It was "The Turbulent 60s" in Spanish Harlem, but Maria had everything it took to make it out of the poor working class tenements of her struggling barrio. She even planned to take Chino with her! That is, until her dreams were shattered by tragedy. Then, from the darkness, emerges a guiding spirit named Celestina Cordero who encourages Maria to continue the fight and find her place in the world.
Pa' Mi Gente, a new, bilingual musical written by PRFDance Director Ana Maria Tekina-eiru' Maynard in collaboration with Rupert Reyes (Director, Teatro Vivo) and Zulmarie Alverio (Researcher, Puerto Rico) is an inspiring and heartwarming story based in Puerto Rican traditions that reveals the story of an unsung hero!
Celestina Cordero (1787-1862) was a woman -- a hero -- ahead of her time, but many people have never heard her name! She was the first black woman who, through Actos Calidas (government petitions), fought for the right of poor boys and girls, mulatos and free blacks, to be educated. She began a school in her home where she, along with her famous brother Rafael Cordero, provided a free education to poor boys and girls. Read more about her.
Don't miss this joyful, live music and dance production based in the rich traditions and history of Puerto Rico! Sembrando Herencia passes on a heritage to a new generation by incorporating our students into a theatrical performance experience that showcases the dancers and musicians of the Puerto Rican Folkoric Dance Performing Company.
This year we are proud to include special guests Ballet Afrique, a new contemporary dance company directed by China Smith Lott, who comes "back home" to PRFDance to share her work. Ballet Afrique, dedicated to the expressions of cultures and experiences of the African Diaspora, is igniting the black professional dance movement in Austin.
Sembrando 2009 - Pa' Mi Gente will debut on Sunday, December 13, 3pm, at the Davis Auditorium at the Texas School For the Deaf, 1102 S. Congress, Austin, Texas 78704. Save by purchasing tickets online! Adult tickets, $10.00 in advance ($12 at the door). Child tickets (ages 3-12) are $5.00. Children 2 and under are FREE.
CLICK HERE for directions to the theatre.
The Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance Fall season of cultural arts programming is supported in part by IBM, Ruta Maya Coffee, Fiesta Mart, Target, The City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division, and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts. Please consider joining the list of many private sponsors who also support our work.
Don't miss PUERTO RICAN FOLKLORIC DANCE & CULTURAL CENTER's Birthday Event! Sunday, September 13, 2-5pm at our Cultural Center, 701 Tillery St, in Austin.
PRFDance will be celebrating our 12th Anniversary, birthday style with cake and candles, and music and dance performances by our company and cultural arts students. Our celebration will feature a "Bombazo" (Bomba Dance) as well as a Taino Areito (native dance), so come and sing and dance with us before the drums! Or just come and play dominoes on our big, tree covered lawn.
SHHHH! Don't tell the kids but surprise guest, Fiesta Mart's Pepe the Parrot,
our proud sponsor, will be singing and dancing and cutting our birthday
cake with us!! Our birthday celebration will take place at our cultural
Our birthday celebration will take place at our cultural center and will be
FREE and open to the public.
PUERTO RICAN FOLKLORIC DANCE celebrates the rich culture of Puerto Rico with our largest performance of the year, Celebrando 2009 - Bomba y Plena de Mayaguez, with masters direct from Puerto Rico. In this once in a lifetime, unique production, Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance will merge with Los Tambores de Felix Alduen for an exciting, live music and dance performance of Bomba and Plena direct from Mayaguez. If you love percussion, this will be an amazing show you won't want to miss! Celebrando also brings talented cuatrista Anthony Rodriguez Gonzalez from our Isla del Encanto, and debuts an original all-percussion "fusion" arrangement by Gerard Villanueva, and a new, original Taino Areito by PRFDance Director Tekina-eiru Maynard!
Don't miss this spectacular production that will take you on a voyage from Puerto Rico's beloved music and dance traditions to innovative, original fusions based in our folklore. Celebrando will take place on June 20 (8pm) & 21 (2pm), 2009 at The Theatre at Reagan High, 7104 Berkman Dr, Austin Texas, 78752. Admission: Adults $12 advance/$15 door, $5 Children (12 & under), lap children free (2 & under).
Buy Tickets online without service charge. Thanks to a donation by Outserv.net (local IT operations and management solutions company) we are able to offer tickets online WITHOUT extra cost to you!
Directions to Theatre: Take I-35 to US Hwy 290 East. Exit Hwy 290 at Berkman Dr. Turn left on Berkman and cross under the highway. The theatre is less than a block away on the left.
Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance's season of programs is sponsored in part by IBM, Ruta Maya Coffee, Fiesta Mart, Target, Embassy Suites Austin-Central, The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, The City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division, and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
Free to children of all ages under 18, Adults, $5 suggested donation. This joyful, traditional music and dance performance will be take place at the Mexican American Cultural Center Auditorium, 600 River Street in Austin. This event will be in partnership with the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) who, along with the City of Austin, is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access will be provided upon request. For special accommodations please call the MACC at 478-6222.
Puerto Rico's Christmas Season begins with Thanksgiving and ends with Octavitas, the last holiday of the season, beginning 8 days after the Epiphany and lasting for 8 days (no kidding)! In Puerto Rican tradition, if you received a visit from a friend or relative on Three Kings' Day, you are supposed to return the visit eight days later. So bring your instruments and come sing along -- one last time -- to joyful Puerto Rican holiday songs led by The Parranderos de Austin. Participate in or just enjoy traditional dance and music performances of Bomba, Plena and Taino traditions by PRFDance's Professional & Junior Company and Performing Arts Students. This celebration is free and open to the public and will take place at our Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center, 701 Tillery Street, in Austin, Texas 78702. Here are directions.
