Friday, September 14, 2007
Ethnic Dance Chicago + Chicago World Music Festival
When: Friday, September 14, 2007 - 8pm-midnite (or later)
What: Live Music Balkan Dance Party with two bands:
- Chris Bajmakovich & Muzika 4 U with Ljupco Milenkovski (Macedonian, Bulgarian & Balkan) and
- Joe Kirin with T-Rroma (Croatian, Serbian & Balkan)
- 7:00pm-8:00pm - Dance Lesson w/live music
- 8:00pm-midnite (or later) Live Balkan Music Dance Party
Where: Chicago Lavtian Cultural Center, 4146 N Elston Ave (entrance on Hamlin-3800W), Chicago, IL 60618, (NW Side),
Cost: $12.00 general admission, $8.00 full-time students & kids under 12
Additional Information: (773)-463-2288, info@ethnicdance.net
Directions to Latvian Center: www.ethnicdance.net/directions_latviancenter.html
Chris Bajmakovich & Muzika 4 U (Highland, IN)
Chris Bajmakovich is a Macedonian-American, whose parents are from Bitola and Ohrid, began studying music at the age of five and continued formal music training for the next twelve years. His main instrument is accordion, though he is also well-versed on tarabuka (doumbek) and other drums, clarinet and singing. Chris plays professionally with his band Muzika 4 U for many different functions, primarily for the Macedonian and Serbian communities in the Chicagoland area as well as in Detroit, Indiana and Ohio. He also teaches accordion privately, and has been featured on several recordings, including two of his own. Chris excels as a vocalist, accordionist and as a composer, having written the incredibly emotive song, “Rakija i cigari”, that drives Balkan audiences crazy. He was part of Ilija Ampevski's critically acclaimed ensemble which wowed the audience at the 2004 Chicago World Music Festival and is in demand around the US.
Ljupco Milenkovski originally from Dracevo, Macedonia, moved to the U.S. in 1985. He made and learned to play his first wooden flute at the age of 10 years old. By the time he was 14, he had started playing kaval (open-ended flute) with the famed Macedonian musician, Mile Kolarov. About two years after he started playing kaval, he also started learning to play the gajde (bagpipe) from his father, Andreja Milenkovski. Between 1977 and 1985, Ljupco played traditional Macedonian dance music with Mile and other musicians for the "Kitke" Dance Ensemble in Dracevo. In recent years, Ljupco has taught himself to play the clarinet and saxaphone. He plays some of the more Macedonian and Southeastern European music with several ensembles in the Chicagoland & Northern Indiana areas including his own ensemble, "Sar Planina". Ljupco lives with his wife Linda and their two children, Andres and Dionaa in Merrillville, Indiana.
An energetic quintet performing Eastern European gypsy music, T-Rroma (Tamburitza Rroma) takes the audience on a jubilant journey with their strings and Slavic voices. Born out of the 2001 World Music Festival, T-Rroma made its debut at HotHouse in May 2002 and have delighted audiences with their fresh approach to traditional folk music ever since. Although T-Rroma, is based in the Chicago area, its musical roots and its fan base spread far beyond that city's boundaries. Its repertoire, which includes original as well as folk and modern compositions, is as rich and diverse as the culture of the Gypsy (or the preferred "Rom"), from which it takes its name. At every performance, therefore, T-Rroma takes its audience on a compelling worldwide journey that stretches from the Balkans to South America, punctuated from start to finish by everything from hushed and haunting ballads to powerful, pulsating Latin rhythms.