Zagreb folk dance ensemble The Zagreb Folk Dance Ensemble Dr. Ivan Ivančan

From its very beginning in May 1945, the ZFDE (The Youth Cultural and Artistic Society “Joža Vlahović” at that time) was dedicated to performing artistically formed folklore of certain villages or areas. All spectacular elements or stylized elements were avoided. The foundations to such approach were laid by the first art director and choreographer, prof. Zvonimir Ljevaković, who called exclusively the dancers and musicians of the ZFDE to the new Ensemble of the national songs and dances of Croatia “Lado” which he founded in 1949 (it was called the Choir of national dances and songs). One of the founders of the ensemble and the successor of prof Zvonimir Ljevaković as the art director and choreographer, Dr. Ivan Ivančan, Ph.D. went the same path. He developed the principles of the scenic use of folklore and scientifically formed them. One cannot become a good choreographer without previous experience in original dance, music and areas. A choreographer chooses themes from the traditional folklore origins by being present at village festivities, and by writing down parts of the national inheritance. The ensemble constantly includes a choice of different national costumes that are always authentic into its program, and special care is paid to adequate national costume, the decorations and the headgear. The musical instruments are used in the program the same way. Besides tambura (a string instrument) other instruments are used: string instruments like ljerica, samica, dangubica, wind instruments like sopile, dvojnice, šurle, diple, windpipes like gajde, dude, mišnice, vidalice, and the drums.

Performing the Croatian folklore requires good dancing technique and expressive singing. When auditioning for new dancers and singers, special attention is paid to his or her singing abilities.



The Zagreb folk dance ensemble “Dr Ivan Ivančan” is the largest and the most successful promoter of the Croatian folklore. A continuing high quality of the ensemble has resulted in many travels and performances on almost all important festivals and competitions in the world. It should be mentioned that the ZFDE has won one or more prizes on all competition festivals in which it took part:

- Prague (Czech Republic) 1947 – silver medal

- Agrigento (Sicily) – 1957 – 1st place

- Moscow (Russia) – 1957 – bronze medal

- Helsinki (Finland) – 1962 – gold medal

- Sofia (Bulgaria) – 1968 – two silver medals

- Bucharest (Romania) - 1969 – 1st premium, gold medal and the laureate title

- Szged (Hungary) – 1975 – bronze medal

- Valjevo (Serbia and Montenegro) - 1986 – gold medal

- Middlesbrough ( United Kingdom ) – 1990 – three first prizes, two second prizes and one third prize

- Middlesbrough (United Kingdom) – 1992 – one 1st prize, two 2nd prizes and three 3rd prizes

- Dijon (Burgogne, France) – 1992 – bronze medal

- Llangolen (Wales, UK) – 1997 – 1st place and the “Gwynn Williams Trophy”

- Dijon (Burgogne, France) - 1997 – bronze medal

- Zakopane (Poland) – 2003 – three 1st prizes and one second prize