Closing One Chapter, Opening Another: 25 Years of the Dance and Non-Verbal Theatre Festival Svetvinčenat

After 25 years of existence, the Dance and Non-Verbal Theatre Festival Svetvinčenat is closing its chapter, leaving a strong legacy on the dance scene. Its energy continues to live on through the Mediterranean Dance Center.

The Dance and Non-Verbal Theatre Festival Svetvinčenat, founded in 2000, closes an important chapter after 25 years of existence, leaving a lasting mark on the Croatian and regional dance scene.

It is difficult to summarize twenty-five years of dedication, love, energy, and persistence in just a few sentences. From its earliest editions, the Festival was recognized as a vital gathering point for contemporary dance and performance, and over the years it presented more than 320 artistic works by Croatian and international companies. Thanks to its quality and longevity, the Festival became an indispensable part of the cultural landscape of Istria and Croatia.

The Festival was founded by Snježana Abramović Milković, a dance artist, under the umbrella of the Zagreb Dance Company. Its program was always open to crossover genres – from contemporary dance, physical theatre, mime, circus and street theatre to video installations and performance. It gained international recognition and was once described by the press as “a small Avignon.”

The Festival’s goals were clearly defined and consistently pursued: presenting recent international and domestic dance works, educating new generations of audiences, promoting intercultural dialogue and transnational mobility, encouraging creativity and fostering solidarity between artists and audiences. Its benefits were continuously felt by all who participated – local and international visitors, residents of the municipality and region, professionals, and dance lovers alike. Its reputation grew steadily, alongside the number of attendees.
Among the many summer cultural events offered in Istria, the Festival carved out a special place for itself, revitalizing the dance scene, contributing to its decentralization, and becoming a strong brand and a synonym for dance.

After 25 years, the Dance and Non-Verbal Theatre Festival concludes its journey, but its legacy lives on through the Mediterranean Dance Center (MDC), which will ensure year-round dance activities and new opportunities for artistic expression. This initiative confirms that the community is ready to embrace dance not only during festival days, but throughout the entire year.
Dance in Svetvinčenat has not disappeared – it is simply transforming, adapting to new challenges and opening its doors to future generations of artists and audiences. We invite you to continue following our work via the MDC website and explore the new program we are currently preparing.

We also extend our sincere thanks to all the artists and performances we had the honor of hosting over the years – their work, vision, and presence defined each edition of the Festival.
A complete list of all shows and guest artists is available here: List of performances and artists

At the end – and at a new beginning – we thank everyone who was part of this story.

First and foremost, Snježana Abramović Milković, the Festival’s founder and long-time curator, who devoted her knowledge and skills to building a unique and consistently high-quality program, promoting contemporary dance and the town of Svetvinčenat and their unique connection, and advocating for every edition of the Festival and the artists who made it special.

We thank the production team, which evolved over the years but was always driven by great energy, adaptability, and a deep love for contemporary dance. Strong production foundations were laid in the early years by Mirna Čubranić, after which Petra Glad Mažar took over – first as producer, supported by Davorka and later Koraljka Begović, and eventually as the Festival’s director. In the final years, the production was led with great care and dedication by Nina Križan and Petra Valentić, maintaining the Festival’s high standards.

We also want to recognize the extended teams working behind the scenes, who included:
Tamara Babun, Petra Begović, Ira Begović, Ines Cvek, Nika Disney, Verica Drandić, Karmela Ferlin, Valentina Ferlin, Lidija Ivanda, Mladen Josipović, Vedrana Klepica, Ivan Kralj, Ivana Macan, Tin Milković, Ana Mršić, Martina Nevistić, Gorana Orešković, Ivana Pavlović, Damjan Raknić, Martina Roginić, Martina Rojnić, Davor Sertić, Petra Valentić, Emina Višnić, Pavle Vrkljan, Tomo Vujić, Vito Čakalo, Nenad Đokić, Paula Škaro, and many, many others.

Our thanks also go to the technical directors Ivan Bauk, Saša Fistrić, and Branko Cvjetičanin, who is sadly no longer with us. Without them and their incredible technical teams – full of knowledge and even greater spirit – no performance would have been possible. We would not have had stages, lights, or sound. Thank you to Branko Puceković, Kiš, Kiš's son, Kris, Žuti, the Cyclorama crew, again Bauk, Ogi, Flavio, Đera, Kinki, Bartol, Noel, Roger, Matija, Nenad, Šojat, and also to Mario Vnučec, Kruno Miljan, Mladen Uremović, Dean Mogušić, and Robert Capan.

A special thank-you goes to our communications team – Sandra Babac, who carried an entire decade, and then Kristina Krtanjek, Martina Marin, Ivana Sansević, Ivana Lulić, and Sara Ivanović.

The Festival’s visual identity was shaped by authors who greatly contributed to its recognizability and atmosphere. Vanja Cuculić created the original logo and key visual language, and over the years design was developed and refreshed by Martina Granić, Hana Ciliga & Karla Glavaš, Vladimir Končar, Matija and Mauricio Ferlin, and Alberto Hadžić.

We also sincerely thank the photographers and videographers who documented the Festival with great care and attention over the years: Andi Bančić, Jelena Janković, Tomislav Pović, Mario Papić, and Emil Živolić.

The work of all these collaborators has become an inseparable part of the Festival’s identity and the cultural life of Svetvinčenat.

We are incredibly grateful to the Municipality of Svetvinčenat and the people of Svetvinčenat, whose hospitality, lively interest, and willingness to help made the Festival what it was – warm, grounded, and full of life. We want to highlight (in alphabetical order):
Bruno Antončić, Bac, Marina Benčić, Robert Capan, Svetinka Doblanović, Marlena Drandić, Ervino, Mario Ferlin and family, Matija Ferlin and family, Oštarija Bac, Oštarija Ferlin, Oštarija Kampanjola, the Macan brothers, Dean Perković, Dean Pustijanac, Darko and Mirjana Pekica, Goranka Perković, Šikuti Machine, Matea Stanić, Klaudija Vorić, Marija Vorić, Valter Živolić, and all the smiling locals who welcomed our artists, built their stages, and lent costumes and props.

Petra Glad Mažar, Feb 2025