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Final Farewell to Mia
In
a short simple ceremony, which was preceded by a boys choir singing
traditional folk music and official words from the Croatian Minister
of Culture, Bozo Biskupic, plus a loving message personally delivered
by Dinko Bogdanic, who heads the Ballet of the National Theatre,
Croatia’s most famous dancer was interred. She made her
final journey in a cloisonné urn surrounded by a blanket
of white roses and antheriums as well as a host of Croatian family,
fans, and friends who, in spite of the 65 year exile from her
native land, seemed never to have forgotten their beloved Mia.
Americans attending were Slavenska’s daughter Maria Ramas,
author Malcolm McCormick, UNESCO dance attaché Douglas
Turnbaugh and personal friends Johanna Gullick, Julia Burka, and
your correspondent.
The
week preceding the ceremony was a flurry of Slavenska-related
events. On Friday April 15th, Bogdanic premiered his version of
Slavenska’s most famous ballet, A Streetcar Named Desire.
The ballet was met with great acclaim in its Zagreb debut. On
Saturday, April 16th, Ramas and the American delegation traveled
to Slavonski-Brod on the banks of the Sava River where they were
greeted by the mayor and a host of media. They visited a plaque
at the building where Mia was born in 1916 and met with local
historians well versed in Mia’s early years. They also filmed
locations for an upcoming documentary, which will chronicle Mia’s
early Croatian career, her Paris-based European career and her
American years with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and many guest
appearances. The film is under the direction of Kate Johnson,
Michael Massuci, and Ramas.
On
Sunday, April 16th, the second performance of Streecar was preceded
by a photographic exhibit which traced Slavenska’s climb
from smiling barefoot peasant dancer to glamorous world-class
prima ballerina. Throughout Zagreb that week posters of Slavenska
in her Blanche du Bois finery, on pointe and peering through an
antebellum arch gave notice to one and all of her homecoming.
Newspaper and media stories abounded and throughout Croatia last
week everyone learned that Mia, their much loved and never forgotten
“little Slav” had at last come home.
by Ted Sprague
from: Gypsy Chorus, Summer 2005 |
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Photo V. Pondelak
Slavenksa’s daughter Maria Ramas and
Minister of Culture Dr. Bozo Biskupic
follow bier bearing Slavenska’s remains.
Photo: EZTV
Croatia’s most famous dancer,
Mia Corak Slavenska graces the
Croatian National Theatre billboards
for the first time in 70 years.
Photo: Johanna Gullick
Filming on the banks of the Sava River.
Mia Slavenska’s cousin, Iva Galovic, as
the young Slavenska.
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