‘Croatia and Ivan Goran Kovačić present: traditional dances and songs of Croatian artistic and cultural heritage’

The concert performance by "Ivan Goran Kovačić" cultural and artistic ensemble will present a rich diversity of traditional Croatian cultural folk heritage. Although Croatia is spatially a small country, its geographical and climatic diversity has influenced strongly the remarkable varieties and forms of traditional cultural expressions.

Ensemble “Ivan Goran Kovačić” will perform unique scenic presentation of folk traditions from different parts of Croatia, as well as traditions from the neighbouring countries of the Croatian national communities. Divers cultural and socio-political influences have played an essential role in creating Croatian music and dance heritage. The rich scenic performances use original traditional costumes and the performers are dressed in the original 19th or early 20th-century traditional folk costumes or their replicas, as they were formed by centuries of polycultural interaction. Contrasts in the artistic expression in both folk music and dance, as well as in the visual aspect of the respective folk costumes, are strikingly evident in both dancing and music expressions.

The program also presents dramatized performances of the nationally protected intangible folk heritage and customs. Some of these are listed on the UNESCO's List of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, such as Bećarac, vocal and instrumental song from Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem; Nijemo Kolo from the area of Dalmatian Zagora; Klapa a capella singing; Međimurje Song, and the Midsummer Procession from Ivančica.