Our Team.
Marija Eiferova
​Artistic Director / Choreographer / Teacher of CDE, Maastricht
Marija began her dance journey at the age of 5, inspired by her mother, Tamara Eiferova, the founder of the Carrousel Dance Ensemble in Latvia. Marija’s career as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher took off with Carrousel, where she was a soloist from 2012 to 2017.
Marija holds a BA in Choreography from Jazeps Vitols Latvian Music Academy (2017) and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Dance Pedagogy at the Royal Academy of Dance in London.
Marija has garnered notable recognition for her work across Europe, Latin America, Russia and Asia. Her choreographies are featured annually at the International Ballet Festival in Latvia. She earned a golden medal (2018) and two bronze medals (2017) in the choreographic competition "Riga's Spring", awarded by Z. Errs and G. Apanaeva, a special diploma for choreography from I. Liepa "Soul of Dance" in Russia, and a gold medal from the "Salute of Talents" competition on the "Carrousel" TV channel in Russia.
In addition to her competitive achievements, Marija has produced show programs for international television projects in China, representing Latvia at the Beijing and Yuncheng 2017 Tourism Festival and at the Shanghai Tourism Art and Folk Festival in 2018 and 2024.
Marija founded the Carrousel Dance Ensemble in the Netherlands in 2021 and also serves as an invited dance teacher at the United World College in Maastricht.
Tamara Eiferova
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​Founder & Producer of CDE / Latvia
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Tamara Eiferova is the founder of Carrousel Dance Ensemble, which was established in 2012 in Salaspils, Latvia. She holds a Master’s degree in Dance Pedagogy from RPIVA and is an honoured member of the Latvian Ballet Association. Her dedication to preserving cultural heritage has been recognized with awards from the Mayor of Tallinn, the Mayor of Riga, and Salaspils City Hall. Tamara is widely celebrated for her contributions to dance across Europe, often serving as a jury member in dance competitions.
Beyond her work with CDE, Tamara is a choreographer with the Krivici Song & Dance Ensemble in Riga, where she collaborates with the orchestra of V. Berezin. She also produces the Show Ballet "LaCarousell," featuring dancers trained at Carrousel since 2015 who perform in shows worldwide.
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Additionally, Tamara has organized the "Deju Ritmi" dance festivals for five years, providing a platform for young talents to expand their artistry. Tamara designs all of Carrousel’s costumes and received an award from Ilze Liepa in 2020 for her vision and dedication to preserving traditions in dance costume design.
Currently, Tamara leads CDE in Latvia, offering a platform for young artists to showcase their talent and develop their creative potential.​​