[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 140 (Thursday, October 1, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN HONOR AND RECOGNITION OF THE CSARDAS DANCE COMPANY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 30, 2009

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of 
the founders, members and performers of the Csardas Dance Company of 
Cleveland, Ohio, as they celebrate fifteen of years of promoting the 
history and heritage of Hungary, through the ageless and colorful 
expressions of the songs and dances of Hungary.
  Richard Graber, who grew up in Cleveland as the son of Hungarian 
immigrants, founded Csardas Dance Company in 1994. He is now the 
Director of Programs and Services with the Houston, Texas Arts 
Alliance, and serves on the Board of the Hungarian American Cultural 
Association of Houston. Christopher L. Smith, former Artistic Director, 
set a precedent of historical authenticity and keen attention to 
detail, which still reflect in the brilliant colors and fabrics of the 
dancers' wardrobes, and also, in the artistic direction of Csardas. 
Stuart Meyer and Judith Horvath have both served as Csardas Youth 
Ensemble Rehearsal Instructors, drawing on their backgrounds as 
professional dancers and instructors. Toni Gras, Managing Director, has 
been with the Company for the past ten years. As a child, she performed 
with Hungarian dance troupes, and her daughter danced for nine years in 
the Csardas Youth Ensemble.
  Over the years, hundreds of young dancers have had the enriching 
opportunity to be part of the Csardas Dance Company, which continues to 
inspire and delight audiences throughout Ohio. Since it creation in 
1994, the mission of the Csardas Dance Company has not wavered: To 
preserve and promote the dance, music and song of the people of 
Hungary. The Company also strives to bolster the public's support of, 
and appreciation for, the performing ethnic arts.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the Csardas 
Dance Company, for enlightening, entertaining and engaging audiences 
with song and dance that reflect a certain vibrancy in movement and 
music--bringing to life the age-old stories of village life in Hungary. 
The Csardas Dance Company is an arts treasure in Cleveland, and its 
continued existence is vital to the performing ethnic arts foundation 
of our entire community--serving as an audiovisual record of our 
heritage and our history and connecting us all through the universal 
language of dance and song.

                          ____________________