The Tamburitzans, Pittsburgh’s consummate Eastern European folk music and dance group, is making plans to leave its building, but will stay in the city.
There is a pending sale for the Tamburitzans building in the city’s 1800 block of the Boulevard of Allies, said Pam Pleash Weigand, a former performer and recent board member.
The 83-year-old nonprofit now fields about 28 polished, college-age performers.
The “Tammies are moving in a new direction” and won’t be using the building after next year, she said.
“It’s not in our best interests to have the building now,” she said, adding that the money can be used for programs.
Weigand said the Tammies received a $5,000 grant earlier this week from the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.
“We plan on staying in Pittsburgh and we have plans. It’s an exciting time, and this will absolutely be the best thing for us,” she said. Details are not yet available.
The building sale was offered by the previous board. A new board is now directing the group.
“Some are happy and some are not,” she said about the building sale.
The Tamburitzans remain linked to Duquesne University, but the group has remained independent since it established a separate foundation in 2016.
According to the ensemble’s website, dancer, vocalist and musician auditions are scheduled next month.
Chuck Biedka is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chuck at 724-226-4711, cbiedka@tribweb.com or via Twitter @ChuckBiedka.
