Meet the Team
Get to know the dedicated team bringing our Balkan heritage to life and creating opportunities for the next generation to learn, grow, and lead.
Eldina Kolenovic
Behind every thriving community organization is an operational powerhouse, and for KUD Sandžačka Omladina (KSO), that driving force is me. As a busy mother of two and a business owner, I wear many hats, seamlessly balancing family and enterprise with my role as the business mastermind behind KSO. While I am not out on the dance floor teaching steps, I am the anchor working entirely behind the scenes—managing event coordination, handling payments and membership logistics, and overseeing all the administrative details that keep our organization moving forward smoothly.
Beyond my operational leadership, I am a deeply passionate advocate for KSO because of the incredible, enriching benefits it brings to my own children. I cherish how the program instills a lifelong connection to our cultural heritage, builds unbreakable bonds of friendship and teamwork with other youth in the diaspora, and fosters personal confidence and discipline. Through my unwavering dedication, business acumen, and love for our community, I am proud to help ensure that KSO continues to flourish as a cherished cultural home for the next generation.
Elmedina Radoncic
I am Elmedina Radoncic, a proud coach at KSO who has lived and breathed traditional folklore for over a decade. When I am not in the studio sharing our cultural heritage, I spend my days shaping young minds as a first & second-grade teacher, holding a Bachelor's degree in grades 1-6 education and a Master's degree in special education. My background in teaching allows me to bring patience, structure, and genuine care into every rehearsal, creating a space where our dancers feel safe to learn and grow.
There is nothing quite like the unmatched joy I feel when I watch a student slowly open up, shed their shyness, and transform into a confident performer. Seeing them find their voice and build self-assurance takes me right back to my own childhood, reminding me of the quiet, reserved girl I once was and how folklore helped me come out of my shell. I am so passionate about guiding them through that exact same journey, and I am beyond excited to welcome all of our students in for another amazing season together!
Aila Lalicic
I am Aila, and I have been immersed in traditional folklore dancing since I was six years old, a lifelong passion that inspired me to found KUD Sandžačka Omladina. Having spent the last five years teaching folklore and working with our youth, I find profound fulfillment in guiding our dancers and helping them connect with their roots. Outside of dance, I am pursuing my career in early education, bringing my dedication to nurturing and teaching young minds into everything I do. My deepest driving force is a passion for preserving our rich traditions while giving back to the community that once raised me.
Above all, for me, KSO carries the enduring spirit and legacy of my father, who was my ultimate champion and KSO’s biggest supporter. Keeping his memory alive fuels my daily drive to grow and elevate our dance community.
I am so excited to welcome every dancer with open arms into our family and help make folklore a cherished, lifelong part of your journey