Nika Lilek
Nika Lilek was born in Slovenia in 1990 and has lived in Zagreb since childhood. She started dancing at a very early age at the dance studio Modus and later graduated from the sports gymnasium and high school for classical ballet. As a member of Modus from 1999-2011, she competed in modern and show dance styles and won numerous awards, and later became a member of the Croatian show dance representation and a dance judge in HSDS. In 2009, she completed an intensive program at the Alvin Ailey Academy in New York, where she also attended classes at the 'Steps on Broadway' and 'Broadway dance center studios. After returning to Zagreb, she worked as a dance pedagogue in Modus and started collaborating with the Zagreb Dance Company, of which she became a member in 2014. In 2017, Nika left the Company to become a dancer in Rijeka's Croatian National Theater ballet ensemble. In 2019 she joined the Kibbutz contemporary dance company ensemble in Israel. During her career, she collaborated with many artists, including S.Zurovac, M. Kolar, A. Foniadakis, M. Bigonzetti, G. Spota, M. Ferlin, and others. She co-authors two dance pieces; the duet "NN" with Nastija Chesun and the solo "Fae" with Michal Vach. As part of the Dance Journey program, under the guidance of the Kibbutz Contemporary dance company, she created "This Did Something To Me." Nika actively researches, creates, and works as a mentor to young dancers. In August 2022, she returned to Croatia to continue her journey as a freelance artist. In 2023, she renews her collaboration with Zagreb Dance Company, joining as a dancer in Gran Bolero by Jesus Rubio Gamo.
