Ida Urbel 125
Former and current theatre people from both Tartu and Viljandi came together on the anniversary, brought flowers to her final resting place at her grave in the Viljandi cemetery, and lit candles there. This has already become a long-standing tradition.
On December 16, 125 years were marked since the birth of Ida Urbel, a towering figure of Estonian dance theatre, a director, choreographer, and the founder of the Vanemuine ballet troupe.
Ida Urbel, who formed her first dance group in Viljandi in 1921, worked at the Vanemuine Theatre from 1935 to 1980, serving as chief ballet master from 1957 to 1974. She established a permanently active dance troupe and a training group at the theatre. As an exceptionally musical person, Urbel later also devoted herself to directing operas and operettas.
Sakala Postimees article (in Estonian) can be read here!
Photo: Elmo Riig
