I am kind of happy

As I mentioned in many other prior articles, I've

been participating and interested in the town's

Roma Dance Troupe.

I really pushed for the Roma Community to have a full

time active dance troupe. From my other experiences

in the other countries I knew that more important than

the activity itself ... was participation.

When I arrived no one in the Roma community

wanted to get involved in anything of that nature.

The poor Roma man that I've worked with must have

wanted to kill me as almost daily I would bug the

heck out of him ... we need a dance troupe

... we need a dance troupe.

Finally after being persistant the Dance Troupe

organized and now they are pretty much full time.

They don't practice consistently but they are

available as the events continue to trickle in.

I must say with pride that the town's Roma dance troupe

is one of the better ones' around. I could just imagine if

they would practice 2 or 3 times a week without taking

time off. But I don't want to push any more as they need

to manage it themselves at this point. I am seeing that

the Troupe is getting regular invitations.

At the moment they are in the middle of practicing

to go on the 6th of December to Hungary to participate

in a minority festival.

For me, as I go to watch the practice session and with

two weeks left here in town ... well ... I am happy to see

that the Troupe has come along. I see that there is a

person willing to take the responsibility of running

the Dance Troupe. I see dancers who've come a long

way during the last year. They have not only improved

their dance skills they have a new 'air' of confidence

and willingness to participate. This is exactly

what my goal was when pushing for the Troupe.

It wasn't just the dancing, it was to find a person willing to

take the lead. It was also to develop the young dancers

confidence and character that only comes with getting out

and seeing new places and meeting new people.

I am very lucky to have been able to see this before leaving.