2026 MARIA KESOVIJA

Maria Plancich Kesovija has dedicated her life to preserving and promoting Croatian Culture in the Pacific Northwest. Maria’s Croatian dancing and singing career began when she was a child, when the Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble (VLCDE) formed in 1975. This was the start of a life dedicated to the Croatian American community.

Maria was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1967, to Alma Franulovich Plancich, a child refugee following WWII, from Blato and Vela Luka on the island of Korčula, and John Plancich, whose family immigrated from Stari Grad on the island of Hvar, and Sweden.  Maria began educating others about Croatian culture at age 11, teaching the Lake Forest Park Elementary School student body the kolo (circle dance) Seljančica at an assembly.  This was merely the beginning of her career teaching folkdance, voice, ballroom dance and ballet.

She is fluent in Croatian language as well as its culture. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in Slavic Languages and Literature, studying Croatian and Russian, with copious credits acquired in the music and dance departments as well, she spent a year in Zagreb, studying at the University of Zagreb and dancing with LADO, the National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia. Maria returned to Zagreb to train with LADO twice more, during war time, and was offered a position in this prestigious ensemble. But Maria’s soul had been with VLCDE since the beginning, it was her family, after all, and she knew she must remain in the USA and pass on what she acquired at LADO and at other folk ensembles in Zagreb.

Maria was living in Zagreb when the Croatian War of Independence broke out in 1991, and upon returning to the USA worked tirelessly alongside her mother and community members, arranging meetings and hosting dignitaries to garner support for Croatian independence.  When Croatia declared independence, Maria immediately applied for citizenship for her baba (grandmother) Marija Damjanovic Franulovich and for her mother Alma, both of which were processed swiftly. Her baba left Croatia with her family after WWII, never to return to her homeland, and Maria wanted her baba to hold her Croatian Citizen declaration in her hand! 

Maria spoke triumphantly of a few of her greatest honors:  In December 2001 Maria was the featured soprano for the Croatian Christmas Cantata - Narodil Se Mladi Kralj by Tomislav Uhlik of Zagreb, Croatia, conducted by Mary Sherhart, performed in Seattle, Anacortes and Vancouver BC.  In 2008, Maria was part of a fact-finding delegation to Croatia sponsored by USAID to establish a twinning relationship between Tacoma and Opatija, just as their assistance to Croatia was coming to an end. In July of 2016, Maria was honored to sing the Croatian National Anthem, representing the Croatian National Tennis Team at the Davis Cup Quarterfinals held in Beaverton, Oregon, between USA and Croatia. (Croatia won the three-day tournament!)  She was awarded a Fellowship from the Washington State Arts Commission for her devotion to Croatian culture and continues as a guest instructor at schools and establishments in the Puget Sound area and out of state, teaching Croatian song and dance.

Maria served as Assistant Director of the Ethnic Heritage Council from 1995 to 2013, working with cultural groups in the Puget Sound area, showcasing them in multi-cultural events and festivals, including EthnicFest, WorldFest, Winter Worldfest and Cultural Crossroads. She published the monthly newsletters, completed grant applications, promoted the Council, produced cultural programs, workshops, awards ceremonies and festivals around the State, so it was a natural action for Maria and her mother Alma, then EHC Executive Director, to undertake the creation of CroatiaFest, and lead as co-coordinators for the first seven years. Their work and efforts were instrumental in establishing the ongoing event. Honorary Croatian Consul Frank Brozovich wrote to Alma in 2005 “What else can I say, other than thanks, it would not take place without you and Maria.”

She has been a participant in the July 4th Naturalization Ceremony at the Seattle Center since 1986, co-producing the event since 1994 with her mother Alma, City of Seattle, Seattle Center, US Citizenship and Immigration Services and the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. Each year she wears her favorite cultural dress from Konavle, Croatia and sings the US National Anthem. The ceremony encourages the hundreds of candidates to become USA citizens full-heartedly yet never forget the traditions of their homeland.

Maria has been an active member of VLCDE from the beginning, served as the Ensemble’s choir director and assistant director under Rick Horne, and serves as the Artistic Director since 1999. This year Maria’s hard work and determination brought about a joyous celebration on April 18, 2026, at St. Mark Catholic Church in Shoreline, Washington, in honor of the Ensemble’s 50th anniversary. She gathered 50 years of participants for several weeks of rehearsals, with a full schedule of both dance and vocal rehearsals, undertook all the production details, and reunited the Ružice Folk Choir, which had a huge impact on her childhood musical growth, culminating in an evening of celebration attended by over 200 guests with over 70 performers.

Maria is drawn to the homeland nearly every summer, spending time in Vela Luka and Župa Dubrovnik, visiting family and friends. For the past several summers, she and her teenage daughter, Marija Mila, have performed with Marko Marojica, the Župa Dubrovnik folk group her husband, Pasko Kesovija, performed with in his youth, which also celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Following each trip, Maria returns to the USA energized! 

In the VLCDE 50th Anniversary program Maria wrote:

“Today it is my great honor and it brings me great joy to gather old friends. I was young when THIS all began but I understood the value from the beginning. It was family. Something my family did with other families. Those that weren’t family, became family. My grandfather “dida”, George Franulovic danced, my mother and father, Alma and John Plancich danced, my brother, Matthew Plancich danced and I danced. And my cousins, and their cousins and their Croatian neighbors and their Croatian neighbors and their not Croatian neighbors… We learned songs, danced, laughed, loved and shared meals together. …  As I look around the room tonight, I see people, like me, who have carried on our cherished Croatian traditions. And seeing them also reminds me of the ones that are gone - grandparents, parents, the ones who left their homeland. We will continue walking in their footsteps carrying on the traditions of the homeland which they brought with them, shared with us all and taught us their value. This is how it all began. We carry on the traditions of our forefathers to preserve them for future generations. That is exactly what we are accomplishing.”

So, Maria, thank you for all you’ve done for our Croatian American diaspora. We can’t wait to see what you do next! 

Article by Berrie Martinis