Announcing the Barátság Advisory Board

By Wayne Kraft and Ildikó Kalapács

Throughout the past year, Ferenc and Mary Tobak have discussed with members of the Hungarian dance and music community a number of strategies for broadening the base of support for the Barátság Hungarian Dance and Music Camp and for widening the sphere of activity of the Barátság organization.  The first of several long-planned initiatives is the formation of a formal Advisory Board, staffed by members of the Barátság community.

The Advisory Board will help to enhance the success of camps and to pursue Barátság’s mission:

1.         Preserving and disseminating traditional Hungarian culture in dance, music and folklore, serving as a resource for ethnic Hungarians seeking to retain their traditional culture and for non-Hungarians learning about those traditions

2.         Establishing liaison with regional and local dance communities

3.         Broadening the base of support in terms of participation and volunteerism

4.         Providing “scholarships” for participants who need support

5.         Ensuring positive learning experiences of the highest quality for all skill levels from beginning to advanced

6.         Maintaining a camp social atmosphere and community which welcomes a spectrum of age groups and skill levels, including beginners as well as more advanced dancers, single dancers and musicians, couples, families and children

7.         Integrating children into the whole camp experience by introducing them to Hungarian dance and music along with typical programs like crafts and nature activities

8.         Taking the best advantage of available dance teachers and music teachers

9.         Responding to the prevailing dance and music interests and tastes of the broader community

10.       Advancing, when possible, the introduction of newly researched, relatively “unknown” material into the American community

The Advisory Board will consist initially of four highly respected members of our community—Éva Kish, Lajos Miklós, John Parrish, and Michele Vellrath.  The Members of the Advisory Board are reachable through their e-mail address at advisory@baratsag.com.

Barátság expects to expand its Advisory Board somewhat as the recruitment of available volunteer board members progresses.  Anyone interested in becoming a Member of the Board, and can represent a group or geographical region, is invited to contact Barátság directors Ferenc and Mary Tobak at info@baratsag.com.