The Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center (PRFDance) is the only cultural
center in Texas and the Southwest affiliated with the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture
for ongoing cultural programming that could not otherwise be experienced
in this region.
Founded in 1997 by Taino blood-descendant Dr. Ana María Tekina-eirú Maynard,
the mission of our nonprofit 501(c)(3) is to promote cultural awareness and pride
through educational programs, performances, and cultural events based in
folklore, history and traditions -- dance, music, community theatre,
and indigenous cultural traditions.
Our multipurpose facility is home to Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance, our performing
company of dancers, musicians, and juniors who perform throughout the year.
We serve the community with 12 weekly performing arts programs, near-monthly
cultural events, and opportunities to learn Taino traditions.
Our programs are open to all who wish to experience the joy of our people.
We welcome those whose access to cultural programming is limited by economics.
Since 2001, our achievement and quality have been validated by repeat support by
the National Endowment for the Arts, an NEA Chairman's Award (2007),
the Texas Commission on the Arts, the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division,
and Humanities Texas (since 2011).
Our Programs
Puerto Rico has a rich heritage based in native Taino, Spanish, and West African roots.
Trained by Island Masters,
our cultural center is a focal point in the Southwest for
Puerto Rico's vibrant culture and traditions.
With the inclusion of Taino traditions, PRFDance is the only cultural center on the Mainland
with the expertise to authentically teach and present the cross-section of Puerto Rico's cultural
heritage -- Bomba, Plena, Seis, Danza, and Taino music and dance.
We offer ongoing programs that holistically teach Puerto Rico's cultural arts and humanities
including dance (folklore and fusion), music (traditional ensemble, percussion, strings,
and choir), community theatre, cultural history, and Taino heritage.
Our programming includes both informal performances and mainstage productions
that give students of all ages, preschool through professional adult, an opportunity
to participate. Our original, bilingual plays -- featuring live music, dance and community theatre --
bring to light unsung heroes in Puerto Rican history and give beginner
students to seasoned professionals a chance to develop multidisciplinary skills.
Our cultural center is a sanctuary for the rapidly growing Puerto Rican community in central
Texas. Since the opening of our multipurpose facility in 2006, our educational offerings have
expanded beyond performing arts to share well-loved, living traditions with our
community including dominoe socials, holiday celebrations (Reyes Magos, Octavitas),
and sports (baseball, Taino batu). We share true Taino culture through workshops
based in oral teachings that share history, music, dance, craftwork, and traditions.
Each year we bring the source of that knowledge, El Concilio Taino Guatu Ma-cu A Boriken,
to Austin to share outside-the-classroom traditions with the Southwest Region.
Our History & Accomplishments
Since 1997, PRFDance has produced financially-secure, artistically acclaimed programming,
including the large, annual Celebrando Heritage Festival ($35K/year)
featuring performances by Puerto Rican folklore masters, handcraft artisans,
salsa dancing for all, and authentic food. Our three-dancer company which debuted in 1998
is now a 20-member, multi-generational folklore company of dancers, musicians, and juniors.
We have had stable and healthy growth since our single dance-class inception, and today
offer 12 weekly programs for students and professionals in folkloric dance and music,
community theatre, cultural history, and indigenous heritage traditions. In operation since 2006,
our multipurpose facility provides a platform to experiment with a wide variety of
cultural programming. It includes indoor and outdoor areas where free,
near-monthly cultural events attract tourism and give a resource-limited community
opportunities to participate in living traditions.
Today, there are more Puerto Ricans living on the Mainland than the Island.
As the number of Puerto Ricans migrating to the Mainland continues to rise,
Texas stands in the top three States with the fastest growing Puerto Rican population.
In collaboration since 2001 with the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, our formal
affiliation in 2005
makes us official representatives in our community of
our Island government's arts agency dedicated to preserving our cultural heritage.
With the 2006 closing of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs (PRFAA) Texas office, our world-wide
visibility has made us a resource for Puerto Ricans travelling or moving to Central Texas.
Our Community
People are choosing to move to Austin to be near our hard-to-find cultural programs.
We serve a demographic breakdown of 80% Hispanic (various countries), 10% American Indian, 5% African-American, and 5% White;
we include the traditionally under-served,
and those whose access to the arts is limited by economics.
Thanks to our internet reach, we attract 50-75 weekly participants from local and nearby
communities (1+ hr drive). Our larger in-house and production events attract 150-300+ attendees;
50% of our events-audiences come from out of town (upto 5hrs drive).
Located in Central Texas where 83% of Puerto Ricans in
Texas live [2010 Census], our programs attract cultural tourists from neighboring Texas cities
(Killeen to San Antonio), distant cities (Dallas to Brownsville), out of state (Oklahoma, Florida),
and even Puerto Rico.
Our website educational resources serve over 3000 weekly world-wide visitors.
Through interactive social media (Facebook, 8000 subscribers) we engage a
virtual community in daily conversations that entertain, educate and instill cultural pride.
Our cultural center builds community by bonding together all ages like an extended family.
We welcome all who seek a sense of cultural pride regardless of age, ethnicity,
disability, economic or social background.
Our volunteers develop real-world skills of professional interest including
leadership, teaching, business, and computer-based applications.
Through our programs people are discovering the healing power of arts in action.
It takes a village to raise a child; we live that proverb. We encourage
family-togetherness and participation of community elders through multi-generational,
pride instilling programs. Youth have access to
positive role models and develop advanced skills through company apprenticeship,
student-teaching, and program leadership. Thanks to Puerto Rico's rainbow of ethnic
diversity -- White-Hispanic, Native Taino, and Afro-Puerto Rican -- youth experience
personal pride through self-identity.
Music and dance is a very important part of Puerto Rican culture.
Named by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture as the cultural Ambassador
for Puerto Rico in Texas and the Southwest, we are proud to share our rich traditions
with the community, and hand down our cultural heritage to the next generation!
Enjoy our Online Brochure!
We hold the banner high for Puerto Rico everyday!
Thank you in advance for your donation of any size!!
Become a SUSTAINING DONOR with a recurring MONTHLY donation!
Or DONATE through PAYPAL GIVING FUND (no fees are subtacted)!
For more information:
Dr. Ana María Tekina-eirú Maynard
Puerto Rican Cultural Center
Cultural Center Address: 701 Tillery Street #13,
Austin TX 78702-3738 (Map & Directions)
Mailing Address: 15228 Quiet Pond Court, Austin TX 78728-4555
Phone: +1.512.251.8122
Email: dance@prfdance.org
Web: www.prfdance.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/prfdance
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