Children’s Folk Dance Group Dragatuš

Knowledge, skills, and a love for folklore begin in early childhood, nurtured within the family, among relatives, in nursery, school, or through involvement in folk dance societies. Due to the highly interdisciplinary nature of folklore, children not only learn about cultural heritage and local history, but also develop skills in dance, singing, playing instruments, and performing. They are introduced to stagecraft, costuming, and the conventions of stage performance. A well-established children’s and youth programme is essential for the successful continuation of an adult folk dance group. In Bela krajina, children's and school-based groups work with great dedication and have achieved excellent results.

Since the founding of Folk Dance Group Dragatuš in 1957, every young dancer from Dragatuš has gained their first experience and grounding in folklore through Dragatuš Primary School. Years of activity, increasing participation, and the inclusion of members from surrounding areas led to the establishment of the first children’s group within the society in 1998.

All three generations of children’s folk dance groups that have been active under the umbrella of Folk Dance Group Dragatuš from 1998 to the present day were initiated and established by Zdenka Pezdirc, who later handed over leadership to trained members from the adult group. As the children grew older, the groups transitioned into youth groups, with most members eventually joining the adult folk dance group.

Core Principles of the Children’s Folk Dance Group Dragatuš:

The group's activities and programme direction are developed in consultation with, and supported by, the adult group.
Children typically begin between the ages of 4 and 7 and wear their own folk costumes.
Group leaders must be professionally trained and carry out their work on a voluntary basis, receiving no payment.
Membership, training (rehearsals), and leadership are provided to children free of charge.

The long-term aim for each generation of the children’s group is to create a joyful, social environment in which young dancers acquire the basic folklore knowledge and skills necessary for successful integration into the adult Folk Dance Group Dragatuš.

The first generation of the children’s group within the Folk Dance Group Dragatuš was founded by Zdenka Pezdirc in 1998, while she was still leading the adult group. After one year of activity and a successful debut performance, she passed the leadership on in 1999 to Mojca Movrin Pavlinič, a dancer and teacher at Dragatuš Primary School. During her maternity leave in 2000, the group was taken over and very successfully led by Katja Kocjan Plut (a dancer and teacher) and Anita Matkovič (a dancer and ethnologist), who guided the group until the members transitioned into the adult ensemble.

The group’s greatest achievement was being selected to participate in the national meeting of children’s folk dance groups.

The second generation of the Children’s Folk Dance Group was established in 2008. After the initial launch led by Zdenka Pezdirc, the leadership was taken over at the end of 2009 by folk dancers and teachers Nataša Šuštarič Bradač and Nataša Žalec Sever, who continued the work with great success. The greatest satisfaction and testament to the quality of their work—and the group’s connection with the adult ensemble—is the fact that, after more than a decade of children's folk dance activity, almost all members transitioned into the adult group.

The third generation of the Children’s Folk Dance Group Dragatuš, currently comprising 27 enthusiastic young dancers, was established in October 2017. Musical accompaniment is provided by the Young Folk Musicians of Folk Dance Group Dragatuš, led by Judita Ilenič Kopač. A key focus of the group’s efforts is the development of its own dedicated musical support. Through play and social interaction, the lively and curious children explore and recreate the folklore of Bela krajina. They wear their own white costumes and have already performed at a variety of events, gatherings, and folklore showcases.

In June 2020, Zdenka Pezdirc handed over leadership of the children’s group to Neža Barič and Nataša Šuštarič Bradač, who was succeeded in September 2022 by Nika Kuzma. In 2025, the group reached the national level and was renamed the Youth Folk Dance Group Dragatuš.

That same year, the fourth generation of the Children’s Folk Dance Group Dragatuš was established under the leadership of Katja Kocjan Plut and Sara Banovec.

The strong performance of the Children’s Folk Dance Group is the best guarantee of the continued existence and vitality of Folk Dance Group Dragatuš, as well as the ongoing respect for, knowledge of, and preservation of the rich cultural heritage of Bela krajina.

Children’s Folk Dance Group Dragatuš

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