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Željko Jergan
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Željko Jergan is a renowned choreographer and teacher throughout the world. Since moving to the United States in 1986, Željko has created over 350 original choreographies for 70 different amateur, semi-professional, and professional ensembles, including Les Sortileges, Brigham Young University, Radost Folk Ensemble and the Duquesne University Tamburitzans.
When he's not researching and creating new choreographies, Željko stays extremely busy working with the international folk dance community, where he is in popular demand for his depth and style in teaching Croatian folk dancing. He has traveled extensively both domestically and abroad, including folk dance seminars and workshops in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Taiwan.
Željko has made a significant contribution to the Canadian Croatian folklore community, where he has been sought year after year to create original new choreographies for both the eastern and western Canadian Croatian Folklore Festivals. He also serves as artistic director for Kraljica Jelena Folklore Ensemble, Kitchener, Ontario, and Croatian Village Folklore Ensemble, Hamilton, Ontario, where he continually strives to elevate the level of authenticity and presentation of those ensembles. He is also the artistic director for the Folklore Ensemble Hrvatski Tanac and Kumovi Adult Ensemble, of Pittsburgh and the St. Anthony's Folklore Ensemble of Los Angeles.
A native of Varaždin, Croatia, Željko was a leading performer with the Croatian National Folk Ensemble LADO for twelve years. He also performed with the Zagreb National Ballet and modern dance companies for several years. He is a graduate of the Varaždin School of Music, Čakovec School of Architecture, and worked under the tutelage of Milica Glavočić Pininsky, a consultant to the Zagreb Ethnographic Museum.
Željko has received two full fellowship grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in support of his artistic work.
Željko resides in St. Clairsville, Ohio, with his wife and their son and daughter.
Dances Želko has taught include Aj lipo ti je, Ajd na ljevo, Ajnzerica (Enzerica), Al je lepo, Baranjsko kolo (Kolo u dvi strane), Čižme moje, Čumurka-Sarajčica, Cupanica, Dere, Derite se čižme moje, Došla sam vam japa dimo, Drmeš iz Marijanaca, Goricani, Hopa dina, Igrajte mi, Igre Bosanske Krajine, Jabuke - Marice, Ki su Dečki Crleneši, Kola iz Slavonije, Kopriva - Carska kasa, Moj dragane, Moldovan, Na dvi strane, Nabrala, Papučica, Pokupski Svatovski drmeš, Presjekač, Racaplava, Rokoko, Rukavice-Todore (Valpovačka kolo), Čkaljarsko kolo, Šokačko kolo, Sukačko kolo, Stinjačko kolo, Sviraj zlatno, Treskavac, V Goričani, Valpovačka kolo, and Zavrzlama.