On June 20-21, 2009, PUERTO RICAN FOLKLORIC DANCE celebrated the rich culture of Puerto Rico with our largest performance of the season, Celebrando 2009 - Bomba y Plena de Mayaguez, with Los Tambores de Felix Alduen direct from Puerto Rico. It was a culmination of a project that began in April with workshops on the dance, music, history and traditions of Mayaguez that were enjoyed by our performing company, youth and adult students, and teaching staff.
Los Tambores returned in June for a once-in-a-lifetime production that merged Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance with Los Tambores for an exciting, live music and dance performance of Bomba, Plena, and other folklore and traditions from our Island. This amazing show also brought talented cuatrista Anthony Rodriguez Gonzalez from our Isla del Encanto, for a Jibaro fusion number that featured surprise guests -- Los Tres Reyes Magos -- who brought gifts of candy to the children in the audience!
If you are a lover of percussion, you surely enjoyed the original percussion-fusion arrangments by Gerard Guayacani' Villanueva that incorporated folkloric rhythms from Puerto Rico, Brazil, Cuba, and Africa. Dance lovers were not left out as our Professional-Level and Junior dance companies joined approximately a dozen percussionists onstage in an explosive number created by Director Ana Maria Tekina-eiru' Maynard that featured an original dance-style that fused Bomba, Spanish, and Jazz movements.
If that wasn't enough, our show opened with a suprise presentation for all!
Tekina-eiru' contribution to the Taino community was formally recognized with
an Areito Award for
Dance and Theatre from our Taino Community.
Originally awarded in March in a ceremony at the Nuyorican Poets
Cafe in New York City, this award was
presented in person to Tekina-eiru' by Mario Garza and Maria Rocha, founders
of the Indigenous Cultures Institute in Austin. Tekina-eiru' promptly
handed over the award to the children and
celebrated this recognition with a new Areito she wrote
to celebrate the harvest of PRFDance's mission to hand down our heritage
to the next generation. This authentic
ceremonial dance, accompanied by native flute, is based in the native
traditions of the Concilio Taino Guatu-Ma-Cu A Boriken, who she serves
as the recognized Tekina in Texas.
Our Celebrando production marked the end of an exciting and successful 12th season filled with wonderful memories. But more than the great season-ending production, we enjoyed the enthusiasm and energy of Los Tambores de Felix Alduen, and are thrilled to forever call them FAMILY!
