Boston Folklorico Youth Dance: La Piñata 20th Anniversary
| Hours: | 2 pm - 4 pm |
| Ages: | Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults |
| In/Outdoor: | Indoor |
| Cost: | $ see below |
| Category: | Music & Concerts |
The production, LA LOTERIA, is an original musical in English and Spanish and reflects the character of La Piñata itself—both bilingual and multicultural, authentic dance and music combine with a strong sense of cultural heritage to provide nourishment for the mind and the soul. Written by local educator, Blanca Bonilla, (Boston Arts Academy) for the 10-year anniversary, the production was originally performed at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester in 1999.
The original Carlota, Jennifer Bencosme, a troupe alumnus, is now a La Piñata dance teacher and choreographer. For the 20th anniversary performance, Paola Gaona and Michael Baugh—local teenagers with multiple years of dance and theatre experience, play the lead roles of Carlota and John. The full cast includes 40 young people from the Boston area, ages 7 to 17, taking part in a production as rich and varied as the cultural heritage from which it comes.
About La Loteria
LA LOTERIA is a musical fantasy that follows two young people, Carlota and John, on a quest through Latin America in search of a winning lottery ticket. On their dream journey, Carlota and John experience the region’s cultures through some of its most rich and varied traditional music and dance: the afro-Caribbean roots of Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Cuba; the Inca inspired valicha from the Andes; music and dances from the African diaspora—from the little known festejo of afroperu to the familiar beats of afrobrazil— the samba, magalenha, and maculele; the folkloric dances of the southern cone, Chile and Argentina; traditional Spanish colonial era dance and music of Central America and Mexico—including the quick tempo and rapidly clanging blades of the Danza de los Machetes, as well as an original choreographed piece combining indigenous spirituality and contemporary political issues.
La Piñata: the Latin American Cultural Family Network is a nonprofit arts and culture group serving youth and supporting families. Founded in 1989 by 6 families from Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Panama and Mexico, La Piñata was conceived as a way to pass on the richness and depth of Latin American culture to the next generation of children born in the United States and to strengthen their cultural identity. According to Rosalba Solis, an award winning local educator, La Piñata founder and Artistic Director, the organization “was only a dream; un sueño. We needed nourishment for our children”. The group was especially concerned with the need to provide positive alternatives to the negative stereotypes of Latin Americans that abounded in the mainstream media at the time, and wanted to share the other side of the Latino story with their children and with society in general.
Since its founding 20 years ago, La Piñata, has grown into a well respected artistic organization, serving more than 500 young people on multiple levels. In addition to language and performing arts, La Piñata developed a cultural exchange program that allows young people to experience first hand the cultural diaspora of Latino America through carefully designed travel programs rich in arts and education that would otherwise be beyond the reach of many of these young people. La Piñata has traveled to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Guatemala/Honduras, Peru, Cuba, Mexico Sureste and Puerto Rico.
Over the years the Latin American Cultural Family Network branched out to create additional programs: La Piñata For All, an enrichment program reaching a diverse population of children who want to learn about and explore Latin culture through the visual arts, dance and music; Arco Iris, a special program developed for children adopted from Latin America to engage them in a program designed to develop self-identity and to preserve their connection to their native heritage.
In addition, while remaining true to its core goals to promote and protect the cultural identity and self respect of Latino youth, La Piñata expanded it’s mission in 2005 and opened it’s performing arts troupe to youth of any ethnic background who are committed to celebrating Latin American arts and culture through language, education, dance and music. Talented and very versatile, the La Piñata kids have performed at such highly regarded Institutions as The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, The Boston Children’s Museum, The Christmas Revels, MIT, Jolgorio Navideño, and Harvard University, as well as numerous local festivals, schools and libraries.
Come and celebrate the rich and varied heritage of Latin America through music and dance with La Piñata. Your support enables us to continue our very important work.
LA LOTERIA
Sunday April 19, 2009 @ 2 pm
Kresgee Auditorium @ MIT
Cambridge MA
$10 Suggested donation
$7 children & seniors
For tickets contact: 617-522-6430
lapinata@hotmail.com
| COST | ↑ top |
$10 Adults$7 Kids & Seniors
| LOCATION | ↑ top |
48 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139 map
Phone: 617-522-6430
Kresge Auditorium, MIT campus
Directly across from the main MIT admin building at 77 Massachusetts Ave. Open parking is available along Memorial Drive, within a block of the performance center. Easily accessible by public transportation by taking the Red Line to Kendall/MIT, two blocks up Main Street toward Central Sq (away from the river), left on Vassar St, two blocks down Vassar St to Mass. Ave. The Kresge Auditorium is prominently located directly across Mass. Ave from the main MIT admin building.
ALTERNATIVE ACCESS: Red Line to Central Sq., follow Mass. Ave appx 8 blocks towards MIT (towards Boston and the river). The Kresge Auditorium is prominently located directly across Mass. Ave from the main MIT admin building.
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