Željko Jergan
Željko is a renowned choreographer and teacher throughout the world. Since moving to the United States in 1986, Željko has created over 450 original choreographies for 95 different amateur, semi-professional, and professional ensembles, including Les Sortileges, Brigham Young University, Radost Folk Ensemble and the Duquesne University Tamburitzans.
When he's not researching and creating new choreographies, Željko stays extremely busy working with the international folk dance community, where he is in demand for his in-depth knowledge and style in teaching Croatian folk dancing. He has traveled extensively both domestically and abroad, conducting folk dance seminars and workshops in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Taiwan.
Željko has made a significant contribution to the American and 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 Kraljica Jelena Folklore Ensemble, Kitchener, Ontario and Hrvatsko Selo, Hamilton, Ontario.
He is the artistic director for the Folklore Ensemble Hrvatski Tanac and Jadran Junior Tamburitzans, St. Anthony's Folklore Ensemble of Los Angeles and the Koraci Ensemble of San Jose, CA.
Željko continually strives to elevate the level of authenticity and presentation of these ensembles, which continuously showcases their culture at the highest level among amateur ensembles.
A native of Varaždin, Croatia, Željko 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.
Željko was selected to serve as the Guest Conductor for the 2009 Croatian Fraternal Union Junior Tamburitza Festival held in Chicago, Illinois.
Ashley Ellis
Ashley is the Music Director for the Jadran Junior Tamburitzans. She has been singing, playing and dancing her way throughout junior tamburitza groups since the age of 4. Along with directing Jadran, Ashley assists with the Trafford Junior Tamburitzans and Slavjane Folk Ensemble of McKees Rocks.
She was accepted into the Duquesne University Tamburitans where she spent 4 years as a featured instrumental performer. Ashley graduated in 2008 from Duquesne University with a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education. She is employed as a teacher. She also spends a few afternoons a week working for the YMCA after school program. Along with her love of teaching, Ashes has a passion for running in marathons.
Charles Faltenovich
Charles, a current student at Duquesne University and a Jadran Alumnus, has been assisting the teaching staff of Jadran for the past three years. His area of expertise is teaching music theory to students. He has been trained at Duquesne University’s City Music Center in eurhythmics, theory and musicianship. Charles plays piano, trombone and many of the instruments in the tamburitza family.
Beth Stafura
Beth is in our assistant dance instructor and choreographer for the Jadran Junior Tamburtizans, and has also contributed her talents to several other junior ensembles. Beth graduated from Duquesne University in 1998 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies and continued on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Corporate Communications in 2000. She was also a member of the Duquesne University Tamburitzans, where she played tambura, sang, and primarily danced for four years.
Beth not only has desire and passion for the Tamburitzan culture and dance, but has also studied classically in tap, ballet and jazz since the age of five. As a youngster, she performed with the Junior Tamburitzans of Duquesne and the North Hills Junior Tamburitzans. She has been a member of the BMNECC Bulgarian ensemble, the Pittsburgh Slovakians and Folklore Ensemble KUMOVI. She is also the choreographer for Trafford Junior Tamburitzans. She has also had the privilege of being a dance instructor for the Duquesne University Tamburitzans, and instructed character dancing at Laurel Youth Ballet and Allegro Dance Academy.