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Help needed for young dancer
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Kate
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
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 RE: Help needed for young dancer (in reply to Billyboy)
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Hi Dave,
I guess most people on here know already about my work with the Gypsy Association in Almanjáyar so perhaps I should explain more for the ones who don't. I think that flamenco is possibly the only area where Gypsies are 'allowed' to flourish, in all other areas of life they are the underdogs and are considered unemployable except for the lowliest jobs, particularly when you are from Almanjáyar, the slum area where the Gypsies were moved after their removal from the Sacromonte. Yes I know that there are Gitano lawyers and university professors etc but they are from the middle classes, life in Almanjáyar is different. My friend the Gitana dancer Ana Cali put herself through University studying law while dancing at the tabloas at night. When she was offered a well deserved place with Mario Maya she got a full grant. Andrés did not.
I wont go into Andrés's personal suffering except to say that he has been the main bread winner of the family since he was able to work. Gypsy children are often employed in the factories and fields and are paid aprox $1 an hour. It wont matter how hard Andrés works as he will never raise enough to go to school and still support his family. His father at 86 has been ill for a long time. I know its hard for us to imagine poverty like this.
Personally I believe in grants and support for low income families and you dont get much lower than in Almanjáyar. I have been working with a music workshop in Almanjáyar for four years now and that is how I met Andrés. He is very talented and yet has never had a dance class in his life, you cant afford classes when you have no food in the house. This opportunity is a dream come true for him yet without help he just couldn't do it and I am not about to say, "tough, life's not fair" because for many of us life is just fine and dandy. One of the worst things about poverty is the cycle of despair that it creates and the Gitanos have had this for generations. Since the workshop started it has given an opportunity for many children to not only express and enjoy themselves but to see a way out. The Cd that we made for them was a success, not financially but in that it gave the children a belief that things can happen, that you can make things happen. Andrés's success is a success story for the whole barrio.
As for giving money its called charity and it's a wonderful thing, allowing the haves to give to the have nots. I specifically approached the online flamenco community because they are also passionate about flamenco and I knew they would understand. People who get so much out of the art that I thought that those who could afford to would be only too willing to give something back. I was right and people on this forum and others have been very generous. Our first purchase was a 10 euro bus pass so he could actually get to class.
Andrés has also found a job, a few hours every afternoon looking after children and he intends to offer classes to beginners. He is not just sitting back and waiting for money to fall from the sky.
So yes Dave to be honest you do sound like a miserable sod right now. I was only asking $10 from each person and amazingly many people have donated a hell of a lot more than that.
sastipen talí y chanta la mui
Kate
_____________________________
Emilio Maya Temple
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000CA6OBC
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/emiliomaya
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Date Jan. 27 2004 21:07:24
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Billyboy
Posts: 389
Joined: Aug. 18 2003
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RE: Help needed for young dancer (in reply to Kate)
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The thing with charity is that, there are many needy causes, for everyone you help, many more go without. Many poor people here in the UK, who need money for more important things than to send them on a dance course, when at the end of the day it will benefit him, and him alone, and although I’m single, I would never have kids unless I thought they would have a fighting chance in life, so even though those gypsy families are poor, they still continue to have many children, then they moan? I can guess this comment will get me barred from this site, but anyway. As you may guess I’m in favour of tuition fees that Mr Blair is trying to bring in as we speak, but its just my view, for what ever its worth.
Dave
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Date Jan. 27 2004 21:30:55
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Kate
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
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RE: Help needed for young dancer (in reply to Billyboy)
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quote:
The thing with charity is that, there are many needy causes, for everyone you help, many more go without.
Well you have to start somewhere and by helping Andrés, we help his family and in turn the community and Andrés works tirelessly for his community and tells me he will continue to put back in, teaching, supporting and helping the younger ones.
quote:
Many poor people here in the UK, who need money for more important things than to send them on a dance course, when at the end of the day it will benefit him, and him alone,
I was quite clear that this money not only helps Andrés go to school, it also puts food on the table for his family. Also with this training he will be able to get work and earn a living and every success story in Almanjáyar is a success for the whole community. For Andrés this is not a whim, a frivolity but what gives his whole life meaning.
I am well aware of poverty in the UK, but there are jobs and child labour is not tolerated, there is income and child support and there are grants and loans to help children who have won places to study or train, especially if they are poor and gifted.
quote:
I would never have kids unless I thought they would have a fighting chance in life, so even though those gypsy families are poor, they still continue to have many children, then they moan?
That is your choice Dave but you cannot dictate what others do. Perhaps you also agree with the policy of sterilization of the Gypsy population as it is practised in Slovakia.
It is my view that if poor people did not have children the world would be a poorer place and not a richer one and I for one would not be here.
Kate
_____________________________
Emilio Maya Temple
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000CA6OBC
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/emiliomaya
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Jan. 27 2004 22:43:48
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