– By Maria Plancich Kesovija, VL Artistic Director
Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble was created by a small group of Anacortes Croatians under the leadership of Maria Franulović Petrish, strictly for cultural preservation and presentation. The sisters, Maria, Alma and Binki realized in this country it does not take long to lose our ethnic and cultural identity and that work must be done to preserve and educate.
The 2010 spring-summer schedule was packed with performances! Our annual fundraiser dinner and performance, formerly known as Patrons’ Party, now titled Spring Fešta; 2 gigs at Gig Harbor – City of Gig Harbor Open House at Skansie Park & Blessing of the Fleet; Northwest Folklife Festival, MusicanCorps Showcase; and the International Festival in Leavenworth were all on the calendar of events! Ruže Dalmatinke and BONACA* performed as part of the Peace Arch International Park Concert Series the same weekend the dance ensemble hosted the annual Croatian food sales, sausages, drinks and sweets, during the Anacortes Arts Festival in the beginning of August.
VL has now its fourth generation of descendants of one of its founders Jure (George) Franulović. He was an original dancer, teacher, and traditions educator. His daughters, Maria, Alma and Binki, followed his path – their children, Nicholas and Michael Petrish, Matthew Plancich and Maria Plancich Kesovija continued, and now Jure & Marija’s great-grandchildren, Christopher & Jaimia Plancich and Ante & Katarina Petrish perform too, plus grandson Paval Franulovich Niemeyer. The sisters’ first cousin Marija Damnajović Anderson continues to dance today—she began in 1975; Maria Plancich Kesovija, today VL Artistic Director, and Michael Petrish, VL dance trainer, began dancing as children in 1975; both Maria and Michael trained & danced with LADO Croatian Folklore Ensemble in Zagreb, Croatia. The Lovrić family has also been involved since day one and essential in carrying on the Vela Luka tradition. Today, siblings John Lovrić and Juli Lovrić Pirak continue to perform with the ensemble – both began dancing in their youth. Our ensemble, Vela Luka, ensemble was, and is, a way to keep the family together—to see each other at weekly rehearsals and performances throughout the year and most certainly holidays! We’ve been at it for 35 years!
Like our folklore, the ensemble is a living entity, where new membership makes the ensemble breathe, while the “old” (we like to call them “seasoned”) carries on the traditions, sharing and teaching songs and dances to new generations.
The ensemble begins again each fall with the school schedule, “back to school, back to rehearsal”. The first performance of the season is at CroatiaFest!
Join us! All are welcome! Requirements are: Willing to have fun! Learn! Respect for the culture and “what we’ve been doing for 35 years.” And Carry on the Croatian traditions through folklore!
Children Ensemble & Adult Ensemble – ALL Welcome: Children age 4 & up, Teens & Adults – Rehearsals in Edmonds & Anacortes, WA – Call: 206-417-2067; ehc@seattle.gov; www.velaluka.org.
* The talented men of Vela Luka/RD orchestra have formed the music ensemble – BONACA – performing folk and pop Croatian tunes.