Hrvatska Loza

Tamburitza-dance group Croatian Vines (Hrvatska Loza) was founded in 1979 in Chicago, under the sponsorship of the Croatian Cultural Center and Angel Guardian Church (today named Blessed Aloysius Stepinac mission), on the North side of Chicago. When the group was established, the main idea was to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Croatia, as well as to interest children, mostly born in the USA, in the original Croatian music and dances. Such a group would not only keep up Croatian musical tradition, but would also motivate children to learn Croatian and to explore Croatia and her natural beauty. All these goals are still alive, after more than twenty years of existence, due to the new generations that are joining the group each year.

At the very beginning, there were two groups, one for tamburitza and the other one for dancing. Soon thereafter, the founding fathers realized that they could only succeed if working together, so in 1982, the two groups merged and continued to exist under the name of Hrvatska Loza, still sponsored by the Center and the Church.

Croatian Vines consists of approximately 40 members, from age 8 through 18+. According to the age and abilities of members, the group is divided into beginning, intermediate, and performing group. The performing group has performed at different festivals in the Chicago area, in other parts of the United States, Canada, and Croatia.

The members of the group originate from various regions of Croatia and Bosnia and Hercegovina. Therefore, Loza tries to represent and introduce to American audiences most of these regions with their choreographies and costumes.