Oak Creek Resident In Croatian "Tamburitzan" Performance

An Oak Creek resident is part of the Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Duquesne University Tamburitzans, performing this weekend at Greendale High School.

Christine Tate is in her second year in the group. She started playing the "tamburitza" and dancing in a Croatian youth group at age 8, as did her two older brothers. Her mother and uncles also belonged to this youth group when they were children, which is what led her to audition for the DU Tamburitzans.

One of her uncles was also in the DU Tamburitzans in the late 1960s.

The troupe is a group of 34 full-time students that attend Duquesne University and major in everything from pharmacy to business, education and nursing. All the performers go through rigorous auditions to become part of the Tamburitzans.

The "tamburitza" is a native instrument from Croatia. They perform the music and dances of such cultures as Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania, Poland and Austria. The group promotes and perpetuates the cultures of Eastern Europe and its neighboring countries.

Musicians play instruments including mandolins, violins, upright bass, flute, clarinet, accordion, button box accordion, and large frame drum, to name a few. More than 400 original costumes are worn during a performance. 

The students perform about 80 shows throughout the school year, on weekends mostly on the East Coast. Every year they have a show on Broadway, and this year they performed there twice.

Tickets, $20 at the door, are still available.

Visit the group's official website for more information.