Zadarski Tanac [the Dance of Zadar]. Genesis and Dynamics of the Newly Created Tradition

Abstract

This paper observes the origin, development process, and influence of zadarski tanac [the
dance of Zadar], the only dance that the local community considers specifically its own. It
belongs to the field of so-called “cultural-artistic amateurism,” and is approached first from
the perspective of dance, and then from that of music. The choreography emerged in 1997and soon after disappeared from the scene, only to resurface in 2013. It is performed by two
folklore societies currently active in Zadar, whose recent emergence is closely linked to the
recognition of this dance as their own tradition. Apart from the music and dance, the paper
deals with the lack of folklore amateurism in Zadar for almost two decades. The aim of this
paper is to shed light on the genesis of zadarski tanac, legitimately recognized as Zadar’s heritage
(primarily thanks to the activities of two Zadar folklore societies), and thus contend
with numerous ideas about the origin of zadarski tanac.