Darius also received an honorary doctorate from the Australian National University and had one of their building's named after her for her contributions to computer science.
Early life
Darius was born on November 6, 1927, to Arnold and Olga Skriver in Balvi. She went to primary school in Aizpurve and secondary school in Balvi.[1] She briefly lived in England but moved to Canberra in 1950.[2] Darius got a degree in humanities from the Australian National University in 1960.[1]
Career
Darius was the Honorary Chief of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival in 2018 and 2023.[2][1] Darius founded the folk dance group, Sprigulītis, which preformed Latvian folkdances from 1970 to 1990.[1] Sprigulītis merged with the Australian folkdance group, Merry Couple, to do a tour of Sun Belt.[2] She performed in tours in Australia, Sweden, the USA, Germany, England, Canada, and Latvia. Darius's group's performance of Sun Belt won them the World Association of Free Latvians' Cultural Foundation Award in 1976. The group also won the Goper Foundation Award, Vera Rulliņa Award, and Colonel Vilis Janums Award.[1] Alku Deja, a dance created by Darius, was shown in the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House.[2] Darius composed folk songs in her 90s.[3]
Darius had a mathematics job at the Australian National University, which was typically reserved for men. She was given the job due to her high achievement the math exam all of the applicants were given. Darius raised her daughter alone after the death of her husband.[3] Darius received an honorary doctorate from the Australian National University for her contributions to computer science and women's equality on December 10, 2019.[4]
The Australian National University named their computer science building after Darius on February 27, 2025, with the opening ceremony being attended by Latvian ambassador to Australia, Marģers Krams.[5] Darius was awarded the Order of the Cross of Recognition V class in 2012.[6] Darius died in Canberra on April 21, 2024.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Dziesmu svētku krātuve". dziesmusvetki.lndb.lv (in Latvian). Archived from the original on 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ^ a b c d "In memoriam. Skaidrīte Darius. Horeogrāfe, XVI un XVII Deju svētku Goda virsvadītāja (06.11.1927. – 21.04.2024.)". Latvian Dance Information Centre. 2024-04-23. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ^ a b c Yakovics, Juris. "Skaidrīte Dariusa mūžībā". Laikraksts (in Latvian). Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ^ "Skaidrīte Dariusa". laikraksts (in Latvian). Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ^ "ANU godina Skaidrīti Dariusu". laikraksts (in Latvian). Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ^ "Aizsaulē devusies Dziesmu un deju svētku goda virsvadītāja Skaidrīte Darius" [The honorary chief of the Song and Dance Festival, Skaidrite Darius, has gone to the hospital]. Apollo (in Latvian). April 23, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.