New Zealand Maori, Samoan And Croatians Join Forces For Cultural Tour Of Croatia

A traditional Maori cultural group and a Samoan a capella group will accompany a Croatian folklore group from New Zealand on a tour around Croatia which gets underway this week.

Folklore group Kralj Tomislav from Auckland, Klapa SAMOANA and Maori cultural group TE IHI CONNECTIONS arrive this week in Croatia for a series of performances which will start in Bale near Rovinj on Saturday night. After the Bale concert the tour heads to the northern Adriatic city of Pula, before moving to Opatija, Nasice and Krapina. All concerts, except the one in Opatija, will be free of charge to the public.
The link between the Maori and Croatians in New Zealand dates back to the 1890’s when the two worked side by side in the gum fields of New Zealand’s north. Through music and dance Croatians will have a chance to learn more about Maori culture during the concerts. It will not be the first time the Maori and Croatians have performed in Croatia. Kralj Tomislav, which is led by former LADO director Goran Kacurov, and TE IHI CONNECTIONS wowed audiences in Croatia during their 2011 tour.

Klapa SAMOANA is a Samoan a capella group which takes different styles from all over the world and blends it with Pacific Culture. Klapa SAMOANA will also be special guests at this year’s Omis International Klapa Festival on 12 July.

Kralj Tomislav, TE IHI CONNECTIONS and Klapa SAMOANA 2013 Tour Itinerary:

29.06 – Bale – Kastel Bembo  – 21:30pm
01.07 – Pula – Kastel – 21:30pm
04.07 – Opatija – Ljeta pozornica Opatija – 21:30pm
09.07 – Nasice – Pozornica ispred dvorca Pejacevic – 21:30pm
11.07 – Krapina – Festivalska dvorana – 20:00pm