eljko Jergan is a renowned
choreographer and teacher throughout the world. Since moving to
the United States in 1986, eljko has created over 350 original
choreographies for 70 different amateur, semi-professional and professional
ensembles, including Les Sortileges, Brigham Young University, Radost
Folk Ensemble and the Duquesne University Tamburitzans.
When he's not researching and creating new choreographies, eljko
stays extremely busy working with the international folk dance community,
where he is in popular demand for his depth and style in teaching
Croatian folk dancing. He has traveled extensively both domestically
and abroad, including folk dance seminars and workshops in the United
States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Taiwan.
eljko has made a significant contribution to the Canadian
Croatian folklore community, where he has been sought year after
year to create original new choreographies for both the eastern
and western Canadian Croatian Folklore Festivals. He also serves
as artistic director for "Kraljica Jelena Folklore Ensemble,"
Kitchener, Ontario, and "Croatian Village Folklore Ensemble,"
Hamilton, Ontario, where he continually strives to elevate the level
of authenticity and presentation of those ensembles. He is also
the artistic director for the folklore ensemble "Hrvatski Tanac"
and "Kumovi Adult Ensemble," of Pittsburgh and the "St.
Anthony's Folklore Ensemble" of Los Angeles.
A native of Varadin, Croatia, eljko was a leading performer
with the Croatian National Folk Ensemble "LADO" for twelve
years. He also performed with the Zagreb National Ballet and Modern
Dance Companies for several years. He is a graduate of the Varadin
School of Music, Cakovec School of Architecture, and worked under
the tutelage of Milica Glavocic Pininsky, a consultant to the Zagreb
Ethnographic Museum.
eljko has received two full fellowship grants from the Pennsylvania
Council on the Arts in support of his artistic work.
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