International Folk Dance Association   of University City presents . . .
	Past Event Page  •  IFDA Home Page

Dances from Croatia
a workshop taught by 
Zeljko Jergan
with live music by the tamburitza band 
Becari

March 14 - 16, 2003
University City (St. Louis), Missouri

The music and dance of Croatia represents a variety of influences, including Slavic, Mediterranean, Central European, Balkan, and Oriental; yet has a distinct style with a particular appeal.  These line and circle dances will spin you, bounce you, and have you kicking up your heels.  No prior experience is required, and no partner is needed.  The fantastic Saturday night dance party will feature live music by the Becari tamburitza band.

Schedule and Prices

A weekend workshop package is available for $50 including the Saturday lunch and dinner banquet, or $35 without the lunch or dinner.  Either package includes all five workshop sessions, the dance party, and drinks and snacks.  For those who prefer not to buy the package, individual sessions and the dance party may be paid for at the door (see schedule for prices).  The Saturday lunch and dinner may also be ordered individually, but reservations must be received by Monday, March 10. You may use the registration form to make reservations.

There is a 20% discount for attendees of ages 10-18.  Children under 10 are free but must be accompanied by a parent.

Sunday Lunch:  On Sunday, workshop participants can purchase a lunch prepared by St. Joseph's Church, featuring Croatian food.  The price is $6, not included in the package deal, and is to be paid directly to the church.

About the Teachers and Musicians

• Zeljko Jergan (pronounced "zhel-ko yer-gahn") is a renowned choreographer and teacher throughout the world.  Since moving to the United States in 1986, he has created over 350 original choreographies for 70 different amateur, semi-professional and professional ensembles, including Les Sortileges, Brigham Young University, Radost Folk Ensemble and the Duquesne University Tamburitzans.  When he is not researching and creating new choreographies, Zeljko stays extremely busy working with the international folk dance community, where he is in popular demand for his depth and style in teaching Croatian folk dancing.  He has traveled extensively both domestically and abroad, and has been featured at folk dance seminars and workshops in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Taiwan.

Zeljko has made a significant contribution to the Canadian Croatian folklore community, where he has been sought year after year to create original new choreographies for both the eastern and western Canadian Croatian Folklore Festivals.  He also serves as artistic director for the Kraljica Jelena Folklore Ensemble of Kitchener, Ontario, and the Croatian Village Folklore Ensemble of Hamilton, Ontario, in which he continually strives to elevate the level of authenticity and presentation of those ensembles.  He is also the artistic director for the folklore ensemble Hrvatski Tanac and the Kumovi Adult Ensemble of Pittsburgh, and the St. Anthony's Folklore Ensemble of Los Angeles.

A native of Varazdin, Croatia, Zeljko was a leading performer with the Croatian National Folk Ensemble Lado for twelve years.  He also performed with the Zagreb National Ballet and Modern Dance Companies for several years.  He is a graduate of the Varazdin School of Music and the Cakovec School of Architecture, and worked under the tutelage of Milica Glavocic Pininsky, a consultant to the Zagreb Ethnographic Museum.  Zeljko has received two full fellowship grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in support of his artistic work.

• Becari (pronounced "beh-char-ee") is a six-member tamburitza band from St. Louis, formed in 1974.  Tamburitzas are a family of fretted, steel-stringed, plucked acoustic instruments frequently used in playing the music of several countries in southeastern Europe, particularly the South Slavic lands that comprised the former Yugoslavia.  The members of the Becari band are:  Ken Ban on Prim, John Amich on Brac, Mike Katich on Brac, Joe Barry on Celo, Nick Garcia on Bugarija, and Tim Katich on Bass.  Most of the band members began playing as part of the Junior Tamburitzans of St. Louis.  Becari has played for many local ethnic festivals, church dances, picnics, parties, weddings, and other events.  The group has been a featured performer for The Tamburitza Association of America from 1974 to the present and for the American Slavic Association.  Its repertoire includes music and songs handed down from the members' grandparents and from other local Tamburitza players.

• To hear examples of the type of dance music that will be featured at this workshop, tune in to Music from the Hills on Saturdays from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on radio station KDHX, 88.1 FM in St. Louis.  The program is co-hosted by IFDA members John Uhlemann and Gitry Heydebrand, and will be presenting Croatian music on March 8 and 15.  You can also listen online -- see KDHX's web site at www.kdhx.org.

Made possible by grants from

Locations

Church of the Holy Communion (Friday and Saturday):  7401 Delmar Blvd., University City, Missouri.  The church is on the northwest corner of Delmar and Jackson (see map).  Park on either street and enter through the red double door in the middle of the L-shaped building.

St. Joseph's Croatian Church (Sunday):  2112 12th Street, St. Louis, MO (12th Street is also called Tucker Blvd.).  This is on the southeast corner of 12th and Russell (see Yahoo! Interactive Map).  Suggested route from the east:  Take I-55 South almost to I-44, take 12th/Gravois exit ramp which goes in a circle leading to 12th Street heading south, keep to the left to stay on 12th Street, and continue a few blocks to Russell.  Suggested route from the west:  Take I-64 (US 40) East or I-44 East to Jefferson, go right (south) on Jefferson to Russell, and go left (east) on Russell to 12th.  Suggested route from the south:  Take I-55 North almost to I-44, get off at Gravois/Russell, and go right (east) on Russell to 12th.  Directions will also be available at the Saturday sessions.

Other Information

Joan Amsterdam of International Folk Rhythms, Ltd. will be selling ethnic recordings, books, clothing and accessories, and crafts on Friday and Saturday.

Crash Space is available.  Please call Diana Blanchard at 314-726-5737.

For Other Information: Contact Gitry Heydebrand (E-mail gitry@aol.com, phone 314-863-1825 between 5 and 9 p.m.), or John or Barbara Uhlemann (E-mail BUhlemann@aol.com, phone 314-726-5838 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.).

Views and opinions expressed on this page are strictly those of the International Folk Dance Association of University City, which is not sponsored by or otherwise connected with Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.