A significant number of people have been integral to Grachanitsa's continued success. Many are featured below and all of whom give their time as volunteers motivated by their love of Serbian folk culture and the Grachanitsa community.
Hailing from Valjevo, Serbia, Dr. Djordje N. Koldžić is a former soloist and assistant-choreographer with KUD Abrašević Valjevo and the National Folk Ballet of Yugoslavia Branko Krsmanović, having nearly five decades of dance experience. For the past 25 years, Dr. Koldžić has applied this experience to develop Grachanitsa, training folk dance enthusiasts and Serbian-American youths in traditional Balkan dance and propagating Serbian heritage and culture throughout New England.
Born and raised in Kraljevo, Serbia, Vasilija Djurović is an trained vocalist experienced in Serbian traditional singing. After studying ethnomusicology at the University of Arts in Belgrade, Vasilija became driven to teach and show the beauty of the Serbian cultural heritage through song. Since then, she has come to work with Grachanitsa, teaching the ensemble traditional Serbian singing, and plans to continue to share her experience and love of music with Grachanitsa and its audiences.
Growing up in Boston, the Radonjić Sabbagh sisters have been dancing with Grachanitsa for as long as they can remember. The two have forged some of their fondest memories and closest friendships in the group. The sisters now document Grachanitsa’s story on its Instagram's Stories, chronicling memories for all of the ensemble to smile back on and sharing Grachanitsa's unique spirit with all its supporters.
Living in Boston for the past 23 years, and learning how to dance from Grachanitsa for the past 17, Petar is one of Grachanitsa’s most senior performers and versatile stewards. Having grown as a dancer and a person from the Grachanitsa community, and now wanting to help bring together others through dance, he is dedicated to serving in whichever roles are required to help keep the ensemble running—and growing—smoothly.
Get to know each of Grachanitsa's dancers by clicking on their profiles.
Sincere thanks are due for Marija Jankovich, Dusan Drljaca, Lana Balach-Van Anderlect, Alexander M. Trbovich, Dusan Radakovic, Vladan Trifunovic, Slobodan Pajic, Olimpiu Dezeu, Miograd Cirkovic, and Owen Markham—our wonderful photographers—for providing the many wonderful pictures of Grachanitsa.
Many thanks are also due for the friends, family, and former dancers of Grachanitsa who, over the past decades, have given the ensemble their continued time and support.
Aleksandar Boskovic, Aleksandar Bukvic, Aleksandar Dvljak, Aleksandra Andjelkovic, Aleksandra Drljaca, Aleksandra Puric, Alen Arbutina, Alexander Jovanovic, Alice Shattuck (Tomic), Ana Dacic (Koldzic), Ana Milojevic, Andjela Semic, Andjela Stojkovic, Andjela Suka, Anita Zilic, Ankica P. Koldzic, Biljana Arsic, Branko Bojovic, Danilo Tehlirijan, Darko Cotic, David Grujic, Dejan Stankovic, Dinara Nickovic, Djordje N. Koldzic, Djordje Vlajkovic, Djordje Zhole, Dobrin Draganov, Dragana Kovacevic (Bogavac), Draginja Vlajkovic, Dunja Pogorzelski (Stankovic), Dusan Kozic, Dusanka Cvjetan, Edward Tomic, Eleonora Vidolova, Filip Bajic, George Milosh, Goran Deletic, Gordana Marchio, Ivana Djuretic, Iveta Iontcheva, Jansen Savic, Jelena Begovic, Jelena Djordjevic, Jelena Glisovic, Jelena Jovin, Jelena Kupcevic, Jelena Mirkovic, Katarina Cosic, Katya Van Anderlecht, Lazar Olarevic, Lauren Alexandra Milosh, Luka Petrovic, Luka Vlajkovic, Marija Jankovich (Velickovic), Marijana Kulovic (Bogavac), Marizela Savic, Marko Jagodic, Marko Kocic, Mia Cirkic, Mia Levi, Michele Stojanov, Mila Petrovic, Milena Dragovic, Milica Markovic, Milica Vlajkovic, Mina Antic, Mirela Zilic, Mirjana Begovic, Mirjana Trifunovic, Miroslav Arsic, Mladen Mrdalj, Nada Jovanovic (Bankovic), Natalija Savatic, Negovan Nickovic, Nemanja Marjanovic, Nena Trifunovic, Nenad Pejic-Lepi, Neso Beric, Nevena Vukosavljevic, Nikola Andrijasevic, Nikola Kojic, Olga Savic, Pavle Bajic, Pavlo Kononenko, Rebecca Woodward Kocic, Sandra Tanasijevic, Sanja Petrovic-Stojkovic, Sara Grujic, Sasa Jovanovic, Sava Vlajkovic, Sinisa Baranac, Sladjana Baranac, Slobodanka Vlajkovic, Srdjan Nickovic, Stevan Arbutina, Suzana Stojakovic Forkapic, Tamara Halkina, Tamara Maric, Tamara Pavasovic-Trost, Tamara Sevaljevic, Tatiana N. Bugarinovic, Teodora Misic, Tijana Cosic, V. May Tomic, Zivojin Mitic
