“Veselica,” a word meaning “celebration” in Serbo-Croatian, perfectly sums up the energy and mission of St. Olaf’s International Dance Ensemble. On Friday, April 25, Veselica International Dance Ensemble opened their annual spring concert in CAD Studio One, showcasing dances from all over the world, from Turkey to Slovakia.
Veselica was founded in the late 1980s by Anne von Bibra, Associate Professor of Practice in Dance at the College. After completing her Masters in Dance at UCLA in 1987, von Bibra became a professor at St. Olaf, and two years later, she started Veselica. The ensemble’s goal is to spread awareness about types and styles of international dance that audiences may not typically engage with or know about. This year’s spring concert was of special importance to von Bibra — who spoke before the show — as it was her last series of shows with the ensemble before retirement.
The concert featured a variety of dances from 12 different countries: Turkey, Croatia, Italy, Indonesia, the United States, Iran, Persia, Curaçao, Colombia, Norway, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. It began with a lively group dance from the Gaziantep Region of Turkey, which featured the entire ensemble. The dancers moved as a unit, making their way across the stage in a circular formation, breaking off at some points for different junctures of the music. They clapped, linked arms, and synchronized their footwork — a true testament to the word “celebration.”
Each performance was preceded by a few projected slides that briefly indicated the location of the country on a map, its flag, and some information about the history of the dance. Some dances, like Indonesia’s “Caping” performance, highlighted a specific part of lifestyle in that country. Dancers utilized a caping hat in their performance, a straw hat worn by rice farmers in Indonesia to protect them from the sun.
It would be remiss not to mention the vibrant costumery that brought each piece to life. From the long, colorful skirts in the Colombian “Pilanderas” to the classic 50s American garb worn in the South Carolinian “Big Apple” dance, the story of each dance was made complete by the dancers’ wardrobes. The final piece from Slovakia, featuring dances called “Korene,” “Karicka,” “Basistovsky Tanec,” and “Parovy Tanec,” even had sonical elements due to the “jangle” of spurs, coins, and other jewels on the dancers’ costumes.
The 2025 Spring Veselica Concert truly exemplified what it means to appreciate and celebrate other cultures. Dance, whether it is a style from your hometown or from 6,000 miles away, is a way to enjoy and commemorate life. In addition to an annual spring concert, you can find Veselica performing at a variety of other settings throughout the year, including International Night, Fresh Space, and more.
