On Saturday 1 June, 2024 F.G Mladi Hrvati celebrated our 46th annual zabava! Following is an account of the evening by Olivia Juka from our Seniors group. Not only has Olivia danced with Mladi Hrvati since she was five years old, she is now one of the teachers for the Intermediates group. What an amazing example of passing on our traditions to the next generation. It’s wonderful to hear from the perspective of our members and to hear how they are already proud custodians of our beautiful traditions!
As a member of Folklorna Grupa Mladi Hrvati, I couldn't wait for our 46th Annual Zabava this past Saturday at the Croatian Catholic Centre in Sunshine. This event is always the highlight of our year, a chance to showcase the hard work and dedication we've poured into preserving and sharing our beautiful Croatian traditions.
When I arrived at the zabava, the energy in the room was filled with excitement and nervous energy. Families and friends had gathered to support our performances, and I could feel the pride in the air. As our gorgeous Juniors took to the stage for their first dance, ‘Plesovi iz Slavonije’, I felt a rush of excitement. They did an awesome job! Even after the lights went out mid-performance, they picked up where they left off like true professionals.
The Intermediates were up next with their dance, Plesovi iz Međimurje. As one of their teachers, I felt extra nervous. We had been rehearsing for months, perfecting every korak (step) of the choreography. Seeing the smiles on the audience, especially my family, made all the hard work worth it.
The Seniors were up next, my group. Our dance was from the Bunjevacko region. It felt extra special as we had Teta Gizela Kechenovich watching on proudly from the sidelines. Teta Gizela was the founding teacher of Mladi Hrvati back in 1978 with her late husband, Aleks. They both taught my mum folklor when she was a member of Mladi Hrvati as a young girl.
Our crisp white nosnje, meticulously crafted to honor the distinct style of the Bunjevacko region, added to the vibrant spectacle unfolding before the crowd. I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride and connection to my heritage as I moved in sync with my fellow dancers, our movements telling the stories of our ancestors. We nailed it!
This particular dance holds significance as it is from the same region where Teta Gizela is from in Croatia. It was incredibly moving to see her beaming with pride as we performed. After our performance she came over and congratulated us. Her heartfelt words of encouragement and wisdom reminded us of the importance of preserving our cultural identity, and I left the zabava feeling more inspired than ever. I could feel the nostalgia in the air and will cherish this moment forever.
The music was also a highlight of the night. To celebrate Dan Drzavnosti, all of us Mladi Hrvati kids jumped on stage to sing Moja Domovina with Major Minor. Watching everyone, young and old, dancing and singing along was a true testament to the enduring spirit of our community. Major Minor’s energetic rendition of Baby Lasagna’s Rim Tim Tagi Dim also had the crowd going wild! If that wasn’t enough, we were treated to the soulful melodies of Samsaruh, who also used to dance with Mladi Hrvati. We are so proud to support young Croatian artists from our community, especially with Sam’s connection to Mladi Hrvati which made this a touching full circle moment.
As I reflect on our zabava, I feel a deep sense of gratitude. Not only for the opportunity to share my passion for Croatian culture, but also for the friendships and support of my fellow members. We are more than just a dance group – we are a family. And we all need to work together to ensure that the next generation will carry on that legacy, preserving the heart and soul of Croatia for years to come. Na Mladima Svijet Ostaje!
This year, F.G Mladi Hrvati have kicked off a campaign to raise funds for a future overseas tour. To show your support via donation or sponsorship, please get in touch with the Mladi Hrvati committee by emailing info@mladihrvati.com.au