Professionals - dancers of folk dances
Professionals - dancers of folk dances

Author(s): Iva Niemčić
Subject(s): Anthropology, Theatre, Dance, Performing Arts, Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology
Published by: Етнографски институт САНУ
Keywords: Lado; Croatia; professionals; dancers of folk dances
Summary/Abstract: In the former Yugoslavia, three professional ensembles of folk dances and songs were founded in the middle of the last century and have been active until today. They are Lado from Zagreb (Croatia), Kolo from Belgrade (Serbia) and Tanec from Skopje (Macedonia). The ensembles are made up of professional dancers and musicians whose task was to artistically interpret former Yugoslavian heritage, but at the present time Croatian, Serbian and Macedonian folk songs and dances in the country and abroad. The author in her scientific research, challenged precisely by the excellent visibility and recognition of the Lado ensemble in the country and abroad, deals with the less visible parts of the mosaic that create the perfect image for the public and the audience. Using the Life History method based on in-depth interviews, she tries to draw portraits, primarily of female dancers and artists who dedicated their lives to the stage. She is interested in what lurks beyond of stage lights, what are all the identities of professional female dancers, both professional and private, how they reconcile and complement each other, and how they have changed in the context of the historical time they live. Through the prism of ethnological questioning of the identity of female dancers, the first question arises about their dancing body, the body as a starting point, and the body that makes that dance visible. For this paper, she focused on the education of dancers, which has changed in accordance and inconsistency with the changes in the artistic policy of the ensemble management. On the other hand, the author points to the working method/ strategy within the ensemble regarding on the inquires how to approach the dancers who have become even more singers due to the changes in the artistic policy.

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