Aleksandra Saša Broz (born 19 October 1968) is a Croatian theatre and television director. She has worked for several theatres in Croatia and one in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Family and education

Saša Broz is the daughter of diplomat Mišo Broz and granddaughter of the Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito and Herta Haas. She was born and educated in

Zagreb Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital and largest city of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb stands near the international border between Croatia and Slov ...

. She became interested in

classical ballet Classical ballet is any of the traditional, formal styles of ballet that exclusively employ classical ballet technique. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as pointe work, turnout of the legs, and high extensions), it ...

in early childhood, which her parents discouraged. With the support of her grandfather Tito, who was close to her and involved in her upbringing, she nevertheless enrolled into a ballet school. Broz received graduate and postgraduate degrees from the

Moscow State Academy of Choreography The Moscow State Academy of Choreography (russian: Московская государственная академия хореографии), commonly known as The Bolshoi Ballet Academy, is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools of ball ...

, but a foot injury ended her ballet career, and she returned to Croatia. She took up studying

theatre directing A theatre director or stage director is a professional in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production such as a play, opera, dance, drama, musical theatre performance, etc. by unifying various endeavors a ...

at the

Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb The Academy of Dramatic Art ( hr, Akademija dramske umjetnosti or ADU) is a Croatian drama school. Since its inception in 1896, the institution grew in prominence resulting in its successful affiliation with the University of Zagreb in 1979, along ...

, and started her career as a director already in her second year of studies.

Career

Broz has worked for a number of theatres in Zagreb, including the Croatian National Theatre and

Gavella Drama Theatre Gavella Drama Theatre ( hr, Gradsko dramsko kazalište Gavella) is a Croatian theatre which is situated in Zagreb, in Frankopanska Street. The theatre opened on October 30, 1954 as the successor of "Helios" cinema which was founded and financed by ...

, as well as in

Velika Gorica Velika Gorica (; meaning "Great Vineyard/Forest") is the largest and most populous city in Zagreb County, Croatia. According to the 2011 census the city itself has a population of 31,341, while the municipality has a population of 63,517 inhabita ...

. She has also worked outside Croatia, most notably for the

Tuzla National Theatre Tuzla (, ) is the third-largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the administrative center of Tuzla Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, it has a population of 110,979 inhabitants. Tuzla is the economic, cultural, e ...

in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During her two-year-long tenure as intendant of the Istria National Theatre in Pula, the theatre received awards at festivals in Italy and Montenegro. The city authorities terminated her position in 2006. Broz sued them, claiming that their decision was politically motivated. She also directed the 50th

Pula Film Festival Pula Film Festival ( hr, Pulski filmski festival) is an annual Croatian film festival, established in 1954. It is held in a Roman amphitheater known as the Pula Arena. Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival and is usually held ...

Croatian Radiotelevision ''Hrvatska radiotelevizija'' (abbr. HRT), or Croatian Radiotelevision, is Croatia's public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite. HRT is divided into thr ...

has employed her as the director of synchronization for

animated films Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most ani ...

. The 2013 decision to name Broz director of opera at the

Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka The Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka (Croatian: Hrvatsko narodno kazalište Ivana pl. Zajca Rijeka. Italian: Teatro Nazionale Croato Ivan de Zajc), commonly referred to as HNK Zajc, is a theatre, opera and ballet house located in ...

was criticized by some cultural workers, including Darko Lukić and

Slobodan Šnajder Slobodan Šnajder (; born 8 July 1948) is a Croatian writer and publicist. Šnajder was born in 1948 in Zagreb, where he graduated in philosophy and English studies from the Faculty of Philosophy. He was co-founder and editor of the theatre jou ...

, who stated that she had no training or experience in opera directing.

Personal life

Saša Broz was married to actor Ranko Zidarić from 1994 until their divorce in 2000. They have a daughter. In 2006, Saša and Mišo Broz

trademark A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services from a particular source and distinguishes them from othe ...

ed the name and signatures of Josip Broz Tito; Saša said the intent was to preserve her grandfather's dignity.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Broz, Sasa 1968 births Living people Croatian theatre directors Croatian television directors Croatian women theatre directors Women television directors Moscow State Academy of Choreography alumni Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb alumni Theatre people from Zagreb Croatian people of Slovenian descent