Poštovani:
Dear Colleagues,
I am humbled and very pleased to share with you the following news of a very special award that I just received, here in my hometown Zagreb, Croatia.

Today, October 24, 2009 on the occasion of the State visit by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governer General of Canada - I was presented with the gold medallion for the furthering of cultural relations between Canada and Croatia.

Along with the gold medallion, the  medallion was presented with the  plaque attesting to:

>>Canada and Croatia share close relations thanks in part to the continued support of Ms Mirna Žagar. During this State visit to Croatia, I am pleased to celebrate your dedication to both our countries.

  We share a long and storied history, which has been further strengthened by your support of Canadian interests in Croatia. Your promotion of the arts, especially through dance, is a wonderful way to brign our two societies together. Canadian and Croatian artists have performed in each country, bringing with them their own unique styles. Through this cultural exchange, you have ensured that both our peoples are able to learn from each other and to communicate in the universal language of dance.

Thanks to your efforts, Canadians and Croatians have a greater understanding of one another. On this special occasion I am pleased to acknowledge your unique position as an advocate of Canadian interests and values in Croatia. I wish you the very best.

Michaelle Jean, October 2009 <<


Mirna Žagar: Executive Director of The Dance Center, BC's primary resource centre for dance, operator of Scotiabank Dance Centre in Vancouver, BC - Canada's flagship dance facility which opened doors in 2001. More info: www.thedancecentre.ca

Mirna Žagar, first came to Canada ni 1994 and joined the dance centre in 1998 to the position of Executive Director of Vancouver's  Dance Centre, Mirna was and still continues to be involved in the international world of dance. She founded Croatia's primary internatioanal contemporary dance festival DANCE WEEK FESTIVAL (Tjedan suvremenog plesa, www.danceweekfestival.com) and one of the largest in the region which contniues to date into its 27th edition. She also founded the Croatian Institute for Movement and Dance in Zagreb, Croatia an umbrella organization to support the development of contemporary danc in Croatia within an internationalized context (www.danceincroatia.com). She has consulted the City of Zagreb on the development of a Centre for Dance in Zagreb, which opens doors on October 26th, 2009 (located on the site of former Kino Lika).

Through her work she has presented numeorous  Canadian dance artists to Croatia, and together with her husband Dubravko Pajalic, has fostered interest for Croatian performing artists (mainly music and dance) within the Canadian context establishing bridges of collaboration between the two artistic communities.