Sofija Cvjetičnin and Ana Maletić studied and graduated from the School of Rhythmics and Plastics held by Maga Magazinović in Belgrade which based its work on the theory and methodology of Rudolf Laban and Jaques Dalcroze. After specializing at Laban"s Institute of Choreography in Paris and in Berlin, Ana Maletić established, in 1932, her own school in Zagreb. It was quite fortunate that at least she succeeded in surviving the turbulent political changes and that her School of Rhythmics and Dance became a state sponsored school in 1954. Most Croatian choreographers and dances came out of that school.

Figurazione (1971), choreographer Lela Gluhak-Buneta, ZPA

Finally and at long last, professional modern dance companies reappeared on the stage in the sixties. Ana and her daughter Vera Maletić founded the Modern Dance Studio, whose work represented a specific form of expanding and applying the school program, while Milana Broš, the founder of the Free-Style Dancing Chamber Company (KASP) who was more inclined to experimenting, applied the methods of international dance innovators in her work. Lula Gluhak Buneta established the Zagreb Dance Company (ZPA). In addition to her own work, Vlasta Kaurić also choreographed for the company. And while three generations of KASP dancers remained true to Milana Broš"s creative mark, changes of artistic directors in the other companies brought about changing styles as well. At the Studio, Tihana Škrinjarić initiated modern jazz, Zaga Živković the Graham technique, while Mirjana Preis, Dušanka Virant and Suzana Silva (who later on, in 1998, founded the Absolute Movement Company) developed their own choreographic style. The ZPA opened the door to the next generation of choreographers, among others to Jasminka Neufeld, Nives Šimatović, Katja Šimunić, Ksenija Zec, Mare Sesardić and Ljiljana Zagorac, who developed her very own solo style.

Dancers began to gather round projects and new domestic authors. M. Sesardić founded the Studio Mare, Rajko Pavlić Liberdance, Vesna Mimica Vem, the third generation of KASP dancers founded the company Gesta (where the distinct choreographic styles of Jasmina Zagrajski, Jasna Krankić Brkljačić and Ljiljana Mikulčić featured prominently).

A project initiated by Mirna Žagar in 1983, the Week of Modern Dance, and somewhat later MAZAP, opened new perspectives, such as the inclusion of young artists in international projects and their enrollment in higher schools of dance, introducing thus new criteria. Modern influences penetrated the domestic scene, in the first place that of the Dutch school of modern dance. A variety of forms, such as physical, non-verbal, mimic and dance theatre including performance, began intermixing and making the clear classification of many projects and companies difficult. Such guests include Emil Matešić, Montažstroj, and Traffik from Rijeka.

Solo me (2002), choreographer Nikolina Bujas-Pristaš and Pravdan Devlahovic, BADCo. Photograph: Damil Kalogjera

Iva Nerina Gattin, together with Katja Šimunić and Ljiljana Zagorac founded the informal company Llinkt!, which engaged in innovative, frequently ambience-creating projects. Tamara Curić and Larisa Lipovac created the dance centre TALA and established the much required Young Choreographers Platform. Ana-Maria Bogdanović and Katarina Đurđević are at the head of Puls, an association of professional dance artists. Mention should also be made of Bad Co. (lead by Goran Sergije Pristaš) known for its artistic, creative and managerial skills. Nikolina Bujas-Pristaš and Pravdan Devlahović are the latest names among choreographers. In addition, among the new talents mention should be made of the Zagreb Ballet solo dancers, Staša Zurovac and Mark Bolldin, who created the Atelier Chorégraphique). The youngest, totally open group of professional dancers is active under the name EKS-scena. (At this point it is also necessary to mention the Croatian dance artists who, although pursuing professional careers abroad, occasionally perform at home, too: Aleksandra Janeva, Irma Omerzo, Marija Ščekić as well as those we hope will perform some day: Jasna Vinovrški, Ivana Müller, Maša Kolar...). Snježana Abramović, the long-standing manager of ZPA, initiated in 2000 the Summer Festival of Dance and Non-Verbal Theatre in Svetvinčenat which is expanding constantly. Outside of Zagreb, the Zadar Dance Company led by N. Šimatović and Sanja Petrovski is active in Zadar, while in Sisak the dance studio Crystal Square of Serenity (KKV) under the management of Jasminka Petek Krapljan. Let us not forget the Croatian amateur dance scene which is active within the Croatian Cultural Union and is expanding by the day.

by: Maja Đurinović