GRAND MARSHALL

 Sigita Barysienė

Sigita Barysienė, born in Lithuania, embarked on her artistic journey at the Vilnius School of Culture (now Vilnius College), where she honed her skills under the tutelage of some of the nation’s finest instructors. She learned classical dance from L. Motiejūnaitė, dance theory from department head K. Poškaitis, and the art of folk and character dance from B. Navickaitė-Buterlevičienė, while N. Pavilionienė guided her in ballroom dance. After graduating with a degree in choreography and a specialization in event organization, Sigita dedicated 16 years to nurturing various dance groups across Lithuania. Her final five years before moving to the U.S. were spent teaching at Vilnius 47th Secondary School (now Vilnius "Spindulys" Progymnasium), one of the first schools in post-independence Lithuania to integrate folk dance into its curriculum.

 

In 1996, Sigita won the immigration visa lottery, also known as the "green card," and chose Los Angeles, California, as her new home. Upon arrival in the U.S., she made a dramatic career shift, and has been successfully working in the finance sector for over 23 years. Despite these changes, her deep connection to Lithuanian culture, commitment to community involvement, and determination to raise her children, Paulius and Ringailė, in a Lithuanian environment remained her lifetime goals.

 

Sigita’s engagement with the Los Angeles Lithuanian community began with the dance ensemble "Spindulys." While this experience was fulfilling, Sigita yearned for more creative freedom. This desire led her to establishing a like-minded club in 2003 and starting the dance group "Retro," which she has successfully led for over two decades.

 

Sigita's dedication extended beyond the arts as she became deeply involved in the broader Lithuanian community across the U.S. She taught at St. Casimir Lithuanian School in Los Angeles, served on the Western District Board, became a member of the National Board of the Lithuanian American Community, and chaired the Committee of Culture. Since 2021, she has held the position of Chair of the Western District of the Lithuanian American Community.

 

Sigita’s creativity, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to cultural development, along with her ability to inspire young talent, have not gone unnoticed. This summer, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania honored her with the Medal of Honor for "Distinguished Service to the Lithuanian Community Worldwide." Additionally, the Lithuanian Folk Dance Institute has invited her to serve as the Artistic Director for the 17th North American Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival, scheduled to take place in Chicago in 2026.