From Folklorico dances to lectures and comedy performances, region gearing up for festive month
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ
Hispanic Heritage Month is here, with festivities beginning with a folklorico dance performance and continuing through October with lectures, a comedy performance and other events.
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 through Oct. 15) also provides an appropriate lead-in to Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos celebrations in Flagstaff, Sedona and Prescott.
Activities began on Sept. 16 when Ballet Folklorico de Colores of Flagstaff and Compañia de Danza Reginal de Puebla presented a Fiestas Patrias celebration at Sinagua Middle School.
Members from both groups danced across the stage performing a variety of numbers in traditional dress from a variety of Mexican regions.
Activities heat up when the 12th annual Fiesta de Independencia will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Market of Dreams / Mercado de los Sueños, 2532 E. 7th Ave., Flagstaff.
Presented by the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association, Fiesta de Independencia honors the independence of a variety of Latin American countries.
The Mexican Consulate of Phoenix will perform the historic “El Grito” at 5:30 p.m., the story of Mexico’s independence from Spain, organizers reported in a media release.
The free event features the Salas Project band, Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli from Chandler, Mariachi Sunnyside and Classik, live music and dancing. Food will be available for purchase.
Click here or here for more information.
Northern Arizona University will present ‘Muxeres Luchadoras’ from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the LEADS Center, University Union.
The free exhibit highlights the women behind the shadows of social movements. Click here or call 928-523-5656 for more information.
Northern Arizona University will then present Cuentos de Exitos, a networking and mentoring event tailored toward Spanish speaking students and facilitated in Spanish, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 at the Gateway Student Success Center.
The goal is to encourage students to view their Spanish speaking skills as a benefit in the workforce and to promote Spanish as a professional language, organizers reported. There will be Spanish speaking mentors at the event to share their success stories with the students and there will be time for the students to ask the mentors any questions that they might have about their stories/careers.
Click here or call 928-523-5656 for more information.
Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces will present a Día de los Muertos Sugar Skull-making workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church Cultural Center, 224 S. Kendrick St, Flagstaff.
Members of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, who are in the process of preparing for the 12th annual Celebraciones de la Gente at the Museum of Northern Arizona, will lead the demonstration.
Bring your own beverage. Snacks provides. Click here or send an email to contact@flagstaffnuestrasraices.org for more information.
Northern Arizona University will present ‘Baila Conmigo: Dance with Me,” a free family-friendly event where the public can enjoy different genres of music, light refreshments and door prizes, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at Ashurst Auditorium. Presented by Inclusion and Multicultural Services.
Click here or call 928-523-5656 for more information.
Northern Arizona University will then present the free lecture “Cuban Fabric: Telarte and Ephemeral Architectures in Cuban Contemporary Art” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6 in Liberal Arts Building 18, Room 136.
Cuban Fabric — Telarte and Ephemeral Architectures in Cuban Contemporary Art. Courtesy photo.
Presented by Northern Arizona University, College of Arts and Letters, Gibran Villalobos (NAU alum, 2007) will discuss his research on Cuban art projects and their relationship to cultural policy. His research centers on two case studies and the historic project, Telarte, which was produced in 1981 by the Cuban Ministry of Culture as a point of departure to discuss how policy and art have coalesced as a productive form. The discussion will ask the question, how can emergent practices reframe the potential behind cultural work in contemporary social art?
Free parking in Lot P13 after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends. Visit nau.edu/maps for directions.
Click here or contact Alexandra Carpino at Alexandra.carpino@nau.edu or 928-523-9901 for more information.
‘Border Odyssey’ Courtesy image
Northern Arizona University will then present the free lecture, film screening of “Border Odyssey: Travels along the U.S. / Mexico Divide” from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 in Liberal Arts Building 18, Room 136.
Presented by Northern Arizona University, College of Arts and Letters, “Border Odyssey: Travels along the U.S./Mexico Divide” is inspired by a student education project out of Duke University. The book published April 15, 2015 and the author, Dr. Charles D. Thompson, Jr., is touring to talk about the project from spring 2015 to spring 2016. There is also a companion website with an interactive map and photographs to encourage traveling to understand the U.S.-Mexican Border.
A starred Kirkus Review calls “Border Odyssey,” “A potent cri de coeur for a more compassionate, sane and humane border policy.” Thompson “has published scholarship on issues of immigration, agriculture and border politics and has brought groups of students to borderland regions for experiential learning, and this book represents a combination of reportage, travelogue, memoir and jeremiad.”
Dr. Thompson Jr. will discuss the film and also sign copies of his book.
Click here or call 523-3881 for more information.
Courtesy image
And while it is a couple of days past the official closing date of Hispanic Heritage Month, a fitting ending to the celebration will occur on Saturday, Oct. 17 when actress and comedian Cristela Alonzo performs live at 8 p.m. in Prochnow Auditorium at Northern Arizona University.
Other than being one of the most popular standup comedians in the college market, Alonzo made TV history in 2014, by being the first Latina to create, produce and star in the network TV sitcom, “Cristela,” event organizers reported in a media release.
Tickets are on sale at the Central Ticket Office — $10 for NAU Students, $20 for public.
Click here or here for more information.
Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos events coming to life
2014 Celebraciones de la Gente. Photo by Frank X. Moraga ©2015.
While Hispanic Heritage Month officially ends on Oct. 15, the celebration has come to incorporate a number of activities extending through the end of the month and beyond.
Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces and the Museum of Northern Arizona will present the 12th annual Celebracíones de la Gente / Día de los Muertos celebration with the member’s preview at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, followed by the celebration for the general public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24 and 25 at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Featuring fine art and unique crafts; Mariachi music; Folklorico and Aztec dancing; colorful and elaborate ofrendas (altars); insightful heritage programs; and Day of the Dead inspired crafts for the kids.
Click here or send an email to contact@flagstaffnuestrasraices.org for more information.
Día de los Muertos Celebration. Courtesy photo.
The Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village will present its annual Día de los Muertos Celebration from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at 336 State Route 179, Sedona.
Music, food and beautiful altars will be on view starting at 2, event organizers reported. Watch fire dancers and visit village’s thematic face painting booth. Costumes are encouraged.
Ofrenda or Offering, in the traditional Mexican celebration of Día de los Muertos, is created to remember the dead and to honor ancestors. A special spot in the home is customarily selected to put photographs, flowers, decorations, lit candles and the favorite food and drink of those who have passed away. This act of preparing an altar of offerings to the dead helps transform grief into acceptance.
In Arizona, the making of portable Ofrendas to be displayed for exhibition has become a form of contemporary cultural expression. Expand your knowledge of Día de los Muertos through the beauty and creativity of Ofrenda installations by joining us and making any personal offering for those special friends, family members or even special pets that might be missed.
Click here for more information.
Day of the Dead — Día de los Muertos Celebration at The Smoki Museum. Courtesy photo.
The Smoki Museum will present its 8th annual “Day of the Dead — Día de los Muertos Celebration” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 at 147 N. Arizona Ave., Prescott.
This year’s celebration includes Mariachi Lucerna, Mexico Lindo Ballet Folkloric, Danny Romero & Sky Cornwell, La Tierra Dancers, an Argentina Tango, a procession into Yavapai Citizen’s Cemetery and altar presentations.
“Join us for a day filled with music, dance, margaritas, cerveza, food vendors including green corn tamales by ‘Dickie Boy’ with those proceeds benefitting Prescott Meals on Wheels, Azteca Market’s baked goods, a Dancing Skeleton and many craft vendors as well, event organizers reported. And don’t forget to dress up! Welcome back the dead as your very finest calavera! The Children’s Craft Area will have lots of fun activities for the kids, while you can dance with the mariachi!
“Want to do an altar (ofrenda) for your dearly departed? Click here to obtain instructions and an altar application”
The altars will be on display from Oct. 26 through Nov. 6.
Click here or call The Smoki Museum at 928-445-1230 for more information.
2014 Día de los Muertos celebration in Winslow. Photo by Frank X. Moraga ©2015
Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces is awaiting word to see if it will participate in the annual Día de los Muertos Celebration at the Snowdrift Art Space, 120 W. Second St., Winslow.
In 2014, the event featured altars, music and dance performances, sugar skull-making workshops, food and refreshments, culminating in a traditional procession to the Hubbell/Winslow Visitors Center.
Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces has participated the last two years.
Visit http://snowdriftart.com or call 928-288-8201 to get the latest information.
Other activities
• Northern Arizona University traditionally presents a variety of events in honor of Latin@ Heritage Month in September and October. Visit NAU’s Inclusion and Multicultural Services at http://nau.edu/IMS/, send an email to multicultural@nau.edu or call 928-523-5656 for the latest information.