Showcase program to celebrate Croatia’s folk traditions

The richness and diversity of Croatia’s traditional songs, dances, and customs will take center stage in Čakovec, with a special focus on the country’s protected intangible cultural heritage.

The cultural and artistic society (KUD) “Kvadrilja” from Trogir will present the Trogir Quadrille (Trogirska četvorka – Kvadrilja), inscribed in the Register of Cultural Goods of the Republic of Croatia in 2019. The choreography is by Branko Šegović, with musical arrangements by Nikola Buble.

KUD “Zadarski tanac” will perform the Silba Dance (Silbenski tanac), a traditional dance from the island of Silba, featuring musical arrangements by Magdalena Miočić and choreography by Miroslav Cindori.

At the city’s Cultural Center, audiences will also experience two traditional customs: a reenactment of a Međimurje wedding by KUD “Belica” and a presentation of the pilgrimage tradition to the Shrine of Our Lady of Bistrica by the Croatian cultural and artistic society (HKUD) “Petar Zrinski” from Vrbovec.

The showcase will also feature award-winning soloists and a vocal group from the 42nd “Međimurje Song” Festival (Smotra međimurske popevke), held in June in Nedelišće and organized by the Association of Croatian Cultural and Artistic Societies of Međimurje County.

The festival promotes the Međimurje popevka, a traditional form of singing from the region that was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018.

More Than 6,700 Folk Performers Vied for a Place

Reaching the 33rd Gathering was no easy feat for the participating ensembles and folk groups. They earned their places through 19 county-level showcases held across Croatia between March and July. The events brought together 6,720 amateur folk performers in 210 groups.

The Croatian Cultural Assembly (HSK) appoints an expert jury to evaluate the performances and present its awards in the choreographed folklore category. After the program, the jury also holds a roundtable discussion with group leaders, encouraging the exchange of professional experience and discussion on preserving folk traditions.

This year, the evaluation and educational program has been entrusted to three experts: Krunoslav Šokac, Josip Forjan, and Martin Durbek.

The event is organized by the Croatian Cultural Assembly, with financial support from the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, Međimurje County, and the City of Čakovec.

Co-organizers include the Association of Croatian Cultural and Artistic Societies of Međimurje County, the Croatian Composers’ Society (HDS ZAMP), and the “Veseli Međimurci” Cultural and Artistic Association from Čakovec.