ENSEMBLE LADO – 60TH ANNIVERSARY

Motif: artistic image of number 60 to celebrate the anniversary of the ensemble Lado Lado - the National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia, a professional national ensemble, was founded in 1949 by the decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, under the title State Chorus of National Dance and Songs, with the ultimate goal of researching, collecting, artistically interpreting and presenting on stage the most beautiful examples of the rich tradition of Croatian music and folk dance. The word “lado“ is an archaic expression of Slavic origin, often used in refrains of north-west Croatia, and it means good, nice, likeable. The ensemble LADO consists of the best known Croatian ethno-folklorists and choreographers, ethno musicians, and score writers, folklorists, musicians, conductors inspired by folk music creations. All these resulted in a great choreographic and music repertoire with over hundred choreographies in several hundred vocal, instrumental and vocal-instrumental numbers, in which is above all observed the authentic art. The ensemble’s 37 brilliant dancers, who are also excellent singers, can easily transform this folk dance in ensemble into an impressive folk choir, while its 15 superb musicians play some fifty different traditional and classical instruments. Lado has a unique collection of authentic traditional costumes of priceless value and beauty (over 1200 costumes), so each concert of LADO, along music and dance is also a display of authentic Croatian traditional costumes. All this, together with the amazing richness and diversity of the folklore expression of Croatia, such a small country, makes LADO one of the most unique folk dance ensembles in the world, recognised by a public in numerous global concert halls where LADO has performed: the Royal Albert Hall in London, City Centre in New York, Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv and Sydney Town Hall. During Lado’s 2006 five weeks tour in Japan more than 50 thousand enthusiastic spectators saw and applauded the ensemble during 27 concerts held in 21 amazing concert halls. LADO has received many awards and recognitions for its work: as well as merit for its preservation of Croatia’s national heritage: INA’s 2006 Annual Award for promotion of Croatian culture in the world; in total fourteen Porin awards, including one for life achievement (2002) three the City of Zagreb Awards (1963, 1968 and 2002); the “Orlando“ award at the 54th Dubrovnik Summer Festival 2003; the award “Ivan Lukačić“ at 34th Varaždin Baroque Evenings in 2004. LADO represented Europe at the 6th World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis, USA, in 2002.