HERDELJEZI is a traditional Romani (Gypsy) neighborhood celebration announcing the end of the cold indoor season and the beginning of the warmer season of movement and outdoor life. Survival from the winter and the seasonal renewal of life is celebrated at Herdeljezi through the sharing of music, dance, food and community.
Friday April 30
7:30 pm - Romani Film Night
Veterans Building, 282 South High St.
Saturday May 1 - Festival Stage
1:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Ives Park - RAIN OR SHINE !
(if rain, next door in Veterans Building, 282 South High St.)
Vocal and dance workshops, live music and dance performances, dancing, traditional food, handcrafts.
Performers include: Rumen Shopov, Ivan Milev, Chris Bajmakovich, Brass Liberation Orchestra, Vadim Kolpakov and VIA Romen, Flamenco! Live! dance ensemble, Gypsy Boys (Paul and George Stevens) breaking news: joined by Danny Fender, Sani and Benji Rifati, Petra Gelbart, Lefteris Bournias...
- Romani singing workshop 11-12:30 in Vets Hall, $15 at door. (No pre-reg - just come!) Petra Gelbart and Carol Silverman. Participants will learn Romani songs from Central Europe and the Balkans, with attention to styling, texts, pronunciation and cultural contexts.
- Dance Workshop 12:30-1:30 at stage (free with festival admission)
Saturday May 1 - Live Music Dance Party
9:00 pm - midnight
Friday April 30
7:30 pm - Romani Film Night
Veterans Building, 282 South High St.
Me, my Gipsy family & Woody Allen is the story of the Halilovic family that came to Italy from Yugoslavia at the end of the '60 and lived in caravans for twenty years. It is a very intimate journey on the ending of nomadic life and about the difficulties of settling in a council apartment told in first person with irony and witticism by the young Romani woman director struggling to accept her origins. According to her family's traditions she should be married already but she is determined to decide for her self and motivated to continue fighting to achieve her dreams. A portrait of a small community made from the perspective of someone that is part of it, presenting a different, deeply personal insight into Roma culture.
2. Mundi Romani: the World through Eyes of the Roma (Katalin Barsony)
Roma film maker Katalin Barsony travels the world to give a voice to the voiceless through a vision and celebration of a people who have always been misunderstood and kept out of the public eye. With the determined refusal of being defined by the fear and suspiscion of others, she takes us on a colorful and always surprising journey around the world as it looks like through the eyes of the Roma.
There are at least 12 million Roma scattered throughout the world. Despite being Europe’s largest minority, the Roma have been voiceless for centuries.
As a people and as a culture, the Roma have been and continue to be misrepresented, mythologized, stereotyped, scapegoated and persecuted. There is an incredibly rich culture we never got to know, a whole world of traditions and values, another viewpoint from which we are not used to see our world, its troubles as well as its beauty. Because throughout time and throughout the world, the Roma have never been heard.
With thorough investigation and through admiration for the untold stories, Mundi Romani, a documentary series co-produced by Duna Television Hungary and the Romedia Foundation, explores the amazing world of the Roma from Kosovo to Spain through Romania, France, Macedonia or Israel.
In case of rain, all park activities will be held in Vets Hall.
| 7:30 pm | Films on Romani culture, education, politics and human rights issues in Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and other locations, with discussion lead by Carol Silverman. Live music will follow the films. |
WORKSHOPS
| 11:00 am-12:30 pm | Romani Vocal Workshop with Petra Gelbart and Carol Silverman, in Veteran’s Hall |
| 12:30–1:30 pm | Romani Dance Workshop with Sani Rifati, in Park |
STAGE PROGRAM
| 1:00 pm | Park gates open | ||
| 1:30 pm | Flamenco! Live! dance ensemble | ||
| 2:30 pm | Vadim Kolpakov and Via Romen | ||
| 3:30 pm | Presentation with Kristin Raeesi, VOR Board member and 2010 "Mrs. Wyoming" | ||
| 3:45 pm | Balkan Romani Music with Ivan Milev, Lefteris Bournias, Chris Bajmakovich, and Rumen Sali Shopov | ||
| 5:15 pm | "The Diversity of Romani Cultures." Panel discussion on Romani culture, politics, education, music and gender roles with Petra Gelbart, Kristin Raeesi, and Carol Silverman | 6:00 pm | Stevens Family Gypsy Boys with special guest Danny Fender |
| 7:15 pm | Rumen Shopov and Brass Liberation Orchestra with Peter Jaques And Benji Rifati | ||
| 8:00-9:00 pm | Procession to Veterans Hall, lighting of the traditional Herdeljezi Fire |
| 9:00 pm | Balkan Romani Band |
| 10:15 pm | Gypsy Boys |
| 11:15-midnight | Vadim Kolpakov and Via Romen, Global Mahala jam session until midnight |
How it started
In 1996 VOR created the first Herdeljezi Festival in California. It was designed as a means of preserving and sharing the cultural traditions and folk arts of the Romani people here in the United States, while building a sense of community among the friends and neighbors who help to make it happen. Since then the Herdeljezi Festival has become an annual event that draws larger crowds each year. Ten years later, the Herdeljezi Festival continues to exemplify the way in which VOR creates a sense of "mahala" (community-neighborhood) infusing it with the traditional and authentic Romani music, songs, dances, stories, foods, crafts, literature and customs of the Roma. This Event benefits VOR's efforts on behalf of the Roma in/from Kosovo, to educate the public and international organizations about their plight and to provide them with humanitarian aid.
The 13th Annual California Herdeljezi Festival, a traditional Romani (Gypsy) folk arts festival will be held May 1 and 2, 2009, in Sebastopol California. The festival celebrates the folk art traditions of Roma (Gypsies); featuring traditional music, songs, dances, stories, foods, crafts and customs of the Roma, within a strong community-building context, and with a goal of creating a sense of 'mahala' (shared community-neighborhood) amongst all who participate.
For its first several years, the California Herdeljezi Festival was held on the grounds of a neighborhood cul de sac and nearby local church in a small town in Western Sonoma County. Having outgrown this space by the fifth annual festival, the location was moved to the downtown block of Graton; where over 700 people attended.
In 2003 the 7th Annual Herdeljezi Festival was expanded to a two-day event, this time at a community center and beautiful park in downtown Sebastopol, the largest city in Western Sonoma County. 2003 was the first year that a grant from the California Arts Council enabled small fees to be paid to artists, technicians, and festival coordinators. More than 900 people attended this highly successful gathering.
Preparation for the Herdeljezi Festival begins months before the actual event. VOR president Sani Rifati takes the lead in soliciting input from other cultural experts, such as Esma Redzepova (The Queen of "Gypsy" Song), Ian Hancock (Rom scholar and professor of linguistics at the University of Austin, Texas), and Carol Silverman (professor of Folklore and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Oregon with a specialty in Romani music), as well as Romani friends and family from diverse countries. Volunteers attend planning meetings, make arrangements for and with the participating artists, and work with local partners such as the Sebastopol City Council and Sebastopol Parks and Recreation Services as well as many local businesses.
Past Festivals have included celebrated performers such as Flamenco! Live! Dance Ensemble with dancer La Fibi; Rumen Shopov, master Bulgarian Rom musician and band leader; Sani Rifati, drummer, dancer and dance instructor in the Balkan Romani tradition; Kitka, Bay Area Balkan Women's Choir singing Romani folk songs; "El Lolo" Mario Torres, a Spanish Rom Flamenco singer-guitarist; Kajira and United We Dance, the soloist and belly-dance troup, performing in the Romani tradition; Edessa and Anoush, two popular Bay Area Balkan Bands; Jaime del Rio and his Flamenco musicians and dancers; Eugene Hutz and other members of the band "Gogol Bordello," plus many others.
In addition to the high caliber music, dance, and spoken word performers, some of whom come from as far away as Vancouver, BC, New York, Virginia, Iowa, Washington, Oregon and Southern California to participate in the festival, the festival includes other expressions of Romani culture and folk arts such as: henna painting, an exhibition of traditional Romani handcrafts such as colorful crocheted shawls, tablecloths, embroidered decorative pillows, hand knit clothing, etc., photo exhibits and screenings of video documentaries, traditional Romani circus arts, etc. The involvement of the surrounding community is enhanced by a parade through the neighborhood, featuring music and dance. The day's festival lasts all afternoon and evening, and includes the ritual lighting of the fire and burning of the symbolic "biggest" log, maintaining this important Romani cultural tradition celebrating the spring-summer season of movement and outdoor life.
Featured Artists
RUMEN SHOPOV
Rumen Shopov hails from Gotse Delchev, a crossroads town in southwest Bulgaria neighboring the borders of Greece and Macedonia. A master of the tambura (long necked mandolin), bouzouki, and an accomplished drummer and vocalist, Shopov was concertmaster of the Nevrokopski Folk Ensemble, Bulgaria's first national folk ensemble, for more than 20 years. He was also lead member of two of the Pirin region's hottest bands: Shturo Make and Orkestar Orbita. In 2002, he toured across America with the Kolev Family Ensemble. His music captures and showcases the sparkling fretwork, incendiary rhythms, and expressive soul of his native Bulgarian/Turkish-Romani musical tradition. Shopov has been artistic consultant to three previous VOR-International Roma Day celebrations.
IVAN MILEV
A musical genius and legendary performer, accordionist Ivan Milev has established the rules that govern Bulgarian Folk
Music throughout his 30-plus year career. Ivan is an accordionist of incredible
virtuosity and technique, and his vision of combining multiple ethnic styles has produced tunes with daring key changes
and dizzying tempos. He is the mastermind behind Ivan Milev Band, having gathered a group of
musicians from Eastern Europe to record a landmark album of Balkan folk music.
LEFTERIS BOURNIAS
Lefteris Bournias has been a clarinetist since the age of 11.
As a diverse musician, Lefteris’ style combines Greek traditional,
Gypsy, Classical, Turkish Gypsy, and elements of Jazz (rhythmical and
harmonic). During his training, Lefteris was fortunate to live near a
famous gypsy clarinetist, Mr. Vasilis Soukas, and he soon frequented
his house for lessons while
attending the Athens Conservatory of Music under the guidance of
clarinetist Mr. Farandatos. After returning to New York with his
family, Lefteris attended the Aaron Copeland School of Music earning
a B.A. in Performance, and a Masters of Science in Music Education
and attempted a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology (still pending!).
Throughout his studies, Lefteris has performed and recorded with the New York Pops, New York
Philarmonic, En hordes, Uri
Cane, Charles Genus, Henry Hay, Matt Garisson, Gene Lake, Charles
Blesing,Steve Haas, Elektra Ensemble, Nikos and Giasemi Saragoudas,
Spiros Exaras Band, Avram Pengas Noga Group, Ara Dinkjian, Uri
Yunakoff, Omar Faruk Tekbelik, Okay Temiz, Selim Sesler ,Takis
Zaharatos, Hristos Antoniadis, Stathis Aggelopoulos, Eleni Legaki,
Nikos Hatzopoulos, Makis Hristodoulopoulos, Pitsa Papadopoulou, Peggy
Zina, Doukissa, and many others.
RUZSA NIKOLIC-LAKATOS
Unfortunately, Ruzsa cannot be with us this year, because of the current air travel
problems in Europe.
Born in Hungary in 1945, she
has lived in Vienna since 1956. Having grown up in a traditional
Lovara family, she has been singing traditional Roma songs since she
learned them from her father in early childhood. These songs tell true
stories of the life of the Roma, of happiness and sadness. Ruzsa sees
herself as an “ambassadress of the Roma”. She hopes that her songs
will help to enhance awareness of her people and that coming
generations will preserve the musical resources of the Roma.
GYPSY BOYS (Paul and George Stevens)
"Paul and George Stevens (Gypsy Boys) have been playing music since they were
children. They started performing about ten years ago. And have made a lot of
parties an experience that will never be forgotten. They don’t just stand
there and play. The Guitar player plays guitar and Dances at the same time
it’s a really cool show. They also have a 10 piece band known as A Band of Gypsys." (P.S.)
Raymond van Tassel |
Chris Bajmakovich, born in Chicago into a Macedonian Rom family, began playing accordion at age 5. He first professionally performed with a band at age 14, and gave solo performances in smaller venues, playing at weddings, christenings, church dances, and private parties, primarily in the large Balkan immigrant communities of Chicago. He also toured throughout the US with Macedonian singers. Bajmakovich has performed with many well-known musicians, including Ferus Mustafov, Milan Zavkov and Sasko Velkoy. He performed at VOR's 2006 International Roma Day event and has recorded several CDs.
Raymond van Tassel
Russian seven-string guitarist, vocalist, actor and dancer. One of the foremost Russian Romani guitarists in the world, and a leading artist at Moscow's Romen Theatre. Born in Saratov, Russia, he began his training in earliest childhood, and at the age of fifteen, started dancing, singing, playing the Russian seven-string guitar, and composing for the Romen Theatre. He has toured internationally with The Kolpakov Trio and Gelem, playing for heads of state, Romani music festivals, and the World Music Institute's Gypsy Caravan, and at Carnegie Hall. Founder of the Boston-based Russian Romani group VIA Romen, Kolpakov has made historical reconstruction, solo, duet, and ensemble recordings. Kolpakov was Artist-in-Residence at Harvard, Boston University, Oberlin, Grinnell, and the University of Iowa, and is now Artist-in-Residence at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Vadim performs Saturday in the group "Vadim Kolpakov and VIA Romen": Arkadiy Gips (violin), Alex Gorodezky (guitar), Petra Gelbart (vocal, accordion), Helena Safarova (vocal) and Vadim Kolpakov (guitar, vocal, dance)
www.VadimKolpakov.com - www.MySpace.com/VadimKolpakov
Raymond van Tassel
Was born into a family of Romani musicians, amateur and professional, in the former Czechoslovakia, where she has spent half of her life. She owes her most important musical skills to her mother, grandmother, and great-aunt, who trained her in Romani styles of singing. These styles rely on the intuitive yet specific use of vocal technique in which tone production and breath flow are varied according to the emotion of the moment. She has performed at venues in the United States and in the Czech Republic.
Raymond van Tassel
Phoebe Vernier, "La Fibi, is one of San Francisco’s premier Flamenco Dancers. She has been studying, performing, and teaching flamenco for 26 years. Over the course of more than two decades of immersion in the art form, she has developed a reputation as a powerful, dynamic dancer, as well as a supportive and strong backup percussionist (palmista) for dancers and musicians. La Fibi has performed extensively in the Bay Area as a featured Soloist. She has danced in the companies of Rosa Montoya’s Bailes Flamencos, La Tania Music and Dance, Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco, and has toured nationally with the renowned Maria Benitez Spanish Dance Company, and the Madrid based “Compania Noche Flamenca” at the Hollywood Bowl. She teaches in Petaluma and performs regularly in San Francisco with Toque Flamenco and in Oakland with Flamenco Vivo. Winner "Best Performing Dance Company" 2009 in The North Bay Bohemian’s Readers Poll! Appearing Saturday May 2nd with dancers Juan Del Valle and Pamela Martinez, singer Kati Mejia, guitarist Bill Burgess, and Ruben "El Rompecorazon" on cajon. www.lafibi.com - www.myspace.com/lafibi
BRASS LIBERATION ORCHESTRA
The Brass Liberation Orchestra (BLO) has performed
primarily in the streets since 2002, establishing itself as a well
known Bay Area musical group of brass, reeds and percussion, that
helps build a society that respects all cultures and promotes cross-
cultural understanding. BLO is an all volunteer, diverse group of
cultural workers who have come together to use music as a political
tool for social change. Recently, nominated by the SF Bay Guardian
as the Bay area's "Best Street Performance Band," the BLO performs
approximately four times each month, mostly on the streets, as a way
to engage, inspire, and support those who are fighting on the front
lines for a more just society. By drawing on a rich musical
repertoire from around the world, such as the folk music of Italian
political movements, US civil rights groups, workers' unions, Central
American freedom songs, Nigerian Afro-beat, New Orleans second line
traditions, and the vibrant music of the Roma, the BLO moves people
to dance, sing, and join together to fight for a better world.
Raymond van Tassel |
Carol Silverman is a professor of folklore and cultural anthropology at the University of Oregon. She has done extensive field research on Romani music, culture, and politics, and has worked with Roma in Macedonia, Bulgaria and New York on human rights issues. She teaches singing locally in Oregon and nationally and has won several university teaching awards. She toured and recorded for over a decade with the Yuri Yunakov Ensemble, and performed in the 1999 North American tour of the Gypsy Caravan, also serving as its educational coordinator. She is the author of many articles on Balkan and Romani music; her book Romani Routes: Cultural Politics and Balkan Music in Diaspora is forthcoming from Oxford Univ. Press.
SANI RIFATI
President and co-founder of Voice of Roma and of the California Herdeljezi Festival. Is an exuberant and
exhilarating dance instructor. He has taught at Kolo Festival in SF, the Chicago Spring Dance Festival,
Mainewoods Camp, Portland Maine, Balkanalia, Portland Oregon, Folkball, Madison Wisconsin, and at Balkan
music and dance camps in the U.S. as well as at schools and folk dance events throughout the Bay Area.
KREE ARVANITAS
Hennadervish, former owner of Gilded Lilies Henna Arts in Seattle Washington, since 1996 one of the most creative and innovative henna services in the United States. An experienced graphic artist, photographer and writer. Her passion for henna has taken her from dusty libraries to the medinas of Morocco, absorbing the history and language of this beautiful, traditional art. Kree is also a founding member of
www.hennadervish.com
a non-profit organization with an online professional community devoted to the dispersal of accurate henna information; research & development; and linking globally through forums, projects and conferences. Located in Seattle, Washington, Kreeis available for appointments, parties, personal ceremonies, lectures, photography,
fashion and commercial art projects.
- Benji Rifati
- Peter Jaques
Sponsors
Voice of Roma Herdeljezi Festival 2010 is Supported by Grants From:
With Partial Support by Grants From:
