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Ivan "John" Filcich
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Ivan Petar "John" Filcich (Filčić) was born in Fiume, Italy, in 1924. The village is today called Rijeka in Croatia. When Ivan was born, the village was called Fiume, the post World War I "free city-state" which was later annexed by Italy. For his father it was in Hungary, for his grandfather it was in Austria, and even earlier the area was part of Napoleon's Illyrian Provinces.
In 1932, he immigrated to the United States when he was eight years old. His family settled in Gary, Indiana, the steel mill city with Croatian, Serbian, Polish, and other Slavic cultures and John had many years of experience with thier music. He later moved to Arizona.
In 1935, when his father gave him an old phonograph and a stack of Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian, and Serbian Records, his interest in international music was fostered. In 1941, Ivan's family left Gary, the huge European immigrant city, to Arizona for Ivan's health.
In 1946, the family moved again to California where Ivan saw foreign dancers in their native costumes. By 1947, Ivan was folk dancing every week in Oakland, California. With singleminded dedication, Ivan devoted himself to the study of the origin, history, dance, music, and language of his people. Then, in 1948, the International Institute of Oakland asked him to form a Yugoslavian dance group to perform at the Festival of Nations. He did even more, he formed two groups – Croatian and Serbian – and he was also dancing six nights a week!
Seeing a great need, he opened his first record shop in 1949 in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in Balkan and international music and folk dance records (he later opened another record shop in Los Angeles). That same year, he attended the College of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp in Stockton, California, which was later renamed the Stockton Folk Dance Camp.
This led to his teaching of Yugoslavian "kolo" (circle) dances at the camp and his subsequent founding of the San Francisco Kolo Festival. According to his niece, Sharen Skorup, "And my mother's brother, my Uncle Ivan, was in the music business and was into dancing. As a kid I worked in his record store in Oakland. Uncle Ivan started the whole Kolo movement here in the Bay Area back in 1940. He had a performing dance company of mostly Croatians. That was before I was born. In 1952, he started the Kolo Festival as a benefit for a friend and well-known folk dancer named Vyts Beliajus." The festival's name was later changed to the California Kolo Festival."
Ivan was a credited advisor on the feature documentary film "American Gypsy: A Stranger In Everybody's Land," written, produced, and directed by Jasmine Dellal. He spoke five languages. To his many folk dance friends, he was known as "Kolo John," a moniker that Millie von Konsky solidified in print in "Let's Dance" magazine in November, 1957.
Ivan, with his Festival Records label, was a principal supplier of folk dance recordings to North America and the world. His record shops, Slav-Art Music Center in Oakland, Festival Records in Los Angeles, and Festival Folk Shop in San Francisco, were must stops for folk danceers, square dancers, ethnic musicologists, and Roma from all over the world. Because of his life-long interest in the Rom (Gypsy) culture, he was often invited to their weddings, religious celebrations, and other community activities and was the North American supplier for Romani music, candles, and other items for many years.
Ivan was married in a ceremony in California and a traditional wedding in his home town, which included the buying of the bride. Although he divorced, he was very proud of his two children, Jana and Mark.
Ivan, on retirement, closed his shops. A big party with live music honoring Ivan was thrown in Los Angeles on November 11, 2000, with dancers and teachers, including Dick Oakes, flying in from around the country. Dick Crum, Ivan's long time friend, did the officiating. Naturally, Ivan led everyone in his favorite dance, Veliko Kolo. He had't given up selling records, though – you could still purchase some of your favorites visiting info@festival-records.net. Also, Ivan constructed a website, www.festival-records.net.
On March 20 and 21, 2004, "From the Heart: A Musical Tribute to "Kolo" John Filčicć" took place at the Harold M. Williams Auditorium, J. Paul Getty Center, Los Angeles, California. Some of L.A.'s finest Eastern European folk musicians paid homage to "Kolo" John. Performers included the Yeseta Brothers Tamburica Orchestra, Tzvetanka and Ivan Varimezova, and the Gypsy Roma Band.
In 2005, Ivan received the National Folk Organization's "Preserving Our Legacy Award."
CRONOLOGY
- June 26, 1924 – Born in Pehlin, a village outside of Rijeka, Croatia (then Flume, Italy).
- June 5, 1931 – At age seven, came to America. Father already in Gary, Indiana many years preparing the way.
- June 26, 1941 – At age seventeen, went to Arizona alone for reasons of health.
- 1946 – Worked for Southern Pacific Railroad (SP); transferred to central California, Coast route.
- 1946 – Convinced parents to move from Gary to Oakland, California; quit work after four years with SP.
- 1948 – Formed the "Yugoslav Folk Dancers" club and exhibition group.
- 1949 – Opened first record shop in Oakland featuring international and folk dance records.
- 1949 – First year at the Stockton Folk Dance Camp.
- 1951 – First year teaching kolos at Stockton; taught for 15 years straight.
- 1952 – Started the first Kolo Festival in San Francisco.
- 1956 – Sponsored both Tanec and "KOLO" ensembles in Oakland and Fresno.
- 1958 – Bought Ed Kremers' Folkshop and moved it to 161 Turk St. in San Francisco.
- 1962 – Finally cured of respiratory ailment after twenty-two years.
- 1962 – First trip to native Croatia after thirty-one years in America.
- 1964 – Moved to Los Angeles, California, buying out the Greek music store and adding folk dance and international music.
- 1975 – Married Kay Tovell.
- 1978 – Daughter Jana born.
- 1980 – Son Mark born.
- 1995 – Last of the three walk-in record shops closed and operated out of a warehouse-workshop.
- April 2000 – Featured as cover story in Folk Dance Scene.
- 2004 – The Getty center honored Ivan with concerts by Yseta Brothers, Tzvetanka and Ivan Varimezovi, Gypsy Roma, and St. Anthony's Tamburica on his 80th birthday. The event was hosted by Dick Crum.
- 2008 – A video called "John (Ivan) Filcich, Life in the Circle Dance" was made of him and his contributions to folk dance.
- 2014 – For his 90th birthday, two parties were held for Ivan.
- 2022 – Moved from Los Angeles to Arcata, California, where he now lives.
- 2026 – John passed away.
Among John's publications, articles, and dance record syllabi are
- Igra Kolo: Dance Kolos with John Filcich. Oakland, 1953.
- "Kolo Lines." Viltis, XXI, No. 2 (1962), 12.
- Dance Instructions. Kolo Party Record, FLP 1505.
- "The Krsna Slava, Symbol of Serbian Family Unity." Viltis, XIII (1954), 8-9.
- "Prekid kolo." Viltis, XX, No. 3 (1961), 16.
- Sing and dance the kolo - a songbook. Vol. 1. San Francisco, California: Kolo Festival, 1966.
Dances John taught include
Ajd noga za nogama,
Armenian Misirlou,
Belo lence,
Bertchesgadner Bayerischer Polka,
Bibersko kolo,
Biserka,
Bitoljka,
Bojarka (Biserka),
Bunjevačko rokoko kolo,
Čačak,
Čačansko kokonješte kolo,
Čarlama,
Cigansko horo (Ciganskoto),
Ciocârlanul,
Clap and Turn (Polka),
Coprnice,
Couple Drmeš,
Couple Hasapiko,
Croatian Medley,
Čuješ mala,
Čuješ mala-Šušu mile,
Ćukaričko kolo,
Čukaričko kokonješte kolo,
Ćuperlika,
Dajčevoto,
Debki Zaroura,
Dimke ela dimke,
Dirlada,
Divna divna,
Djurdjevka kolo,
Drhtavac,
Drmeš,
Drmeš Circle,
Drmeš Couple,
Drmeš for Threes,
Drmeš for Fours,
Drmeš No. 2,
Drmeš iz Velika Gorica,
Drmeš Medley,
Eleno Mome,
Epirotiko,
Erdeljanka,
Ersko kolo,
Gae Gordons,
Gaitani,
Grigoro Hasapiko,
Haj haj bože daj,
Hajd' na lijevo,
Hasapikos,
Hiotiko Syrto,
Homoljanka,
Hora pe Gheața,
Horom Horom,
Hrvatsko,
Idam ne Idam,
Igrale se delije,
Jeftanovićevo kolo,
Jesam li ti jelane,
Jovano Jovanke,
Karagouna,
Karsi Bar,
Kasapsko horo,
Kastorianos,
Keleruj,
Kiša pada,
Kokonješte kolo,
Kolo kalendara (Kalendara kolo),
Kopačka,
Kostursko oro,
Kozačko kolo,
Kraljevo kolo,
Krecavi Ketuš,
Kriči kriči tiček,
Kritiko Sytro,
La Bastringue,
Laz Bar,
Lepa Mmaca,
Lepa moja milena,
Ličko kukunješte (Klub kolo),
Ličko kolo,
Makedonka kolo,
Makedonska devojče,
Makedonsko devojčko kolo,
Malo kolo,
Mangupsko kolo,
Marice kolo,
Milanovo kolo,
Misirlou,
Mista,
Mitilineikos horos,
Moldavian Hora,
Moravac (U šest koraka),
Narodno horo,
Natilijino kolo,
Nebesko kolo,
Neda Grivne,
Neda voda nalivala,
Niška banja,
Oficirsko kolo,
Pentozali,
Pljeskavac kolo,
Pljeskavac kolo (with claps),
Pok-Šotiš,
Polomka,
Pompouri,
Posavski Drmeš I,
Posavski Drmeš II,
Posavski Ples,
Poskakuša,
Poskok,
Pravo Makedonsko oro,
Predaričko kolo,
Prekid kolo,
Prsten me padna,
Radikalka kolo,
Razgranjala,
Rezijanka I,
Rezijanka II,
Robin Ddiog,
Rokoko kolo,
Rukavica,
Rumunjsko kolo,
Ruzmarin,
Šano dušo,
Sarajevka,
Šareni čorapi,
Sarent Chargu,
Savamalsko kolo,
Savila se bela loza,
Seljančica,
Selsko oro,
Serbian Medley I,
Šetnja,
Šilovaško oro,
Sirdes,
Slavjanka,
Slavonsko kolo,
Șobolanul,
Splitske igre,
Srbijanka,
Srpkinja kolo,
St. Gilgen Figurentanz,
Stara vlaina,
Šumadijsko kolo,
Šušu mile,
Swiss Circle Mixer,
Syrtos,
Tamburica Polka,
Tamzara,
Teško oro,
Then Irthe Mais,
Ti momo,
Tin Tin,
Trava Trava,
Trgovačko kolo,
Tri godini,
Triglav Waltz,
Trite pŭti,
Triglav Waltz,
Trojanac,
Tropnalo oro,
Tsamikos,
U šest (Moravac),
Veliko kolo (Ivan's signature dance),
Zabaljka,
Zaplet kolo,
Zetsko kolo,
Žikino kolo,
and
Zwiefacher.
"Life in the Circle Dance" |
John and Dick Oakes, 2014 |
John Filcich in Scene, 2014 |
John Filcich, 2014 |
John Filcich, 2024 |
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From the Heart: A Musical Tribute to John Filcich, March 20-21, 2004
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John's 1979 Festival Records catalog
(For historical information only)