Biography
SVEBOR SEČAK
18.11.1962., Zagreb, Croatia
Academic title: PhD, Associate Professor
MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CROATIAN SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL BALLET ARTISTS, FORMER NATIONAL BALLET PRINCIPAL OF THE CROATIAN NATIONAL THEATRE IN ZAGREB
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION:
2015 completed a doctoral degree at the University of New England, Armidale, Australia and received the title PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) The title of the PhD dissertation: „Shakespeare’s Hamlet in Ballet – A Neoclassical and Contemporary Postmodern Approach“
2010 completed a master’s degree MA (Hons) at the University of New England, Armidale, Australia The title of the MA thesis: „Staging Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in the Language of Classical Ballet“
2007 completed the undergraduate BA (First Class Hons) degree in dance education at the Royal Academy of Dance in London, University of Surrey, Great Britain The title of the thesis: „Implementing the Vaganova Technique Outside the Vaganova Academy in a Safe Manner“
1984 completed the School for Classical Ballet in Zagreb
1980 completed his high school education at the Language Grammar School in Zagreb
SPECIALISATIONS:
1986 /1987 specialisation at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia – stage practice at the Mariinsky Theatre as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake
WORKING AND PEDAGOGICAL EXPERIENCE:
2023 Associate professor at the Study of Ballet Pedagogy at the Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb.
2023 Mentor at MA studies Jerneja Omahen Razpotnik: Dance – A Significant Field for Complete Learning and Teaching (24.10)
2023 Mentor at BA studies Ivana Gregurić Safe practice as Prevention of Injuries in Professional Dancers (11.09)
2023 Mentor at MA studies Lidiya Krisskaya: Choreography classes as a means of physical development for preschool children in a multicultural environment (17.05)
2023 Mentor at BA studies: Tina Nerat: Body posture of ballet dancers from the Renaissance until today (13.02)
2019 Associate professor at AMEU Academy of Dance
2019 Mentor at BA studies: Martina Svetina: Ballet in the Slovenian Educational system, 2019 Graduation thesis, Alma Mater Europaea Dance Academy
2019 Mentor at BA studies: Ozana Mirković: Physical fitness and injuries of pupils in the context of teaching the Vaganova methodology in the School for Classical Ballet in Zagreb / Research project, 2019 Graduation thesis, ADU
2016 Dean of the Alma Mater Europaea Dance Academy Slovenia and lecturer of subjects on BA and MA study programs: Propedeutics; Safe practice of the Vaganova methodology; Dance, Art and Aesthetics; The Art of Dance in Education; Ballet- tradition and contemporaneity; Dance Analysis; Dance, Art and Educational Aspects – Pedagogical approaches and Ballet and Contemporary dance – Tradition and Contemporaneity: historical, theoretical and analytical perspectives.
2014 – 2023 Assistant professor at the Study of Ballet Pedagogy at the Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb; lecturer of subjects Ballet and Education 1 to 4 and Ballet – Tradition and Contemporaneity
2019 Held a Masterclass at the Ballet of the CNT in Zagreb for guests from Russia led by Andris Liepa
2019 Mentor to Anamarija Marković, winner of the first prize at the International Dance Competition Hellas in Athens, Greece Received a diploma from the international jury for his pedagogical work
2016 – 2018 Mentor to Anamarija Marković, winner of the golden medal at the International Ballet Competition Mia Čorak Slavenska 2016 for the international ballet competition Vaganova Prix, Russia 2016 where she was awarded a special prize a 10-month scholarship Mentor and artistic guidance of Anamarija Marković for her appearance at the Gala concert of the International Ballet Competition Mia Čorak Slavenska 2018
2013 – 2014 Acting director of the Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb
2013 Stage practice for final grades of the School for Classical Ballet in Zagreb with a goal to prepare the students for public appearances in Croatia and abroad
2012 Three-month pedagogical work with participants of the Russian School of Ballet in Bermuda
2009 – 2010 Professional ballet trainings, passing on and preparing choreographies for the international tours of Madrid Ballet
2006 – 2016 Occasional professional ballet trainings for the dance group at the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek
2005 – 2006 Teaching classical ballet at the School for Rhythmics and Ballet in Zagreb
1994 – 2014 Founder and leader of Ballet troupe Croatia
1988 – 2024 Professional ballet trainings and rehearsals for the Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb
1981 – 2023 Professional ballet dancer of the Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb
Status: national Ballet principal (see Artistic work)
ACADEMIC – SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY
Publishing and presentations at conferences
2023 9th World congress of UNESCO CID held in Miami, USA Held a presentation titled Dance Film
2023 Round table on the Recent Moment of the Ballet Profession in the Republic of Croatia, Slavonski Brod, 20th Days of Mia Čorak Slavenska
2023 60th World Congress of UNESCO CID held in Athens, Greece Held a presentation titled Digimodernism and video
2022 Presentation Revisiting ballet Hamlet in the age of digimodernism at the Colloquium of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (18.11.2022)
2022 Presentation at the State Meeting of dance teachers: Implementation of the Vaganova technique outside the Vaganova Academy in a Safe Manner (May)
2022 President of the Jury of the 60th Croatian competition of students of dance and music (April)
2022 10th scientific conference It`s About People, 18.03.2022 – Dance section: Recent experiences are shaping our future; potentials of dance as art, science, education and mediation in the post-pandemic period Moderator of the dance section
2021 Editor of the Journal Monitor ISH XXIII-1- Journal for the Humanities and Social Sciences Text: Transformation of an Archival Recording of a Neoclassical Ballet Hamlet Into a New Artistic Dance Video Hamlet Revisited /
13-53 https://wwwishsi/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AMEU-ISH_Monitor-2_SCREEN_04pdf?fbclid=IwAR3YOa6cdb8B7k2hYXkMlDNKan9K0smR4GqwYt9OkwHe34EkzFqSjZvYeao
2021 Text Reinterpretation of ballet The Gingerbread Heart by Krešimir Baranović and Margaret Froman in magazine Movement no 35/36, 2021 ISSN 1334-1073
2021 Invited guest lecturer to the Conference the Future of Dance Education organized by the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia – 19 & 20, October, 2021 Presentation on contemporary ballet pedagogy and dance education
2021 9th Scientific conference All About People, 19032021 – Dance section: Dance and dance education in the digital environment: All the World`s a Stage Moderator and reviewer of the dance section Editor of the Proceedings Book of the dance section: https://dance-academyalmamatersi/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Proceedings-Book-of-the-Dance-Section-of-the-9th-Conference-All-About-People-1pdf
2021 Seminar for teachers of ballet and contemporary dance, Institute for Education of the Republic of Slovenia, 19.1.2021 Topic: Competences and metacognitive skills in dance education
2020 CID UNESCO Teleconference Dance and Spirituality (05.12.2020)
2020 Scientific-artistic assembly On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Margarita Froman in Zagreb (28 and 29.11.2020)
2020 Professional meeting of the Croatian Agency for education – presentation: „Competences and metacognitive skills in dance education“ (25.08.2020)
2020 Editor of the Proceedings book of events of the AMEU Dance Academy in 2018 and 2019 (15.06.2020)
2019 Moderator, mentor and leader of the Round table at the Borštnik meeting in Maribor organised by the AMEU Dance Academy on the topic: Ballet, educational vertical from pre-school education to the 2nd Bologna cycle in the Republic of Slovenia, 26.10.2019.
2019 53rd World Congress, UNESCO CID-a held in Nassau, Bahamas LPresentation on: An Anthropological View of Ballet Art
2019 Member of the Scientific committee of the 7th Scientific international conference All About People: Future Fit, Maribor, Slovenia 15 & 16.03.2019. Moderator and reviewer of the dance section Text Intertextual Dance Analysis published at:
http://pressalmamatersi/indexphp/amp/catalog/download/11/13/65-1?inline=1
2018 Leading author of the graduation (MA) programme of the Dance Academy Alma Mater Europaea, Slovenia
2018 UNESCO CID World Congress held in St. Petersburg, Russia Promoted the book The Heritage of Legat by Patricia Deane-Gray, 25 – 29.04.2018.
2018 Text on „Shifts in the educational vertical of dance in Slovenia“ published at www.plesnascena.hr
2018 Member of the Scientific Board of the 6th International Conference All About People: Challenges for Science and Education, Maribor, Slovenia 9 & 10, 032018 Moderator and reviewer of the Dance section
2017 Text on “The Heritage of Legat“ published at www.plesnascena.hr – 9.11.2017.
2017 Member of the Programme Board and moderator of the 45th International Colloquium Social Choreography organised by the Slovene Society for Aesthetics – 6.11.2017.
2017 19 ICDPA International Conference on Dance and Performing Arts, Toronto, Canada Text “Shakespeare`s Hamlet in Ballet: Transformation of an Archival Recording of a Neoclassical Ballet Performance into a Contemporary Transmodern Dance Video Applying Postmodern Concepts and Techniques” (15 & 16.06.2017)
2017 5th International Scientific Conference All about people: interdisciplinarity, transnationality and building bridges, Alma Mater Europaea, Maribor, Slovenia (10 &11.03.2017) – Text: “Academic Ballet: A National and Transnational Perspective”
2016 Text “St. Petersburg as an unachievable role model published at www.plesnascena.hr
2016 RESEO Conference Reflective Practice: Evaluation of Arts in Education Paris, 28- 30.11.2016.
2016 47th UNESCO CID World Congress held in St Petersburg, Russia Lecture on “Ballet: Tradition and Contemporaneity”
2016 Interdisciplinary scientific-artistic symposium „Mia Čorak Slavenska“ at the Artistic Academy in Osijek, University, Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek Presentation titled „Discursive considerations of Mia Čorak Slavenska as an anticipation of a contemporary view on the problems of ballet art in Croatia or what do the image and work of Mia Čorak Slavenska tell us today” – publication in the Literary Review of Osijek – a magazine for literature and culture of Division of Matica hrvatska Osijek is under way (2016)
2015 Text on the Croatian Theatre Arts’ Award – category Ballet – published at www.plesnascena.hr
2015 Co-publisher of the monograph Damir Novak Snaga pokreta of the Croatian Society of Professional Ballet Artists written by V. Vadjon and V. Pondelak
2015 Text on ballet La Fille mal gardée at the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek – published at www.plesnascena.hr
2014 37th UNESCO CID World Congress held in Athens, Greece Lecture on „Giving Feedback and Correcting Ballet Students“ Text published on DVD and the official website of the Congress
2014 Text on the International Ballet Competition Mia Čorak Slavenska 2014 – published at www.plesnascena.hr
2013 34th UNESCO CID World Congress held in Montreal, Canada Lecture on „Ballet and Dance After Postmodernism“. Text published on DVD and the official website of the Congress
2013 15th Conference of CORPS de Ballet in Paris, France
2012 Annual Symposium of the University of New England: presentation of the PhD project titled „HAMLET REVISITED, the transformation of a video recording of a neoclassical ballet performance into a postmodern artistic dance video”
2012 Text on the International Ballet Competition Mia Čorak Slavenska 2012 – published at www.plesnascena.hr
2012 Conference Ballet: Why and How? in Stockholm, Sweden
2011 Partial publication of the MA thesis titled: „Ballet Romeo and Juliet as the artistic bridge between the East and the West “ in journal KRETANJA, no 15/16
2009 23rd UNESCO CID World Congress held in Malaga, Spain Lecture on „Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as ballet.“ Text published on DVD and the official website of the Congress
2009 3rd UNESCO CID International Congress held in Istanbul, Turkey Lecture on „Ballet and its Classicism.“ Text published on DVD and the official website of the Congress
2009 Author and editor of the publication on the occasion of the 30th artistic anniversary and the 15th anniversary of Ballet troupe Croatia
2008 22nd UNESCO CID World Congress in Athens, Greece Lecture on „Implementing the Vaganova technique outside the Vaganova Academy in a safe manner.“ Text published on DVD and the official website of the Congress
2002 – 2024 Editor of the annual bulletin of the Croatian Society of Professional Ballet Artists
2002 Review titled „Black Tie Only“ on the work of the Royal Ballet in London published in Vijenac, no. 224, from October 3, 2002
1980 – 2024 Numerous interviews and debates in daily newspapers and weekly magazines and participation in professional radio and TV shows
ARTISTIC ACTIVITY:
National principal of the Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb and an internationally acclaimed ballet artist. He danced numerous leading roles of the classical, contemporary and national repertoire. He performed at all Croatian and many world ballet stages working with renowned choreographers and partnering some of the most prominent ballerinas of today.
Guest appearances abroad:
With the Ballet of the CNT in Zagreb and as a guest soloist he performed in the following countries: Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria, Netherlands, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Germany, Italy, Turkey, USA, Switzerland, Portugal, etc
Ballet troupe:
Founder and organiser of Ballet troupe Croatia with which he toured Croatian and abroad, presenting Croatian ballet art on the international ballet stage The troupe appeared on the stages in Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Africa, Mexico, Jordan, Tunisia, Egypt, Japan, Turkey, Bermuda, Venezuela, Switzerland, Australia Malaysia, Montenegro and New Zealand
Prominent stages where he danced:
- Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow
- Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
- Theatre Taras Shevchenko, Kiev
- Teatar Den Haag
- Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London
- Millennium Dome, London
- Sadler’s Wells, London
- Fondazione Arena di Verona, Italy
- Many other stages of national theatres, festival stages, etc
Leading roles at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb – 1981 – 2023
Prince, Drosselmayer, Herr Stahlbaum / The Mouse King – The Nutracker P. I. Tchaikovsky (chor. Waczlaw Orlikowsky, Frane Jelinčić and Derek Deane)
Count Albrecht – Giselle Adolphe Adam (chor. Attilio Labis)
Franz, Coppelius – Coppèlia Leo Dèlibes (chor. Ivica Sertić)
Amadeus Monumentum – chor. Milko Šparemblek
Kain – Kain and Abel Francis Poulenc-Stevan Mokranjac (chor. Vlasto Dedovič)
Mirko – The Devil in the Village Fran Lhotka (chor. Pia and Pino Mlakar)
Don Quixote – Don Quixote Ludwig Minkus (chor. Dinko Bogdanić and Patrick Armand)
Paris, Tebaldo, Lord Capulet, Lord Montecchi – Romeo and Juliet S. S. Prokofiev (chor. Waczlaw Orlikowsky, Dinko Bogdanić and Patrice Bart)
High Priest Brahmin – La Bayadere Ludwiga Minkus (chor. Dinko Bogdanić and Vasiliy Medvedev)
Widow Simone – La Fille mal gardée Ferdinand Hèrold-Ludwig Hertel (chor. Vladimir Derevianko)
Duke of Kurland – Giselle Adolphe Adam (chor. Jose Martinez)
Some of the roles in other national theatres in Croatia
Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre in Split
Count Albrecht – Giselle
Franz – Coppelia
Mercuzio – Romeo and Julija,
Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre Ivan noble Zajc in Rijeka
Prince Siegfried, Rothbart – Swan Lake
Count Albrecht – Giselle
Espado – Don Quixote
Quasimodo – Esmeralda
Peer Gynt – Peer Gynt
Ballet troupe Croatia
Hamlet, Hamlet P.I. Tchaikovsky (chor. Svebor Sečak)
Prince Danilo, The Merry Widow F. Lehar (chor. Sonja Kastl)
Caligula, Caligula A. Khachaturian (chor. Svebor Sečak)
Lord Capulet, Romeo and Juliet, S. S. Prokofiev (chor. Svebor Sečak)
General, The Graduation Ball J. Strauss (chor. David Lichine)
The Gingerbread Man, The Gingerbread Heart K. Baranović (chor. Svebor Sečak)
Count Albrecht, Giselle A. Adam (chor. A. Labisse)
Peer Gynt, Peer Gynt Suite E. Grieg (chor. Waczlaw Orlikowsky)
Choreographies:
He is the choreographer of several all-evening ballets that were performed at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, all throughout Croatia and abroad, on all world continents such as:
- Snow Queen – Bobić, world opening night, coproduction of the CNT in Osijek and CNT in Split (16.02.2024);
- La Fille mal gardée – F. Hèrold-L.Hertel; Premiere 2015 – on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the ballet group of the CNT in Osijek
- Romeo and Juliet – S.S. Prokofiev; Premiere 2013 – CNT in Varaždin, on the occasion of Croatia’s entry into the EU /Premiere 2012 – Hamilton, Bermuda, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Bermuda Civic Ballet
- The Fifth Instrument – Croatian composers; Premiere 2009 – CNT in Zagreb – 30th artistic anniversary
- Caligula – A. Hachaturian; Premiere 2006 – CNT in Varaždin for Croatia Ballet
- The Gingerbread Heart – K. Baranović; Premiere 2005 – CNT in Osijek /Premiere 1998 – CNT in Zagreb for Croatia Ballet
- Hamlet – P.I. Tchaikovsky; Premiere 2004 – CNT in Zagreb for Croatia Ballet
- Peer Gynt Suite – E. Grieg; Premiere 2001 – Croatia Ballet
- Author of several shorter stage works and numerous choreographies for TV and ballet choreographies for the concerts of the Zagreb Philharmonic
Orders and awards:
- Regular member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (2022)
- National Ballet Principal – awarded by the Ministry of culture of the Republic of Croatia (2016)
- Award Vladimir Nazor granted to the Ballet of the CNT in Zagreb for season 2013/2014 he collected as the acting director of the company
- Croatian Theatre Arts’ Award 2005 for the best male ballet role in seasons 2003/04 and 2004/2005 for the title role in ballet Hamlet;
- Award Oskar Harmoš of the CNT in Zagreb for the best leading male role in ballet in season 2004/05 for the role of Tybalt in ballet Romeo and Juliet
- Croatian Theatre Arts’ Award 2003 for the best male ballet role in season 2002/03 for the title role in ballet Peer Gynt;
- Award Olga Orlova of the CNT Ivan noble Zajc in Rijeka for the best leading male role in ballet for the past three seasons (from 2001 to 2004) for the title role in ballet Peer Gynt;
- Order of Danica Hrvatska with the image of Marko Marulić for exceptional contributions in culture;
- Plaque Mare Nostrum;
- Medals and diplomas at Ballet competitions in Novi Sad, Serbia;
Memberships:
- CORPS (Council of Organized Researchers for Pedagogical Study)
- CORD (Congress on Research in Dance)
- CID (Conseil International de la Danse)
- HDPBU (Croatian Society of Professional Ballet Artists – President)
Membership in assessment and other committees:
2023 President of the Jury of ballet schools in the Republic of Serbia, 04-06.04.2023
2023 President of the Jury of European Ballet Grand Prix, Vienna, 07-09.02.2023
2022 President of the committee for the defence of graduation work of Milan Tomašik (BA)
2022 President of the committee for the defence of graduation work of Metka Beguš (BA)
2022 President of the Jury of the 60th national Croatian competition of pupils and students of music and dance – 04.04 – 10.04.2022
2015 – 2024 Member of committee for state exams for pedagogues of classical ballet
2014 – 2024 Organiser and moderator of the Jury of the International Ballet Competition Mia Čorak Slavenska
2013 – 2024 President of the committee for the Croatian Theatre Arts’ Award – category Ballet
2010 – 2024 President of the committee for the Award of the Croatian Society of Professional Ballet Artists
2016 – 2018 Member of the expert committee for assessing international qualifications for professions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, dance
2014 – 2018 Member of the Theatre Board of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb
2012 President of the committee for the Award Ana Roje and Oskar Harmoš of the CNT in Zagreb
2010 – 2012 Jury member of the International Ballet Competition Mia Čorak Slavenska
2010 – 2014 Member of the Executive Board of Concert Management Zagreb
2010 – 2013 Member of the working group for the creation of the plan and program of the new Study of Contemporary Dance and Ballet Pedagogy at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, University of Zagreb
2007 – 2009 Member of the committee for the Croatian Theatre Arts’ Award – category Ballet
2006 – 2008 Founder, organiser and jury member of the state ballet competition Mia Čorak Slavenska
2005 Memmber of the Jury of state competitions of ballet high schools
2004 – 2014 Member of the assessment committee for final grades of the School for Classical Ballet
2003 – 2011 Member of the committee for the Vladimir Nazor Award
2003 – 2007 Member of the committee for granting the status of Croatian freelance artists