ZIVILI Dance Company, is pleased to announce that its popular holiday production, Christmas in Croatia,is now available for the first time in DVD format.

Taped live on December 15th, 2000, at the elegantly-restored Southern Theatre in Columbus, Ohio, tapes can now be purchased through Heart of Croatia Gifts.

This colorful and spirited production takes place in a fictitious village located in northeastern Croatia. It begins with the more solemn choral works that are a part of Croatian Christmas church services and becomes more light-hearted and spirited as the piece moves to a Croatian village home where various customs and traditions are being observed. The blessing of the Yule log, the welcoming of the first visitor, the koleda singing groups who go house to house singing in exchange for small gifts, are but a few of the traditions included in ZIVILI's production. As is typical of most gatherings in Croatia, high-spirited dancing and singing are engaged in by members of the household and their guests during the course of the evening's festive celebration.Christmas in Croatia,is seen through the eyes of an immigrant as he reflects on his childhood Christmases of many years ago.

Christmas in Croatia, is conceived, directed, and produced by ZIVILI directors Pamela Lacko Kelley and Melissa Pintar Obenauf and was initially made possible by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Community Arts Fund at The Columbus Foundation, and by the Nationwide Insurance Foundation.

Artistic Director Pam Kelley spent 10 years researching the customs; ZIVILI has performed this production both at home and on tour for the past ten years. Executive Director Melissa Obenauf authored the narrative and the script. The cast includes over 50 dancers, singers, and musicians.