LADO, the National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia, was founded in 1949 in Zagreb as a professional national ensemble, with the aim of researching, artistically interpreting and presenting on stage the most beautiful examples of the rich traditions of Croatian music and dance.  The ensemble's brilliant dancers, who are also excellent singers, can easily transform this folk dance ensemble into an impressive folk choir, while its superb musicians play some fifty different traditional and classical instruments. The company’s repertoire consists of more than a hundred different dance pieces and several hundred vocal, instrumental and vocal-instrumental numbers.

LADO is often called a "Dancing Museum" because of priceless and beautiful authentic national costumes (more than 1,200 costumes) some of which are 100 years old.  The ensemble also presents new, contemporary musical and choreographic works based on traditional motifs and elements.

LADO represents the rich and diverse musical and choreographic traditions of Croatia, which is geographically situated at the crossroads of Europe in which the Mediterranean Balkan, Pannonian and Alpine influences are found in the dances, music and costumes.

Learn more about LADO by visiting the organization's website.

Ivana Lušić was born in 1970, Graduated Economics at the Faculty of Economics with a major in Foreign Trade.  During her studies she was active in the Council of Europe for Youth as a representative of the Croatian Liberal Youth.  She has worked in core businesses such as the American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, the Israel company Kital Ltd, and the Croatian Ministry of Economics.

Since 2002 she has been serving at the post of General Manager of the Croatian National Folk Dance Ensemble LADO.  During that period the LADO Ensemble has achieved many successes and been the recipient of many recognitions and awards including 10 Porin Awards (the Croatian version of the Grammy Awards), the Ivan Lukačić Award for Artistic Interpretation at the International Varaždin Baroque Festival, the Orlando Award at the world famous Dubrovnik Summer Festival and more.  LADO has also staged multiple international tours, released several CD and DVD recordings, musical videos, and more.