Zita Errsa

Zita Errsa serves as Professor and Head of the Choreography Department at Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (JVLMA), where she has taught since 2000 and was appointed Professor in 2017.

Her academic credentials include a Bachelor's degree in Choreography (1993) and Master's degree in Choreography (2002), both earned at JVLMA after graduating from Riga Choreography School in 1970 under instructors V. Kutena, I. Baranovska, V. Blinov, and V. Švecova.

Professor Errsa's expertise spans Ballet, Choreography, and Dance Performance with exceptional versatility across classical, lyrical, comedic, and dramatic works. Her professional foundation stems from 26 years as a soloist at the Latvian National Opera Ballet (1969-1995), where she performed lead roles in over 15 major productions including Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, and Don Quixote, demonstrating unmatched technical brilliance across diverse stylistic demands.

Her distinguished career has been recognized with these major honors:

• Bronze medal at VI International Ballet Artists Competition in Varna (1972)
• LĻKJS award laureate (1974)
• Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic Artist of Merit (1975)
• Artist of Merit of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (1976)
• People’s Artist of the USSR (1989)
• Latvian Theatre Association Spēlmaņu Nakts award for Best Ballerina (1995)
• The Three-Star Order of the IV class (2003)

Professor Errsa maintains active mentorship through her private ballet studio founded in 1995, where her students have secured international awards at competitions across Latvia, Ukraine, Poland, Switzerland, and Germany. Her dual role as department head and studio director demonstrates sustained leadership in dance education and professional development.