THEATER MUSIC

He started work in the field of theater music when he was eighteen at the Dadov Theater for the rock musical "Archangels and Automates" and won an award for music. That was also officially the first Yugoslav rock musical. His first professional work was with Branko Plesa in performances "Mravinjak" ("Anthill"), "Samar" ("The Slap") and later on "Lorencaco" at the Yugoslav Drama Theater (Jugoslovensko Dramsko Pozoriste).

He has made music for all of the Belgrade theaters and for many others in the country. A special experience was in Lane Gutovic's "Kabare" with whom he envisioned the cast of the cabaret and toured for several years with the complete troop throughout Yugoslavia. What followed was the establishment of a cabaret scene at the Yugoslav Drama Theater joined by Irfan Mensur, actor and director, with his cabaret and the band "The Kuguars".

Sanja wrote music both for Irfan and the Kuguars. This period of work in the world of theater and cooperation with director Irfan Mensur made an essential breakthrough in the musical concept of Sanja Ilic nearing his melodies and orchestration towards the influences of the Balkan regions. Some of the songs from the performances have become super hits as is the case with "The Blue Bird" from the performance at the ugoslav Drama Theater bearing the same name. For this music Sanja Ilic was nominated for the Belgrade City October Awards. Irfan Mensur, director of the play, also wrote the lyrics for the songs "Nizinski" and "The Blue Bird".

...Deep.... deeper...even more deeper
...I sink into the blue...even bluer...

SPECIAL: SANJA & Balkanika in concerts