The work of KUD “Tena” is divided into sections. The company has five dance, two tamburitza and one vocal section.
The dance sections are divided according to the age of the members. There are three children’s sections. The youngest section, “Zvončići” consists of members from 5 to 7 years of age. The middle section is “Pčelice”, which consists of members from 7 to 10 years of age. The oldest is the children’s section “Dukati”, which consists of members from 10 to 14 years of age.
The section of KUD FE “Slavonske kraljice” is representative. This section represents the Society at numerous festivals around the world. Members are 14 years of age and older.
The last dance section “Veterani” consists of former members of the representative ensemble who for various reasons can no longer be active members.
Tamburitza sections are divided according to the quality of playing. Members of the Society who have just started playing the tambourine and need to learn the basics of tamburitza music are members of the section “Tamburaška škola”. All other tamburitza players, who know the basics and can follow the work of all dance sections, are members of the “Tamburaški Orkestar” section.
In the Society there is also an exclusively vocal section “Bećarine” which consists of the oldest members, and who with a song represent their customs and their region.
The biggest reason for the long-term quality work of this Society is the system that allows children from an early age to learn to appreciate and present in the best light the cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia. The constant change of generations is something that this Society is most proud of and strives to do as well as possible.
FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE “ZVONČIĆI”
The program of the FE “Zvončići” seeks to teach students traditional songs, cars and games that suit their age, as well as to create a love of folklore from an early age. FE “Zvončići” regularly performs at the children’s annual concert and the joint Christmas concert of KUD “Tena” and at the most famous folklore event in Đakovo “Đakovački Vezovi”.
Rehearsals are held regularly on Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m.
Leader: Stjepan Juriša – Stjepan Juriša was born on September 11, 1956, and he began to live a folklore life in 1972 when he became a member of the KUD “Milica Križan”, where he is still an active member. He began his folklore work in KUD “Tena” in 2002 by taking over the leadership of two children’s ensembles – FE “Zvončići” and FE “Pčelice”. Special mention should be made of his work on restoring forgotten customs in Slavonian villages, the most important of which is the “babe i starci” custom in Vukojevci near Našice, where he (literally with his own hands) restored masks for the elderly and encouraged young people in the village to return to Vukojevci streets. Within his choreographic work, the following works should be highlighted: „Bijele koke s neba pale“, „Jedan krug jaje“, „Jedno jaje sladoled“, „Crvena kraljica jedan, dva, tri“ and „Hopa cupa skoči“.
FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE “PČELICE”
The program of the FE “Pčelice” is designed so that participants are taught folklore steps, performing songs and dances from Slavonia and various traditional games. FE “Pčelice” regularly performs at the children’s annual concert and joint Christmas concert of KUD “Tena” and at the most famous folklore event in Đakovo “Đakovački Vezovi”. In addition, during the year he regularly participates in performances and children’s festivals in Slavonia, but also in Croatia. By combining playing, singing and mastering the techniques of dance steps, participants gain a strong basis for continuing folklore activities in older groups, especially in FE “Dukati”.
Rehearsals are held regularly on Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m.
Leader: Stjepan Juriša – Stjepan Juriša was born on September 11, 1956, and he began to live a folklore life in 1972 when he became a member of the KUD “Milica Križan”, where he is still an active member. He began his folklore work in KUD “Tena” in 2002 by taking over the leadership of two children’s ensembles – FE “Zvončići” and FE “Pčelice”. Special mention should be made of his work on restoring forgotten customs in Slavonian villages, the most important of which is the “babe i starci” custom in Vukojevci near Našice, where he (literally with his own hands) restored masks for the elderly and encouraged young people in the village to return to Vukojevci streets. Within his choreographic work, the following works should be highlighted: „Bijele koke s neba pale“, „Jedan krug jaje“, „Jedno jaje sladoled“, „Crvena kraljica jedan, dva, tri“ and „Hopa cupa skoči“.
FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE “DUKATI”
The folklore program they perform is appropriate for their age, and special attention is paid to improving the vocal and dance abilities of individuals. The program of the FE “Dukati” seeks to encourage a more serious approach to work and prepare members for more complex folklore choreography. FE “Dukati” regularly performs at the children’s annual concert and joint Christmas concert of KUD “Tena” and at the most famous folklore event in Đakovo “Đakovoki Vezovi”. In addition, during the year he regularly participates in performances and children’s festivals in Slavonia, but also in Croatia.
Rehearsals are held regularly on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m.
Mentor: Anemarija Jurišić – Anemarija Jurišić was born on June 2, 1985. Since childhood, in parallel with his schooling, he has been involved in folklore, and since 2001 he has been an active member of the FE “Slavonske kraljice”. As a prominent member of the representative ensemble “Slavonske kraljice”, she gets the opportunity for additional education in the field of folklore, so she attended several regional folklore seminars in Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem (Pannonian Zone Folklore Seminar). After several seminars and wanting to pass on knowledge to future generations, in 2003 she became the leader of FE “Dukati”, where she prepared many members for the transition to the representative ensemble “Slavonske kraljice”, and from 2007 to 2009 she was the leader of KUD “Kuševac” from Kuševac.
FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE “SLAVONSKE KRALJICE”
The program of the FE “Slavonske kraljice” includes many choreographies from all parts of the Republic of Croatia that proudly present the Croatian cultural heritage throughout the country and the world. This ensemble has represented Đakovo, Slavonia and the Republic of Croatia on many international stages – in Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Finland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Macedonia, Italy, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Mexico, USA, Russia…
Rehearsals are held regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:15 to 10:15 p.m.
Mentor: prof. dr. sc. Enrih Merdić. Enrih Merdić was born on December 30, 1962, and from the age of nine he began to spend his free time in cultural and artistic societies. He spent the most beautiful time of his youth in the KUD “Milica Križan” as an active dancer from 1971 to 1989. He got his first chance to pass on the folklore tradition to new members in 1981, and since then he has led KUDs in Josipovac, Ernestinovo, Čepin and Osijek (FE “Biseri Slavonije” and HKUD “Željezničar”). Since December 1985, he has been the artistic director and choreographer of RKUD “PIK Đakovo”, later renamed KUD “Tena” FE “Slavonske kraljice”. Along with leading, he is also engaged in choreographic work, for which he was educated at various seminars and folklore schools. The basic purpose of the whole school was to send candidates to the village to collect folklore material at the source. Thus, since 1986, Merdić has been intensively collecting folklore material from which a multitude of Slavonian and other choreographies have emerged, such as: „Kumova grana“, „Ajmo žito pokupiti pa ćemo kolo zaigrati“, „Savom vodom od Davora do Šamca“, „Slavonske kraljice“, „Baranjski svatovski adet“, „Zelen Juraj došal je“, „Posavčica od glave do pete“ and many others. Although most of his choreographies are performed in KUD “Tena”, he is often invited to share his choreographies with other societies. Only some of them are Strawberry Hill CFA, Kansas City, USA, Miroslav Krleža Fellbach, Germany and HKUD “Željezničar”, Osijek. His experience in working with cultural and artistic societies and field research work was recognized early on. He was a lecturer at the seminars of Croatian folklore in Zagreb in 1994, and in 1996 he was a permanent lecturer at the regional seminar of Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem. As a leader of good societies and a choreographer, he became a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Folklore Leaders and Choreographers of Croatia.
FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE “VETERANI”
Veterans are involved in various programs performed by all sections together.
Rehearsals are held occasionally and by appointment.
Mentor: prof. dr. sc. Enrih Merdić. Enrih Merdić was born on December 30, 1962, and from the age of nine he began to spend his free time in cultural and artistic societies. He spent the most beautiful time of his youth in the KUD “Milica Križan” as an active dancer from 1971 to 1989. He got his first chance to pass on the folklore tradition to new members in 1981, and since then he has led KUDs in Josipovac, Ernestinovo, Čepin and Osijek (FE “Biseri Slavonije” and HKUD “Željezničar”). Since December 1985, he has been the artistic director and choreographer of RKUD “PIK Đakovo”, later renamed KUD “Tena” FE “Slavonske kraljice”. Along with leading, he is also engaged in choreographic work, for which he was educated at various seminars and folklore schools. The basic purpose of the whole school was to send candidates to the village to collect folklore material at the source. Thus, since 1986, Merdić has been intensively collecting folklore material from which a multitude of Slavonian and other choreographies have emerged, such as: „Kumova grana“, „Ajmo žito pokupiti pa ćemo kolo zaigrati“, „Savom vodom od Davora do Šamca“, „Slavonske kraljice“, „Baranjski svatovski adet“, „Zelen Juraj došal je“, „Posavčica od glave do pete“ and many others. Although most of his choreographies are performed in KUD “Tena”, he is often invited to share his choreographies with other societies. Only some of them are Strawberry Hill CFA, Kansas City, USA, Miroslav Krleža Fellbach, Germany and HKUD “Željezničar”, Osijek. His experience in working with cultural and artistic societies and field research work was recognized early on. He was a lecturer at the seminars of Croatian folklore in Zagreb in 1994, and in 1996 he was a permanent lecturer at the regional seminar of Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem. As a leader of good societies and a choreographer, he became a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Folklore Leaders and Choreographers of Croatia.
“TAMBURAŠKA ŠKOLA” (TAMBURA SCHOOL)
The tamburitza school holds regular performances at annual concerts and participates in creating the musical background for children’s ensembles. After graduating from the tamburitza school, the participants were trained to play in the Tamburitza Orchestra of KUD “Tena”.
Rehearsals are held regularly on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 p.m.
Mentor: Luka Juriša – Luka Juriša was born on November 17, 1998. in Osijek, and lives in Đakovo. He has been educated in the field of music all his life – primary music school in Đakovo, secondary music school in Požega, and is currently in the second year of graduate tamburitza at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, after completing his undergraduate studies and obtaining the title of univ. bacc. mus. Throughout his schooling, he participates in regional, national and international competitions where he achieves notable results by playing brac-solo with piano accompaniment, in a quartet, chamber ensemble and philharmonic. He regularly wins first prizes at national and international competitions, and one of the most notable public appearances is the performance in 2015 at the “Šokačka rapsodija” in the Vatroslav Lisinski Hall in Zagreb, where in addition to playing brothers in the orchestra, he also performed as a soloist on the tambourine solitary confinement. . Among other awards, the Oscar of Knowledge awarded to him by the Agency for Education for excellent results and winning first place in the national competition in the academic year 2019/2020 stands out. He has been a member of KUD “Tena” for many years, and from 2021 he will also become the leader of tamburitza players. He gained experience in teaching knowledge in the field of tambourine (except at the faculty) as a lecturer of a group of singles at the “Seminar of Folklore of the Pannonian Zone” in Vinkovci (2017-2021).
“TAMBURAŠKI ORKESTAR” (TAMBURA ORCHESTRA)
The standard line-up of the orchestra consists of instruments: bisernica, bulgaria, bračevi and bass. For the needs of the program, the orchestra also plays instruments characteristic of Croatian folklore, such as mandolin, violin, sopila, guitar, etc.
Rehearsals are held regularly according to a pre-agreed schedule.
Mentor: Luka Juriša – Luka Juriša was born on November 17, 1998. in Osijek, and lives in Đakovo. He has been educated in the field of music all his life – primary music school in Đakovo, secondary music school in Požega, and is currently in the second year of graduate tamburitza at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, after completing his undergraduate studies and obtaining the title of univ. bacc. mus. Throughout his schooling, he participates in regional, national and international competitions where he achieves notable results by playing brac-solo with piano accompaniment, in a quartet, chamber ensemble and philharmonic. He regularly wins first prizes at national and international competitions, and one of the most notable public appearances is the performance in 2015 at the “Šokačka rapsodija” in the Vatroslav Lisinski Hall in Zagreb, where in addition to playing brothers in the orchestra, he also performed as a soloist on the tambourine solitary confinement. . Among other awards, the Oscar of Knowledge awarded to him by the Agency for Education for excellent results and winning first place in the national competition in the academic year 2019/2020 stands out. He has been a member of KUD “Tena” for many years, and from 2021 he will also become the leader of tamburitza players. He gained experience in teaching knowledge in the field of tambourine (except at the faculty) as a lecturer of a group of singles at the “Seminar of Folklore of the Pannonian Zone” in Vinkovci (2017-2021).
MALE VOCAL GROUP “BEĆARINE”
