Current instructors:
Julia Knihnicky Kordesich
Julia began her dancing career with the School of the Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in Philadelphia, PA at age 3 and continued on in the Ensemble for the next 20 years. Starting at age 16. she taught Ukrainian dance to children from 3 years to 18 years of age. Once Julia graduated from Abington Senior High School, she attended Duquesne University Tamburitzans. There, she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Chemistry as well as her Master's degree in Secondary Science Education. During this time, she taught for various junior Tamburitzans groups, including the Junior Tamburitzans of Duquesne and the Golden Triangle Tamburitzans. Following graduate school, Julia had the opportunity to choreograph for the Duquesne University Tamburitzans for three consecutive seasons.
Ashley Ellis Spencer
Ashley graduated in 2008 from Duquesne University, were she received a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She is now teaching kindergarten and pre-K at the Pumpkin Patch Preschool and Kindergarten in Moon Township. After four years of preforming with the Duquesne University Tamburitzans, she has been teaching several Junior Tamburitzans groups. She taught Trafford Junior Tamburitzans from 2006-2013 as their junior and senior music director. At the age of 4, Ashley started preforming with the Jadran Junior Tamburitzans of Aliquippa, Pa. She continued with them for 14 years, graduating in 2004, and is now in her eighth year of instructing. After eight years of performing with the Slavjane Folk Ensemble, Ashley joined the family of directors as their assistant instructor for "just about anything." Along with prim, Ashley has learned to pay Brac, Bugarija, bass, dorm, Bulgarian Tambura, baglamas, and several other percussion instruments. She is currently a member of BMNECC "Otets Paissii" Bulgarian Folk Ensemble, Sevdah Adult and Sveti Nikola groups.
Past Directors, Choreographers, and Instructors