User:Corneliu Adrian/Toma Frențescu

Toma Frențescu (b. September 13, 1947, Borlova, Caraș-Severin - d. July 6, 2023) was a Romanian master choreographer, representative of Banat folklore.

Toma Frențescu was, for 50 years, the coordinator and choreographer of the "Timișul" Folkloric Ensemble. Born in 1947 in Borlova, Caraș-Severin, he is also one of the founding members of the ensemble. In 1968, he graduated from the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry at the West University of Timișoara, and for 50 years, since 1969, he has been employed by the House of Culture of Timișoara, continuously coordinating the choreographic activities of this institution. From the same year, he has been the choreographer of the “Datina” ensemble of the West University of Timișoara and the "Timișul" Folkloric Ensemble, currently one of the most renowned folkloric ensembles in the country, representative not only of Banat folklore but also of national folklore. He also worked as a professor at the choreography department of the Popular School of Art in Timișoara.

He had numerous collaborations with choreographic formations and folkloric ensembles in the country, such as “Cununa Carpaților” from Bucharest, “Ghetuza” from Hunedoara, “Izvorașul” from Buziaș, “Datina” and “Doina Timișului” from Timișoara, and also the group from his hometown, Borlova. His international collaborations included ensembles and formations from Serbia (Straja, Seleus, and Vârșeț), the USA (Phoenix and Arizona), and Canada (Kitchener, Montreal). He won the highest national awards with the folkloric ensemble from Borlova (1970, 1972, 1974), the student ensembles “Datina” (1984, 1986), “Doina Timișului” (1988, 1990), and of course with the "Timișul" ensemble at all national competitions.

In 1974, Toma Frențescu became the choreographer of the "Timișul" Ensemble, which, over time, was a true training school for entire generations of dancers. The shows he staged always strictly respected the authenticity of Romanian traditions, both in the country and abroad, and he won a lot of awards.

Toma Frențescu collaborated with numerous ensembles from the country, but also from abroad, and obtained many awards.

He loves culture in all its aspects, being also close to the rock music from Timișoara in the 70s. Being friends with the Phoenix band members, I share the same rehearsal room - Sala Lira -

Choreographer Toma Frențescu introduced "counter-time" into Romanian choreographic folklore, namely to Timișoara ensembles from the early 1970s, first to the "Doina Timișului" ensemble and then to the "Timișul" ensemble.

Toma is from the village of Borlova which seems to have danced almost continuously in "counter-time" in living memory, while his predecessors in Timișoara were mostly not from the Banat mountain regions and only danced in "time"

Toma Frențescu, choreographer of the "Timișul" Ensemble of the House of Culture of the Municipality of Timișoara. It's one of the few "credits" in the choreography here, but it doesn't matter.

Lucian Blaga writes that "none of the Romanian provinces has an ethnographic, anonymous, popular culture as differentiated as Banat". The Timișul Folk Ensemble is the proof of the continuity of Banat folklore customs

==== Seminar de Coregrafie - Romanian Folk Dances “Banatfolk” Timisoara (Banat) 2013 ==== The program of this workshop includes the teaching of folk dances from Banat and Romania. The organizers of this workshop are professionals with great experience in their fields: Toma Frenescu, artistic director and master choreographer of the folk ensemble "Timișul" and Marius Ursu, artistic director and master choreographer of the folk ensemble "Doina Timisului"


 * Borlova - Choreographic Folklore Reference Center from South Banat (CCES, 1975). Brief presentation of the dances of the South Banat area, manual for the mountain dances of Banat.
 * "Sânziana, the flower of life" by Toma Frențescu and Achim Ciucure - Student House of Culture Show 1989

Awards
1989 - Diploma of merit - Ministry of Culture

1999 - Honorary Member of the Romanian Cultural Association "Banatul" in Kitchener - Ontario, Canada

2000 - Honorary Member of the Romanian Cultural Association in Las Vegas - USA

2011 - Diploma of Excellence - County Center for the Conservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture Caraș - Severin

2012 - Ethno Award - Timiș County Council

2013 - "For the Culture of Timisoara"

2019 - Honorary Citizen of the Municipality of Timișoara

Cultural events

 * Festivalul Inimilor (international folklore festival) - Artistic director since 1990.


 * Timișul Ensemble Anniversary Performances


 * Ruga Timisoara - artistic curator of the folklore program.
 * "Iosif-Sivu and Cosmin Golban" 4th Edition Chișoda 2010
 * The "Hora" festival, from Dudeștii Noi, plea for folk dance 2018
 * Timișoara Wine Festival - Artistic Director


 * National Day of Romania (December 1) from Timișoara - artistic curator of the folklore program.


 * The "Ioan Macrea" National Folklore Festival, in an action aimed at promoting the Romanian cultural heritage, together with Silvia Macrea, Liliana Laichici, Sorin Filip, Matilda Pascal Cojocărița, Niculina Stoican, Toma Frențescu, Ștefan Coman, Gheorghe Porumbel, Atilla Barabasi, Iuliana Dăncuș, Ciprian Roman, Tiberiu Groza, Petre Șușu, Nineta Popa, Ștefan Cigu, Leontin Ciucur, Dinu Iancu Sălăjanu, Ionuț Fulea, Nicolae Furdui Iancu, ethnomusicologist Elise Stan and emeritus artist, choreographer Theodor Vasilescu.
 * Celebrations of the Citadel - Caranasebeș - Annual event


 * Sala Lira - a landmark for Timisoara culture.

Citat în lucrări de specialitate
Dancing through the city and beyond: Lives, movements and performances in a Romanian urban folk ensemble ,Elizabeth Sara Mellish 2013