Zagreb, October 30, 2024 – In celebration of Croatian Ballet Day, the Croatian National Theatre (HNK) in Zagreb will host a special benefit concert for the Zagreb School of Classical Ballet on Saturday, November 2, starting at 10:00 a.m. This initiative, organized by the HNK and supported its principal sponsor, Mplus, aims to support the ballet school, which has been a cornerstone of Croatian ballet education for decades.
The Zagreb School of Classical Ballet, which suffered significant damage during the Zagreb earthquake and was subsequently displaced from its historic Ilirski Square location, now operates across several temporary sites. Throughout November and December, Mplus and the HNK will launch a call campaign to raise additional funds, ensuring students have the facilities they need to pursue their passion and develop their skills in a stable environment.
"Our school is the central institution for ballet education in Croatia and has nurtured many prominent artists, including Tomislav Petranović, Iva Vitić Gameiro, and Anamarija Marković – all current members of the HNK ballet ensemble," the school’s director, Martina Kralj, said. "The earthquake left us without adequate facilities, making it difficult for students to train properly. Ballet is a niche profession in Croatia, with a declining number of homegrown artists."
Focusing on young dancers
To shed light on the situation facing Croatian ballet and to foster young talent, the HNK will showcase the school's students on its main stage, alongside the HNK ballet soloists and ensemble.
"We are offering these young dancers the opportunity to take center stage as a tribute to their hard work and dedication," Iva Hraste Sočo, HNK Zagreb’s artistic director, said. "Though they often appear in minor roles in our productions, this concert allows us to highlight their talent and perseverance."
The concert will feature the youngest students demonstrating fundamental ballet steps, followed by a ballet class led by Mihaela Devald Roksandić. The program will also include an excerpt from The Nutcracker, with a Grand Pas de Deux performed by Rizumu Tanaka and Yuho Yoshioka.
In addition to the performance, Mplus will lead a call campaign throughout the remainder of the year to encourage the HNK’s ballet subscribers to donate to the Zagreb School of Classical Ballet.
"In Mplus, and across the BOSQAR INVEST group, we believe that art possesses a unique power to inspire and connect society. The dedication, discipline, and passion embodied by ballet dancers are qualities of excellence that our organization also strives to achieve in every area. This is why supporting this concert, dedicated to raising funds for the ballet school, is more than a gesture – it is an investment in the future of Croatian culture," Darko Horvat, Board Member of M Plus Croatia and CEO of BOSQAR d.d., said.
Tickets for the concert are available at the School of Classical Ballet, with sales held in the HNK atrium on October 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and on November 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Attendees may also contribute additional donations directly to a special account set up to support the school.
For further information, please contact the HNK Zagreb Box Office or visit the HNK website at https://bit.ly/4hj9ySN.
About Mplus:
Mplus is a leader in European Business Process and Technology Outsourcing (BPTO). It operates as part of the BOSQAR INVEST group, serving as its BPTO vertical, which includes the parent company, M Plus Croatia d.o.o, along with its subsidiaries.
As one of the first independent contact center service providers in the Adriatic region, Mplus successfully integrates dynamic industries such as contact centers, information technology, and employment services to address global challenges in customer support.
Through its innovative business model, Mplus has built a diverse portfolio of clients, including leading European and global telecommunications, financial, technology, energy, logistics, and consumer goods companies.
With operational centers across 42 sites in 15 countries, the Mplus community comprises more than 11,600 employees, delivering top-notch customer experiences in over 32 languages.
In addition to its presence in Croatia, Mplus operates in markets including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Germany, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Turkey.
Mplus also has a technology division, branded as Mtech, which brings together the tech companies within the BPTO group.
Mtech’s wide range of products, services, and consulting solutions are carefully designed to transform how companies interact with their customers and manage their processes, offering cutting-edge tools to enhance customer experience, optimize operations, and embrace digital transformation.
About BOSQAR INVEST:
BOSQAR INVEST (BOSQAR d.d., together with its subsidiaries) is a European leader that operates in the industries of business process and technology outsourcing, information technology, employment services (HR), eCommerce, and food.
With an innovative business model, BOSQAR INVEST accelerated its expansion on the market with intensive organic growth and an M&A platform. Through its buy-and-build strategy, it has acquired 57 companies since 2016. BOSQAR INVEST is focused on improving the profitability and operations of each of its acquired companies through its standardized operational models that result in significant organic growth of all companies inside the Group and the Group itself.
Today, BOSQAR INVEST operates through four business verticals: the BPTO business vertical (brand: Mplus), the HR business vertical (brands: Manpower and Workplace), the eCommerce business vertical (brand: Eplus ventures), and the food business vertical. All business verticals are focused on shareholder value creation through a commitment to best practices in digitalization, structured key accounts management programs, rigorous financial stability and cash management, strong and dedicated management teams, and a focus on results.
In its ownership structure, BOSQAR INVEST brings together pension funds, institutional investors, international private equity funds, development institutions, and private investors. The BOSQAR INVEST business community consists of over 13,800 employees, and the group provides its services to clients who, in addition to Croatia, do business in 57 countries around the world.
