Nijemo Kolo is a silent dance originating from the Dalmatian hinterland in southern Croatia

Croatia

Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...

. In 2011 it was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

Description

The Nijemo Kolo is performed by a group forming a closed circle with the men leading their female partners in quick, fortuitous steps which are often vigorous and daunting. The most noticeable aspect of the dance is that it performed entirely without music.

Today, Nijemo Kolo continues to be performed by local village groups and can be seen in festivals, competitions, fairs, church celebrations, and weddings.