KOLO- The Soul Dance, documentary film and series filmed  at the National Mall in Washington, DC 

A segment of filming of a new documentary film and TV series KOLO- THE SOUL DANCE in Washington. DC., USA, was just completed.

With the help and organization of Serbian Cultural Center Opancici in Washington DC, the project featuring Serbian traditional folklore dance - KOLO, was filmed in front of the Jefferson Memorial, Washington monument, White House and at many other locations.

 Serbian Cultural Center Opancici in Washington gathered together dancers from its three Folklore ensembles, and it Girls’ choir, the Chamber choir Srbijana, Soloist Accordion player Marko-Mitić-Kalča, Ethno group for promotion of folklore costumes and tradition, as well as the Children’s Choir and Children folklore ensemble of St. Luke Serbian Orthodox Church. Filming of the project was also supported by the Embassy of Serbia in Washington, DC.

After the great success achieved by the previous feature length documentary film, Tesla Nation, which was selected to be nominated for the 2020 Oscars award, Optimistic film company, and Director Dr. Željko Mirković, started a new documentary film and TV series KOLO- THE SOUL DANCE.

The project KOLO- THE SOUL DANCE is being realized in cooperation with the Serbian National Ensemble Kolo, Ethnographic Museum of Belgrade, Serb National Federation in Pittsburgh, USA, National Ensemble Venac from Kosovo and Metohija, Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences (SANU) and the Tourist Organization of Serbia. Up until now, this project has been supported by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia, Province of Vojvodina Secretariat for Cultures, cities of Niš, Pirot, Zaječar and Užice as well as Serbian Cultural Center Opancici in Washington, DC.

“KOLO is for the Serbian people more than a dance. It is a part of our genetic code, it enriches us anew with the purity of our folkloric heritage, dictates our phenotype and does not allow Serbs to be ripped out from their roots regardless of where they live. Like our ancestors before us, centuries ago, even nowadays we join hands to dance the KOLO to show joy, love, patriotism, to dance with pride, and even to “outperform” other dancers, but also, sometimes we dance to win out of spite” said Dr. Danica Marinac-Dabic, Medical Doctor and Artistic Director of Serbian Cultural Center Opancici in Washington, DC who enthusiastically added: “We, the Serbs in America, taught our children, through dancing the KOLO, about Serbian history and language, how to wear with pride the Serbian folklore costume, how to celebrate Saint Sava and respect tradition and how “Nobody has that which the Serbs have!”, to quote the slogan. There isn’t a single Serbian male, female or child whose heart doesn’t play with joy while dancing the KOLO or listening to KOLO music. KOLO is like the finest thread which connects the spiritual and secular values of the Serbian individual and collective being. And as a poet would say, KOLO can be “lively, temperamental, interlaced, embroidered, decorated, spiced...” KOLO is a timeless category to which we keep returning to anew in honor of our ancestors and as an oath to future generations ”

Aleksandar Mikasinovich, senior manager at Ernst and Young and member of the first folklore ensemble Serbian Cultural Center Opancici, Washington, DC, remembers that he started dancing kolo when he was five years old. “At that time, we had regular kolo dance practices in the Church after liturgy. I fondly recall a KOLO dance practice when we danced “Cacak” so passionately and fervently that the chandelier fell from the ceiling below while dancing. There were many such memorable occurrences. All of the many memorable remembrances originated with my very close friends with whom I wouldn’t have come to befriend if it weren’t for my participation in the KOLO. Aside from the reminiscences, happenings, and cultivating brotherly and sisterly feelings of togetherness, dancing kolo was a way to retain our Serbian culture and traditions”, pointed out Mikasinovich.

Director and producer Dr. Željko Mirković says that ”kolo is an energetic machine deeply rooted in our DNA, from which it extracts its magical energy and power.”KOLO- THE SOUL DANCE is a symbol of solidarity, which brings together the old and the young and unifies the Serbian people wherever they may be in the world. Serbian KOLO became a part of UNESCO’s intangible heritage in 2017. The documentary film TV series THE SOUL DANCE speaks of the significance of kolo, its origin, beauty and specificity. This is a story of tradition and identity of the Serbian people, about cultivating happiness through dance, says Mr. Mirković at the end.

Director, Optimistic Film, Zeljko Mirkovic

Executive Producers, Mikan Velinovic, Djordje Jovicic, Borislav Jovicin

Expert Associates: Vladimir Dekic, Tijana Colak-Antic Popovic, Milos Rastovic, Zdravko Ranisavljevic,

DoP: Ognjen Milovic

Scenario, Zeljko Mirkovic, Nikola Neskovic, Zdravko Ranisavljevic

Director and Producer, Zeljko Mirkovic,

Cameras: Jerry Holsopple, Joaquin Sosa

Sound Design: Rances Rodriguez

Contact: Director and Producer, Zeljko Mirkovic,

Optimistic Film, www.optimisticfilm.com,  zeljkomirkovic@gmail.com