National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia LADO

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National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia LADO

LADO was founded in 1949 in Zagreb as Croatia’s professional national folk dance ensemble. It showcases the country’s diverse regional music and dance traditions and is seen as Croatia’s most successful cultural export. The company includes 37 dancers who sing during performances and 15 musicians who play traditional and classical instruments.

History: The ensemble was started on 11 November 1949 by artistic director Zvonko Ljevaković, with support from the government of the People's Republic of Croatia, under the name Državni zbor narodnih plesova i pjesama (DZNPiP). Its mission was to collect and preserve Croatian music and dance.

Ladarice: In 1965, a women’s choir from LADO called Ladarice split off informally and worked independently until 2003, focusing on preserving traditional folk songs and building its own repertoire, especially Yugoslav Partisan songs.

Awards: LADO has won many national and international awards. In 1954 they won first place at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. They have also earned honors in Zagreb, Cork, and from cities including Santiago, Punta Arenas, Antofagasta, Los Angeles, and Frankfurt, as well as the key to the city of Cleveland.