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Khanci Dos Budapest Band Debuts in U.S. for The Christmas Revels 2003 - Roads of the Roma & other D.C. Area Performances

For more information, contact:  Brooks Belford 202-723-7528; bbelford@revelsdc.org

Khanci Dos Web Site: http://www.kalyibandi.com/khancidos/khanci.html

Khanci Dos, the Gypsy Band from Budapest, Hungary will appear for the first time outside of Europe in a series of D.C. performances arranged by the Washington Revels. Virtuosos of traditional Romani dance, song, and a range of instruments including the darbuka and the spoons, the Band’s six musicians include members of Hungary’s three main Roma tribes: the so-called Romungro, Vlach and Boyash Roma. Their music spans the Romani traditions of Hungary, Russia, Romania, the Balkans, and Greece.

Khanci Dos will take center stage in the Washington Revels production of The Christmas Revels 2003 – Roads of the Roma, a seasonal celebration of Romani heritage with music, dance and folktale, at Lisner Auditorium, December 5th – 7th and 12th – 14th. Additional Khanci Dos performances include: Library of Congress, December 10; Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, November 28; Takoma Theater, November 22, in cooperation with the Folklore Society of Greater Washington; The Fairmont Hotel, November 21, for the Washington Revels annual Gala Celebration; and Bumper Car Pavilion, Glen Echo Park, November 20, in cooperation with the World Music and Dance Institute.

Khanci Dos was formed in l987 to promote understanding and acceptance of Romani culture and peoples through the universal language of music. These important “tradition bearers” teach and perform throughout Hungary and have performed also in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Slovenia. The Khanci Dos CD, No Limits, is available internationally.

Band Members

Gusztav Eros: Artisic Leader, Singer and Vocal Bass
Raised in the Vlach Roma community of Northern Hungary, Gusztav has been studying and teaching Romani culture for many years and is now at Pecs University in Hungary studying Roma ethnography. A former teacher of Romani language at Europe’s only Roma high school, the Gandhi High School in Hungary, Gusztav launched a student Roma band, Mirinkle (Pearls) that released a CD of the same name in 2001.

Zsolt Balogh: Guitarist, Singer, Dancer
Also a member of the Vlach Roma community in Northern Hungary, Zsolt grew up learning learning Gypsy folk dances and songs and currently dances with the Romamamor Roma flamenco band in Hungary. Performing as a singer, musician, and dancer with numerous Hungarian bands and stage productions since l992, he taught Gypsy folk dance at the Romanyi Rota Dance House and lead the Cerhara Artistic and Cultural Association from l997 – l998. He has also lead various Roma youth bands and cultural programs.

Peter Boda: Singer, Dancer, Vocals, Spoons, Water Can
Growing up in the Romungro Roma community in the Danube-Tisza region of Hungary, Peter has been singing and dancing since childhood. Currently a student at Hungary’s Pecs University and a primary school teacher in the town of Tiszapuspoki, he has taught folk dancing for many years and was artistic leader of the band Kaly Luludy (Black Flowers) from 1990 to 1996.

Hajnalka Orsos: Singer, Dancer
A member of the Boyash Roma community, Hajnalka studies Romani ethnography at Pecs University. She was a member of the folk band Mirinkle and attended Europe’s only Romani high school.

Zsolt Kalanyos: Percussion, Darbuka, Vocals, Dancer
Zsolt comes from the Boyash Roma community. He was a student at Hungary’s Gandhi High School and a member of the folk band Mirinkle. He would like to become a human rights lawyer for the Roma people.

Oliver Bozsani: Violinist
A member of the Romungro Roma community, Oliver has been playing violin since childhood and recently graduated from the prestigious Talentum International School of Art devoted to perpetuating classic Romani music traditions. He has had the privilege of performing with the Vienna Opera at the Hungarian Opera House for the 50th Jubilee Concert and Christmas Gala.

About the Washington Revels

An established non-profit cultural institution in D.C. for over 20 years, the Washington Revels is dedicated to reviving and promoting communal, seasonal celebrations. Featuring the music, dance, drama and folk tales of a particular place and time, each Revels production enables audiences of all ages to experience age-old cultural traditions that affirm and support our shared community. The Washington Revels is one of twelve affiliated organizations across the country whose parent organization, Revels, Inc. in Watertown, Massachusetts, was formed by John Langstaff, concert baritone, music educator and prize-winning author.

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