Railway Men,
Appreciated on Artistic Plan, Too

At the XXXIV edition of the National Festival "Calusul Romanesc" (Romanian Men Folk Dance), unfolded in Caracal, 23 "calusari" (Romanian men folk dancers) troops from nine districts of the country have reunited: Arges, Bistrita, Brasov, Caras-Severin, Dambovita, Dolj, Hunedoara, Mures and Olt.

Craiova Rail Region is well-known as being one of the largest railway network from the country, including the activity on eight district area: Arges, Valcea, Mehedinti, Dolj, Olt, Teleorman and Sibiu. This means that the railway men from Craiova do not have an easy life, but it is also full of satisfactions: satisfactions that, in the present case, occur on extra-professional plan.

Folkloric Assembly "Doina Jiului"
Set up in 1970 by a group of enthusiastic people, students of the People Art School, wishing to capitalize and to promote this spirituality treasure which is considered the authentic folklore, in the 33rd years of activity "Doina Jiului" Assembly has succeeded to become one of the most prestigious from the country.
The wish of its members to take the stand has been materialized, starting with its first steps, in a large number of performed shows, by attending various festivals, district and inter-district, national and international festivals, where they have registered many successes. The folkloric assembly Doina Jiului has earned its name in our country, as well as abroad, on the occasion of some prestigious folklore festivals from Bulgaria (in 1977), Portugal (in 1978), Finland (in 1984), Norway and Italy (in 1990).
Unfortunately, there was a quite long period, due to the lack of material support, the activity of the assembly has been interrupted. After 11 years, yet, a railway men within Craiova Rail Region, Mr. Iulian Popa, ballet maestro, classical, contemporary and people dance instructor, presently the choreographer of the assembly, tried and succeeded to revive the old tradition.
The beginning was very tough. The assembly has started again its activity with only a few pairs of dancers, employees of the rail region, which were rehearsing after the work program. Yet the choreographer Iulian Popa, the heart of this assembly, did not gave up, being concerned of enriching the repertoire with new series of dances, of capitalizing the imperishable beauty of the authentic folklore from different areas of the country (Oltenia, Banat, Ardeal, Moldova, Dobrogea). Grace to its inexhaustible activity, doubled by the passion and self-denial of the dancers, the assembly has succeeded in a quite short time to obtain a valuable artistic interpretation, performing very beautiful shows. A harmonious plaiting of sounds and color, a mosaic of joy and movement, a great virtuosity interpretation - this is how we could briefly define the people music and dance shows presented by the folkloric assembly Doina Jiului. The pride, the lusty optimism, the vigor of the artistic talent of the Romanian people are present in the people dances and music interpreted by them, transforming each show in a wonderful meeting with the Romanian folklore, offering to the spectators unforgettable moments. In the choreography of Mr. Iulian Popa, the dancers - the railway men from all the activity sectors of the three railway companies, have succeeded in a year and a half to prepare very well and even to obtain two awards at the folkloric festivals from Oltenia. All these, due to the support granted by several people from the management of the Railways that are art and culture loving, among which we remind Misters Viorel Scurtu, former Craiova rail region director, Ion Stefanescu, former Craiova rail region director, and Florin Dobrescu, the president of the Railway Inter Trade Union Alliance.

Special Prize of the Jury
At the last artistic attended competition - National Festival "Calusul Romanesc" - the horde of "calusari" of Doina Jiului Assembly has succeeded to obtain the Special prize of the Jury, which is granted for the totality of the program that they presented, representing a recognition of its value.
The 30 members of the assembly - dancers, vocal soloists, instrumentalists - are passionately attending every show, either it is about the presentation on the occasion of the Railway Men Day, where everyone celebrates the ones that are wearing one of the oldest uniforms in the country, or the attendance at a prestigious festival.
Currently, the components of the "troop", either dancers, or soloists, simple and very laborious people, are preparing for the shows that they will perform in the autumn around the country. Even if they need some financial support for renewing their costumes, they are still optimistic, being sure that things will work out, and the shows will be further on considered a reason of joy for anyone - the artists and spectators in the same time. There is something that impresses you at these wonderful people; it is about their self-denial during the show, their tireless work and the discipline that are the bases of the artistic affirmation of the troop they are part of.

Oana Branzan