UB Center for the Arts to Present "Gypsy Spirit, Journey of the Roma"

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present "Gypsy Spirit, Journey of the Roma" at 8 p.m. on March 18 in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

The Budapest Dance Ensemble, in existence for 40 years, pays homage to the legendary music and dance of the Gypsy tradition in "Gypsy Spirit, Journey of the Roma." The exciting, exotic music and dance of the Gypsies have fascinated audiences for centuries. The performance will offer a sampling of vibrant cultural treasures connected by the passion of the Gypsy.

"Gypsy Spirit, Journey of the Roma" will trace the route of the Gypsy traditions, depicting some of the most exciting styles of music and dance, and spanning from India, to Turkey, and then across the European continent. The performance will feature exotic Turkish music and dances, Spanish Flamenco, fiery Bulgarian footwork and melodies; Romanian tunes performed at breathtaking speed and refined csardases from Hungary and Transylvania.

The Budapest Dance Ensemble is one of the oldest, yet freshest, performing groups in Europe. The professional troupe has performed on almost every continent, to excellent reviews. The ensemble presents Hungarian and other Central European folklore that retains the power of authentic traditions, while satisfying the increasingly sophisticated expectations of contemporary audiences. The Chicago Sun Times called "Gypsy Spirit, Journey of the Roma" "a vivid, living treasury of the grand fold idiom of Central and Eastern Europe."

Tickets are $25, $20, and $16. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. The Center for the Arts is a TicketFast location.