WHAT IS MEANT BY THE WORD "GYPSY"
The word "Gypsy" can be regarded as a derogatory or demeaning term. The names that "Gypsy" people usually choose for themselves is Roma, Romani and Rom, but in other instances they have reclaimed the word "Gypsy".
Rita is inspired by Rom dance traditions as they have evolved in Spain (flamenco), Turkey, Egypt, Eastern Europe, Russia and India. These traditions have been shaped by local influences and history and therefore look quite different. Flamenco is a very passionate, grounded, powerful dance form, whereas Russian Czigany dance is playful, balletic, elegant. As such "Gypsy" music also varies a lot.
What Rita has created through the Modern Gypsy Format is a modern fusion of moves, spirit and musicality from these traditions - acquired through instruction, imitation, and in some cases, imagination. Therefore Modern Gypsy Dance cannot be regarded as an authentic ethnic dance form.
Rita is inspired by Rom dance traditions as they have evolved in Spain (flamenco), Turkey, Egypt, Eastern Europe, Russia and India. These traditions have been shaped by local influences and history and therefore look quite different. Flamenco is a very passionate, grounded, powerful dance form, whereas Russian Czigany dance is playful, balletic, elegant. As such "Gypsy" music also varies a lot.
What Rita has created through the Modern Gypsy Format is a modern fusion of moves, spirit and musicality from these traditions - acquired through instruction, imitation, and in some cases, imagination. Therefore Modern Gypsy Dance cannot be regarded as an authentic ethnic dance form.
BACKGROUND ON THE ROMA
There are more than twelve million Roma located in approximately 40 countries around the world.
Romani people originated from North West India about a thousand years ago and travelled into Turkey, the Middle East and Europe. There a number of Romani nations speaking different dialects of Romani language (which is of an Indo-Aryan origin). Romani culture is diverse and has been strongly influenced by the countries people have lived in.
The Roma have sadly suffered persecution throughout history. Somewhere between 500 000 to 1.5 million Roma were killed in the Holocaust. Roma still face widespread racism in Europe. You can see this racism on the internet pages of YouTube next to "Gypsy" footage. Racially-motivated violence against Roma either during conflict (Kosovo) and in peace time often goes unrecognised by authorities.
Many Roma face discrimination and have poor access to education and training, health care and other services in their home countries. (http://www.romaniworld.com/)
WEBSITES
http://www.theprogram.net.au/featuresSub.asp?id=602
"According to Jimmie Storrie, a Scottish Romani and Australian researcher of Romani culture, there were four Rom on the first fleet to Australia, one of whom was a crew member whose brother was a convict on the same ship. Another convict named James Squire (no relation to the trendy beer), was granted freedom and become a close friend to Captain Phillip.
Today there are over 20,000 declared ethnic Rom in Australia. However considering England and Ireland had a large 'Gypsy' population when Australia became a convict island, many would have been shipped to Australia."
http://romnews.com/community/index.php
Rom news website, current affairs and flash animation of Roma history
http://www.rroma.org/hot_news/
Selected Rom news links
http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/uploads/_rbec%20web/Employing_the_Roma.pdf
Report by Ernst and Young for the UN Developmenr Programme on Employment programs needed for Roma in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Contains run-down of poverty and economic exclusion faced by Roma people.
http://www.romaniworld.com/
Rom advocacy website
"Over 250,000 Roma children are forced by governments into segregated educational denial in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia (around 150,000 in Special schools and some 100,000 in other segregated establishments)."
http://www.errc.org/
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is an international public interest law organisation engaging in a range of activities aimed at combating anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma. Internships are available with this organisation.
http://www.unionromani.org/
The UNION ROMANI is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which is concerned with defending the gypsy community. It carries out its activities throughout Spain and also works together with the INTERNATIONAL UNION ROMANI, on activities designed to gain recognition of the culture of the gypsy people, as an asset within the global culture.
Http://www.romani.org/
Website "Dedicated to the Roma for their recognition as a people and as a nation, and To their struggle for freedom and against persecution and oppression worldwide"
http://www.voiceofroma.com/
Voice of Roma is a nonprofit corporation that organizes and promotes educational and charitable projects for and about Roma. Our goal is to provide Roma, with a special emphasis on the inclusion of Romani women, with a voice, in their local communities, as well as nationally and internationally.
Romani people originated from North West India about a thousand years ago and travelled into Turkey, the Middle East and Europe. There a number of Romani nations speaking different dialects of Romani language (which is of an Indo-Aryan origin). Romani culture is diverse and has been strongly influenced by the countries people have lived in.
The Roma have sadly suffered persecution throughout history. Somewhere between 500 000 to 1.5 million Roma were killed in the Holocaust. Roma still face widespread racism in Europe. You can see this racism on the internet pages of YouTube next to "Gypsy" footage. Racially-motivated violence against Roma either during conflict (Kosovo) and in peace time often goes unrecognised by authorities.
Many Roma face discrimination and have poor access to education and training, health care and other services in their home countries. (http://www.romaniworld.com/)
WEBSITES
http://www.theprogram.net.au/featuresSub.asp?id=602
"According to Jimmie Storrie, a Scottish Romani and Australian researcher of Romani culture, there were four Rom on the first fleet to Australia, one of whom was a crew member whose brother was a convict on the same ship. Another convict named James Squire (no relation to the trendy beer), was granted freedom and become a close friend to Captain Phillip.
Today there are over 20,000 declared ethnic Rom in Australia. However considering England and Ireland had a large 'Gypsy' population when Australia became a convict island, many would have been shipped to Australia."
http://romnews.com/community/index.php
Rom news website, current affairs and flash animation of Roma history
http://www.rroma.org/hot_news/
Selected Rom news links
http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/uploads/_rbec%20web/Employing_the_Roma.pdf
Report by Ernst and Young for the UN Developmenr Programme on Employment programs needed for Roma in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Contains run-down of poverty and economic exclusion faced by Roma people.
http://www.romaniworld.com/
Rom advocacy website
"Over 250,000 Roma children are forced by governments into segregated educational denial in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia (around 150,000 in Special schools and some 100,000 in other segregated establishments)."
http://www.errc.org/
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is an international public interest law organisation engaging in a range of activities aimed at combating anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma. Internships are available with this organisation.
http://www.unionromani.org/
The UNION ROMANI is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which is concerned with defending the gypsy community. It carries out its activities throughout Spain and also works together with the INTERNATIONAL UNION ROMANI, on activities designed to gain recognition of the culture of the gypsy people, as an asset within the global culture.
Http://www.romani.org/
Website "Dedicated to the Roma for their recognition as a people and as a nation, and To their struggle for freedom and against persecution and oppression worldwide"
http://www.voiceofroma.com/
Voice of Roma is a nonprofit corporation that organizes and promotes educational and charitable projects for and about Roma. Our goal is to provide Roma, with a special emphasis on the inclusion of Romani women, with a voice, in their local communities, as well as nationally and internationally.
