Romanians from Serbia in Denmark

Vlach origin. Here, care is taken to invite notables from the Danish
community, such as union bosses, local politicians and representatives of
the municipality. These are opportunities to display the very best of Vlach
and Serbianculture, varying from the handmade folk costumes to the Vlach
folk-music and the performance of ‘Ore’, atraditional Vlach chain dance.
By drawing on Balkan traditions of hospitality, these performances serve to
create and enhance the bonds and networks with the outside community,
which are crucial in maintaining municipal supportfor what is in reality the
exclusivity of a Vlach club. But, as noted by Ballhausen and Tonnesen
(2008), it is primarily the hospitality and the unproblematic aspects of
Serbian and Vlach culture which are demonstrated during these events,
while the darker sides, such as the political repression and chauvinist
attitudes, areplayed down. In reality, it is exactly in their ability to provide
such a powerful ‘public face’ for the Vlachcommunity that the clubs play
their most important integrative role. Here the ‘difference’ and
distinctiveness ofthe Vlach culture is put on display in a very visible but
also selective manner which is accessible and understandable to a wider
public, enabling the club to mediate between the private and the public.
The question is, however, to what extent the clubs and other types of
ethnic affiliation will continue to informthose groups of immigrants who
have lived in Denmark for several decades and in many ways have come to
see themselves as Danish. Indeed, doubt is often expressed by the elder
members of the clubs:
Nowadays, the cultural clubs do not attract as many people as
they used to. People have invested their money incars and villas,
they no longer want to spend money on drinks in the clubs. They
prefer to stay at home and invite friends to socialise there
(Serbian man, 2008).
Conclusion
As I have shown, the relatively successful integration of Vlach immigrants
in Denmark hinges upon the ability of this minority group to create and
maintain a strong and integrated ethnic community. The continued
reproductionof traditions and social practices deriving from the village of