Romani Musicians and dancers

A percentage of sales will go to human rights, rights of the child, and organizations helping Romani children and families. Certain images are not for commercial sale. Selected images have been donated to such organizations as ERRC, VOR and Teaching Tolerance.

Throughout the world, Romani musicians and dancers are gifted and inspired artists, honoring individuality, creative talent and personal expression. The arts of music and dance of the Roma ranges from India to the famously provocative flamenco puro to the haunting beauty of Eastern European music and the French Django Rinehart and Gypsy Kings. Romani professional (and non professional) artists throughout history are numerous. Important classical composers of Europe such as Lizst to Grieg have borrowed from the Romani music. It is well documented that Romani musicians “jammed” with Jewish Eastern European musicians, in pre- WWII Europe and were in high demand to play for Jewish weddings. Europeans have been greatly enhanced by Romani music; one of the leading pop artists today in Europe is Romani (Manu Chau). Legendary American musicians from Jimmy Hendrix, Santana, to Willie Nelson have been inspired by their interpretation of “Gypsy” style. It is precisely “personal 

style and attitude” which makes music and dance distinctly Roma. For the Rom, the arts of music, song, poetry, and dance arean expression of emotion, placing high value on improvisation, intensity, and originality. The expressive arts in turn, act 

as a system for teaching oral history and serve as a collective healing. It is expression of talent and sublimation, a manner of enduring and transcending life’s emotional repertoire of sorrow, grief and pain, as well as a celebration olife’s beauty, love, joy and vitality. The arts are a highly regarded force and discipline in many cultures. For most Romani, music and dance are “food for the soul”, an integrated and cherished aspect of life.the Roma come with

the most beautiful song the most beautiful dance the world over