Ada Szulc: You are a distinguished promoter of Roma culture and an outstanding musician. You live and work in Legnica. What are the beginnings of your career?
Mirosław Dymitrak: The beginnings of my career… At the age of 4 I was already playing on a stick with strings made of rubber bands. Those were the beginnings of my playing. But as an artist: in ‘83 I got my professional credentials as a musician and singer. I played at dances, parties and weddings until 1983. And in ’84, already as a performer, I worked with Roma groups, such as the band “Roma”. At the turn of 82 and 83, I created the band “Nowa Roma” in Legnica. This group was later taken over by Estrada Poznańska and the name “Roma” remained. I played in the band as a regular member, because at that time I didn’t have the right training to lead a band. Those were different times than now. I worked in various bands until 2000. Now I’m a bit old, but I’m still playing. I’m still trying to do something, but it’s more of a hobby than a professional thing.
What is your favourite instrument?
The guitar is my instrument. It is a well-known fact that in the old days we Gypsies didn’t go to music schools. Everyone learned on their own, by themselves, and one from another, as they say. I didn’t finish music school, but by working on myself, I acquired all the professional skills. So first the guitar, and then other instruments. I started to learn to play keyboards. And even before that, I was dancing, so I’m also a stepper. Plus the bass guitar came along. I don’t play drums, but I have tried in the past. Generally my instrument is guitar and vocals. Vocals are also an instrument. It makes a sound, doesn’t it? Anyone can sing, just not everyone can be listened to…
And do you often tap dance?
I used to tap dance, step. Because what does tapping mean? Tapping means that you have to be physically fit all the time, right? It’s exercise, skipping, and running. A person has to exercise all the time, jump, so that there is lightness. I don’t run anymore at this age. I do a bit of stepping – I haven’t forgotten, but I lack lightness, good stamina. And my figure is not the same.
Is it possible to find your tap dance performances somewhere online?
The last time I performed was in 2017 at a concert with Miklosz Deki Czureja, a well-known Roma violinist and with his children, Sara and Mark Czureja. There were many performers there, including me on guest performances. I tap-danced there and the recordings of this concert are probably somewhere on the Internet. When I came there, I thought I was going to play and sing, but Miklosz said no – I was going to dance. So I said, ‘I don’t have the right shoes’. He lent me his own. Those shoes were tight. Also it was hard for me, but somehow I managed.
To what extent is Roma identity important in your work?
In 2011 I set up a foundation – it was called “Lovers of Roma Culture and Tradition”. The foundation lasted only 5 years. I gave up due to lack of funds. I was investing more than we were getting from projects at the time. It was hard for me, because exactly where I live, there are no people willing to cooperate. I am a fan of our culture, the old culture with principles. I would like for our tradition not to die, to live on, because there are some really cool things in it. You can learn a lot from it. I am a supporter of the old Roma rules and traditions. Tents, bonfires, music, singing, wine. No women.
What are some of your most important achievements in the field of activities promoting culture?
My greatest achievement is what I have created with my own hands. When I was 23 years old, I took on a really powerful challenge by founding the “Nowa Roma” band in Legnica. The Community Centre provided us with a hall where we held rehearsals. I brought people from different cities, they slept on the floor at my mother’s house. Sometimes we slept in the rooms of the Community Centre. In those days it was really something amazing. And it was all my hard work. I think that was my greatest achievement. There were 25 people in the band, we had a whole programme prepared. We didn’t have only costumes. And the concert! There was one concert of this band. The reminder I have left of it is a cassette recording. Then Estrada Poznańska took us over, giving us costumes. And immediately we went on to give concerts. But as for other achievements, I toured with various Polish artists. I had a concert with Edyta Górniak at the beginning, when she started her career, nobody knew her and we didn’t even even knew she was our blood. I played with many artists who worked on stages such as Estrada Poznańska, for example, with Jerzy Słota, who is a member of the former “Vox” band and lives in Legnica. He is acolleague of mine. I have given over 1000 concerts in my life. For me there is no stage fright. And it has been my greatest achievement that I have worked on stage for so many years. I’ve met a lot of people and I’m happy with that.
Who would you like to play with?
That’s a tough question. Many of the musicians I knew from the last century and who worked with me have unfortunately passed away or left. But I think the kind of musician I want to play with is my son. Wiktor has already finished secondary music school. He plays the accordion and makes his own music, rap, hip hop, something like that. He writes lyrics. I hope that there will come a point when he’ll take up Roma music, traditional music and start his own band in the future. He’s capable of forming a big folk band at a high level.
What are your plans, dreams for the future?
Dreams… My dream is to live till I know that my son has already taken up music seriously. For him to take over my inheritance, in the sense of cultivating the Roma tradition, for him to start a band. Our culture is dying out, disappearing. Children no longer speak Romani. They are ashamed of the language at school, in the street, they avoid it. I would like this to change, so that Roma children won’t be ashamed of their identity. We are all who we are, we all have our own culture and I think there is a lot of good in every nation. It’s about making sure that our culture, our gypsyness, doesn’t disappear… precisely by means of events such as this one today (Wandering Festival “Romani Kultura”: Wrocław 2023). Look how many children have come here… They are getting to know each other today, and maybe they will meet again next year. And this is it. Today Roma have dispersed and have no contact with each other at all – between towns, between even courtyards. They live as if they are locked into this present system, which means a mobile phone, a laptop, television and nothing else. It‘s also my dream that Roma culture will not disappear, I would like to be sure of that. And I would like my son to promote the tradition so that I can see and hear it.
AS: Thank you very much and I hope your dreams come true!
Interviewed by Ada Szulc from the “Dom Kultury” Foundation.
