The Dance & Non-Verbal Theatre Festival Svetvinčenat was a unique cultural event organized by the Zagreb Dance Company from 2000 to 2024. Over the course of its 25 editions, the Festival established itself as a beloved gathering place for dance professionals and enthusiasts who came to Svetvinčenat each year to experience a rich international program. The Festival featured contemporary dance, physical theatre, mime, circus and street performances, as well as educational seminars and workshops.

The Festival hosted over 320 artistic works by domestic and international companies, built strong and lasting cooperation with the local community, and significantly contributed to the cultural landscape of Istria and Croatia. It also initiated the opening of the Svetvinčenat Cultural Center, whose spaces later became home to the programming of the Mediterranean Dance Center (MPC), and consistently attracted a wide and diverse audience.

The Festival's goals – presenting recent international and local dance productions, educating new generations of audiences, promoting intercultural dialogue and transnational mobility, fostering creativity and solidarity – were systematically realized, leaving a meaningful impact on both artists and audiences.

Among the many cultural events offered in Istria during the summer, the Festival claimed a prominent place: it revitalized the dance scene, contributed to its decentralization, and built a strong brand, becoming a synonym for contemporary dance.

Although the Festival concluded its journey in 2024, its energy and values live on through the mediteranskiplesnicentar.hr, which will continue to develop year-round dance activities and create new opportunities for artists and audiences alike. Dance in Svetvinčenat is not ending – it is evolving, ready to embrace the future.