The National Centre for Roma Culture – Romano Kher organized between 02 May and 5 June 2015 the event “The Cultural Caravan of Roma”. Organizing a Roma Cultural Caravan is one of the objectives of the management plan, proposed in October 2014 by the Director of the National Centre for Roma Culture – Romano Kher, Mr. Mihai Neacsu.
Promoting the values of Roma that convey issues related to Roma culture and history and contemporary identity helps to improve Roma cultural capital. Roma were conceptualized as a tribute poverty group, which largely reinforced the perception about Roma as captives of traditional cultural practices. Changing social paradigm dominated exclusively by poverty, it is invoked by Roma youth today and taken, in their public discourse, by representatives of Roma within state institutions but also by the civic associations. Upgrading Roma culture involves creating the necessary framework to exploit the traditional fund through an articulated vision which would remove Roma people from the permanent confrontation with the traditional background.
Roma Cultural Caravan established a direct contact between local communities, Roma and non-Roma people and Roma professionals whose performance in drama, music, art, history research, surpassed the traditional Roma culture, addressing the general public in a new form, in which the Roma ethos was the foundation on which they structured their artistic and professional expression. The personalities who responded positively to the invitation to participate in the Roma Cultural Caravan, each of which means a standard in performance in area they addressed, helped shape the idea of responsible elite who understand the role of communicator of the elements related to Roma identity within the contemporary modern society at local community level.
The selection of local communities in which took place the Roma Cultural Caravan has taken into consideration the demographic structure, Roma and non-Roma local community and the availability of local authorities to support the organization of the proposed cultural event and therefore they were the ones who informed local community about cultural products that were to be presented, also have provided spaces for viewing theater and traditional and modern instrumental music, documentary viewing and meetings with teachers, students and distribution of books.
Localities that held the Roma Cultural Caravan were: Olteniţa, Frumuşani, Galbinasi (Calarasi county), Gardinari (Olt county), Vărbilău Filipestii de Targ (Prahova county) Filiaşi (Dolj county), Stefanestii de Jos, Jilava (Ilfov county), Mihăileşti (Buzau county), Barcea (Galati county).
In each of these communities the following cultural products were presented:
- Theatre performance for children – “The Naughty Prince and the Wise Old Man”, adapted from a story written by Anton Pann; the play was performed by Roma and non-Roma professional actors.
- Visits to the kindergartens in selected localities and distribution of bilingual coloring book “Ame Rangiaras Pherria thaj siklovas gina! (“We draw fruits and learn to count!”)
- Watching documentary film produced by CNCR about positive life patterns “Roma. Andrei Vyo si Alina “
- Debate on the book written by Roma authors (“From Victimization to the Citizenship conscience” –co-author Nicolae Gheorghe, “Roma. Slavery and Freedom” Petre Petcut-author)
- Music Show, re-orchestrated parts of traditional Roma music, Romano jazz and Roma traditional dances.
The Roma traditional dancing band Romano Step from Targu Mures city includes five dancers coordinated by Ovidiu Toti. The orchestra of Roma Cultural Caravan gathered together great Roma musicians: Leonard Iordache – cimbalom; George Ness -cimbalum; Ilie Fundament – keyboard; Hanes – drums; Chivu – guitar; Sile Dorel – accordion; Nicu Dorel – accordion; George Udilă – clarinet; Ionica Minune – accordion; Miele Bibescu – clarinet; Constantin Nechita – Bass; Dorel Zamfir – violin; Nicuşor Constantin – violin; Denis Gogan – violin; Marin Alexandru –violinist and conductor; Rodica Tudor – vocal.
The repertoire of the show includes: “Hora Staccato”, “Hora Martisor”, “Romani Anthem”, “Hora Bucurestiului”, “Sarba de la Trestiana” “Suite of Lautari”, “Shun Kalie” “Loli Phabai” ” Sao Rome “,” Kam Marau la “,” Loli Phabai “,” Şaraiman “,” Ileana, Ileana “,” Dikta Mamo ki Bori. ”
Participation of local communities consisted not only in being a spectator, but also in their involvement in the organization and the debates occasioned after the presentation of the documentary film “Roma. Andrei Vyo si Alina. Presenting the three young people dedicated and passionate to the profession they chosen, facts that helped them to achieve good results and recognition in their professional field, were the basis on which the debate session was structured in each community. Despite the difficulties caused by a lack of sufficient financial resources in their professional development, the three young characters of the documentary film managed to overcome the social barriers to face the stereotypes about their ethnicity, demonstrating that when you have a dream you have to fulfill it into reality. Teenagers considered the film an inspiration both for them and young teachers in the room.
The play “The Naughty Prince and the Wise Old Man” was adapted and staged by the actor and director, Sorin Sandu, a story with the same name written by Anton Pann. The troupe was formed by professional actors and Roma and non-Roma. The message, play characters, the costumes, stage design, the professionalism was played with, have led those who were present to consider it as “the most beautiful event that ever happened in our community …”.
The music concert impressed by the repertoire presented by individual styles of the musicians that addressed, in a special manner of interpreting, songs from the repertoire of old Roma lautari and performers. Then came the creations of Grigoras Dinicu known worldwide, especially for the composition “Hora Staccato” which together with the famous musician and violinist Jascha Heifetz, transcribed it into a concert piece. “Hora Staccato” was performed for the first time in this form in a concert held in Vienna, in 1932. Since then, “Hora Staccato” appears in the name Dinicu-Heifetz programs. “Ciocarlia” played firstly by Angelus Dinicu- (Grigoras Dinicu’s uncle) and violinist Sava Padureanu , was interpreted by them at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, in 1889. Grigoras Dinicu rewrote the piece for violin and together with Fanica Luca performed it in recitals worldwide.
CNCR Orchestra led by violonist Marin Alexandru was greeted with joy in local communities. The participation of Maestro Ionica Minune was an added value.
The total number of direct beneficiaries of the event was over 6000 people. The project was realized with the financial support from the state budget from the General Secretariat of the Romanian Government.
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