Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble and Ruze Dalmatinke

The Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble and Ruze Dalmatinke Orchestra perform music and dance of Croatia, Bosnia, and the United States. The performers in Vela Luka represent four generations of Croatian Americans who have introduced their culture's extraordinary choreography, music, and instruments to people all over the world. Forming a cross-cultural link between the Puget Sound region and Croatia, the company strives to preserve Croatian folkways and culture for generations to come.

Vela Luka and Ruze Dalmatinke have been featured in two national TV documentaries - Hrvati! (PBS, 1981) and Children of Ellis Island (ABC, 1986) - numerous local radio and television programs, as well as books and audio recordings. In 1986, they represented the State of Washington at the Rededication of the Statue of Liberty in New York and at EXPO '86 in Vancouver, B.C. In 1988 and 1990, both groups toured Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina. They were featured performers at the Washington State Centennial Celebration in 1989; Voices West, Salt Lake City, 1991, 1993, and 1994, and the opening celebration of the Seattle Symphony's Benaroya Hall in 1998. In 1996, the ensemble received the Governor's Heritage Award from the Washington State Art's Commission. Between 1996 and 2000, the ensembles performed in Idaho, Sacramento, San Francisco, and in 1999 were the featured performers at the Redlands Bowl, Redlands, California. In 2000, Vela Luka and Ruze Dalmatinke travelled to the homeland once again performing throughout Croatia.

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