Thread: Fans of Reyhan & Turkish Romani

I received a message today from one of Reyhan's longtime students and I want to share it...

This is part of Ferda's email (please read my response following - I couldn't include it b/c it was too long....):
"...you know Reyhan Tusuz, the wonderful Turk Roman dance teacher from Gaziosmanpasa in Istanbul. Some of you have met with her and taken a class....
Last week I learned that Reyhan's family is being forced out of the gecekondo neighbourhood where they were born, where they have lived with their extended family, where their mother died, where her children were born and are being raised and where she has brought the world to learn about her clture and especially her dance. The world is richer for it. So, after witnessing Reyhan's sadness about losing her home and her fear for what they would do because the government will not pay the (very little) money until they leave their home, and she has no money to put a security deposit down to rent a new home in her neighbourhood, I felt I had to do something as Im sure you would, if you knew...
So here I am telling you all. If you would like to contribute to preserving this treasure of a dance teacher in istanbul, THEN ...here is what you can do:

1. Send this message out to others who may want to help

2. Collect money from your community, even little bits will help THEN...visit the paypal website and go to the account yildizdanz@yahoo.com and the name Janet Shook. You can make a donation with no charge there.
Jennet has been a student of Reyhans for five years. She moved to Istanbul largely for the purpose of studying with Reyhan and helping her with her career. Janet manages many of Reyhans affairs and on several occasions before has used her account to transfer money to Reyhan.
This is our chance to help Reyhan and her family and to give other dancers a chance to learn with her. I hope together we can help this wonderful woman"

There is another way to help Reyhan. She is teaching in Washington, DC on May 17 & 18 at Herdeljezi (& also in NJ on the 19th and in NY on the 20th - if you contact me, I'll put you in touch with her sponsors there....).
We are raising money this year to help the Tuzsuz family get housing. Any proceeds after expenses are met and all artists are paid will be split between the WMFC and our gift to the Tuzsuz family. We will also have a collection box available for those who want to make personal contributions directly to Reyhan. Please spread the word and urge others to come as well.

We are also planning a tour with Janet Shook for the Tuzsuz family in the Fall which will include Turkish Romani, Oriental and Folk dance. However, this tour hinges on whether or not we can get artists visas for the Tuzsuz family - which is no easy task after 911.
I remain positive that we can pull it together. They will tour and teach and perform across the U.S. and all money will go to help them not only find a house but a studio where they can continue to teach and preserve their art & culture.
For those who don't know, Reyhan's husband is an amazing violin teacher and he also teaches percussion. I hope the entire community will come together to support this lady and her family. She is a true gem. I feel I owe a great debt to her (& to the Roma), and for that reason I will work my butt off to make this happen. But we can't do it alone. We need everyone's support. Please feel free to pass this info. along. I'll be posting everywhere, so I apologize for the crossposts in advance.
yours in dance,
Kostana

The workshop on May 19th is in Bordentown, NJ at the Drum & Dance Learning Center, 7:30-9p... If interested, please contact us ASAP! :)

New Jersey Drum and Dance Learning Center - Belly Dance West African classes and performance
ddlcnj@gmail.com

Thanks for the update!

I just found out that they are now saying Reyhan has to leave her home in 15 days! I have posted info. on how to help her on my blog. If you can help or can pass this message along, please do:
Go to: Biographies for details
thank you,
kostana

What's the word on this? Sorry if I missed any follow up posts