During the day, football and live music in the settlement; in the evening, theater and fashion show
On Thursday, August 28th, together with Michal Kaščák, Matúš Vallo, Lydka Šuchová, Sendreiovci and the other musicians from Para and Slobodná Európa, we went to the settlement on Budulovská street. After the festival Moldava Together 2014 was banned, we decided to visit people from settlement and spend the day together – by playing football, listening to and making good music and enjoying the really good weather.
We met in the morning and started a small, improvised football tournament. Locals smoothed the surface of the field and, although there was no lawn, ‘major league’ teams such as Real or Bayern – all composed of local players and musicians – participated in the tournament.
During the games, people were playing music, singing and dancing in the settlement. Sendreiovci with Para and the local band named Slumdog Boys played together and sang several well-known Roma songs. A few yards away, over between some houses, a fairytale came alive – members of the civic association Haliganda, along with members of the audience, performed for the children.
At the end of play, the Bayern team placed first. In the second place was the team named FC Center and third place was awarded to the team whose name reveals their membership – Slumdog Para. Lydka Šuchová together with Igor Horváth handed out rewards to all football participants. After football,we also managed to fit in a concert by a local garage band, Gipsy Center.
Thursday’s program continued in the Amphitheater of the Manor house in Veľká Ida with theatrical performances by children from CC Rudňany and CC Moldava nad Bodvou. The children rehearsed plays entitled „The origin of the Roma flag“and „How did the Roma find a job” with the leaders of community centers in the project Art4Rom. The children were delighted that they could perform. The shows were full of excited dancing and singing, all of which was enjoyed by the audience.
Later a Romani Design fashion show created by designer Erika Varga from Hungary was held. Models, among whom were girls from Veľká Ida and Rudňany, displayed the latest collection of clothing combining traditional Romani themes and current trends and reaped abundant applause from the audience.
After this Thursday spent in sports, live music and theater, we can heartily reaffirm that if you want to know and understand people living in different conditions, there is no better way than spending time together.
