In this workshop and lecture Ms. Gelbart will give a brief overview of Romani history and some information about Gypsy Jazz. In addition to lecturing and multimedia examples, the workshop contains:

- Giving out Romani song texts with English translation and teaching the songs (with accordion or guitar accompaniment), either in unison or two-part harmony

- Teaching simple dance steps of Czech/Slovak/Hungarian and Russian Roma

- Teaching oral percussion and other easily inclusive rhythmic accompaniments

Attendees learn from the spoken and visual materials and they get specific contextual information from brief discussions of the song texts; they also end up learning some Romani words.

The price for the workshop is $10 and requires advance sign-up. Send email to Office@dromnyc.com with "First & Last Name - Workshop & Lecture with Petra Gelbart" in Subject Line

Petra Gelbart, Ph.D., a founding member of the band Via Romen, is a Romani musician, activist and scholar who is at home both in the Czech Republic and the U.S. Petra combines the Romani vo­cal production she learned from her family with elements drawn from more improvisational and popular genres. She recently completed her doctorate in ethnomusi­cology at Harvard University with a dissertation entitled “Learning Music, Race and Nation in the Czech Republic.” She promotes the rights of minority children, particularly those in state care and foster care. Petra is currently starting a center for Romani people and music at New York University.