SADDLE BROOK, N.J. – America’s premier international folk ensemble, the Tamburitzans from Pittsburgh, will perform a concert at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 23, at Clifton High School.
Year after year, the Tamburitzans dazzle audiences across the country with elaborate costumes and incredibly versatile musicians, singers and dancers. The talented young performers are full-time students.
The heart of the group’s repertoire is music, songs and dances from Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.
The Clifton concert of this acclaimed song and dance folk troupe, which hasn’t visited northern New Jersey in many years, is being sponsored by Holy Apostles Orthodox Church in Saddle Brook, N.J.
“We’re so blessed to be able to sponsor such a group of this magnitude,” said Father Matthew Brown, pastor. “The concert will offer a fascinating, musically varied program with a chance to learn more about the rich tradition of ethnic folk music.”
Dancing her way across America
While other college kids are enjoying summer fun activities, Anastasiya Kaspruk from Colonia, N.J., will be at the Tamburitzans’ production camp, learning new songs in foreign languages, playing a Balkan instrument called a prim and learning new steps to new dances representing an intriguing assembly of international cultures.
The Tamburitzans are the longest-running multicultural song and dance company in the United States. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, the company’s members are full-time students who receive scholarships for their activities.
Romanian (Moldavian) Carnivale set.
A 21-year-old student entering her senior year as part of a six-year pharmacy program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Ms. Kaspruk will be beginning her fourth year as a “Tammie.” For the last three years, she has studied during the school year and performed across America in her “off” time.
Ms. Kaspruk emigrated from Ukraine when she was 7 and belonged to various Ukrainian folk groups while growing up. She was looking for a school with a good pharmacy program, and joining the Tamburitzans was a plus.
“I really enjoy learning new cultures and new languages and I’ve met fantastic people through it,” said Ms. Kaspruk.
Tickets to the Clifton performance of the Tamburitzans are available for purchase at www.talentshadows.events for $35 in advance and at the door the day of the performance for $40. For information, call 973-460-0243, e-mail [email protected], or check the website www.holyapostlesnj.org. and click on Tamburitzans.
Clifton High School is located at 333 Colfax Ave., Clifton, NJ 07013.