Fiesta de la Danza Puertorriquena, Killeen, Oct 19, 2008, 2pm
The Sociedad Cultural Hispanoamericana is celebrating Hispanic Heritage with
an Arts and Culture Festival at the Killeen Civic & Conference Center (3601 South WS Young Drive), Sunday, October 19, 2008 from 2:00-5:30 PM.
Refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served.
Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance will present a live music and dance performance of
Puerto Rico's Bailes de Salon (ballroom dances) including Danza, created in
19th Century Puerto Rico and still popular today. They will also perform -- and invite the audience to participate in -- Taino music and dance. There will be music by the Mariachi L, a children group of brothers and sisters from San Antonio. After the show, dancing music will be provided for those who like to dance.
Tickets for the event are $15.00 for adults, students and active military with ID cards, $10.00, children l2 years old and under will be free when accompanied by their parents. For more information, contact Sociedad Cultural
Hispanoamericana, Mrs. Reyna A. Martinez at (254)698-1171 or
Carmen Hernandez at (254)554-2900. This event is supported, in part, by a grant from the City of Killeen Municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenues.
1st Annual Taino Camping Trip, Oct 10-13, 2008
On Oct 10-13, our PRFDance & Cultural Center students and their families
will be enjoying a 1st Annual Taino Camping Trip for the whole family at
Granger Lake. We've reserved campsites for this 4 day event that
will fly El Concilio Taino (http://conciliotainopr.org)'s
Cacike Ca Ciba Opil and Abuela Arani to Austin for a special weekend that will
celebrate Taino heritage with educational activities that will include:
- learn how to sculpt in clay Taino style (vasijas de barro)
- learn how to make casava bread
- play the Taino ballgame of Batu
- a Taino naming ceremony
- and of course, lots and lots of areitos!
This project is sponsored in part by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.
PRFDance Salsa Social featuring Don Yojan & La Frescura, Sept 20, 6pm
NOTE: THIS IS A NON-ALCOHOLIC EVENT. No alcohol will be sold or permitted.
Don Yojan & La Frescura help kick off PRFDance's newest event -- PRFDance
Salsa Social. Come dance Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and - why not? - Reggeaton on our gorgeous hardwood maple floors. $10 admission, children under 16 free. Doors open at 6pm.
Salsa classes with our own Berto Ramos host/instructor included:
- 6pm: Basic Salsa ON1 (no partner needed) includes basic men and lady's steps
- 7pm: Intermediate Partner Work teaches turn combinations
- 8-11pm: Social, come dance and enjoy the live band of Don Yojan y La Frescura.
PRFDance Salsa Social is proud to showcase new talent such as Don Yojan
y La Frescura. Hear their music -
http://www.myspace.com/donyojanlafrescura
This event will take place at our cultural center, 701 Tillery Street in Austin.
Family-friendly event has a kid-friendly room available. All are welcome!
Hurricane Ike is hitting our coastal shores and Austin Texas has opened
its doors to the mass exodus of evacuees from the coastal regions in its path.
As I write this our schools and public facilities are filling with
families seeking safety from the storm. By Sunday, the storm will be
long gone from Texas, but these families will stay with us until they are able
to return home.
To do our part in this time of need, and thank God for the many blessings
he has given us these 11 years, PUERTO RICAN FOLKLORIC DANCE is
partnering with the CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK OF TEXAS to host a Hurricane Ike
Food Drive. We are converting what was Sunday's family-friendly and free
performance event (originally our 11th Birthday Celebration) into a
hurricane relief event.
The event description is below. Please bring your donations.
The Capital Area Food Bank is asking for:
- Bottled water
- Canned meats (pop-top lids)
- Granola bars
- Peanut butter
- Diapers (children thru adult size) and wipes
We will be delivering the donations to the Food Bank immediately after the
event. If you cannot make it on Sunday, the Food Bank will have large totes
in front of their warehouse on the loading dock labeled Hurricane Ike donations
all through the weekend (during after hours). For more information
on the Capital Area Food Bank, including how to donation online, see their
website: Capital Area Food Bank
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PRFDance 11th Birthday Open House & Performance, Sept. 14, 2008, 2-5pm
**NOW A HURRICANE IKE FOOD DRIVE WITH THE CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK OF TEXAS**
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FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
PUERTO RICAN FOLKLORIC DANCE is partnering with the CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK
OF TEXAS and converting our original birthday celebration into a Hurricane Ike
Relief Event, Sept. 14, 2008, 2-5pm.
Bring your donations (see above) and the kids
as we give thanks to God for bringing PRFDance to our 11th year,
with cake, candles, and informal performances of music and dance by our
company and performing arts students. This, now hurricane relief event,
will include a "Bombazo" where you can sing along and dance Bomba with us
before the drum!
We will dedicate our closing Areito, a Taino ceremonial dance to the
families and communities affected by the hurricane.
This hurricane relief event will take place at our Puerto Rican Folkloric
Dance & Cultural Center, 701 Tillery Street, Austin TX 78702.
Celebrando 2008 - Rediscovering Boriken, June 21 (8pm) & 22 (2pm), 2008
TICKETS NOW ON SALE:
Buy tickets online
without service charge.
Please help us promote and share our
Official Poster!
It is with great pride we announce a once in a lifetime performance! PUERTO RICAN FOLKLORIC DANCE brings our primera raiz (first root), Tainos of El Concilio Taino Guatu-Ma-Cu A Boriken (http://conciliotainopr.org/), direct from Puerto Rico, to share the stage with us and bring our community a life-changing, first-time experience in Taino music and dance.
This all-live music and dance production will also debut PRFDance's original estampa "Pelea de Gallos" featuring surprise guest and
gifted cuatrista, Orlando Laureano, direct from the Isla del Encanto.
On November 19, 1493, our Taino ancestors greeted the Spaniards who landed on Boriken during Columbus' second voyage to the "New World." History recorded by the mid-16th century the Spanish Conquest had decimated Puerto Rico's indigenous people (atrocities of slavery, new European diseases). In reality, Taino were not completely extinguished. Mountain cave
petroglyphs testify that Tainos escaped into the interior Cordillera Central mountain range. In addition, a census in 1514 found that 40 percent of the officially recognized wives of Spanish men were Taina, making Taino culture and traditions forever a part of Puerto Rico.
This has been an amazing year for PRFDance growing in Taino knowledge and traditions. Don't miss this spectacular all-live music and dance production that will take you on a voyage through every major style of Puerto Rican traditional dance.
Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance's largest performance of the year will take place June 21 (8pm) & 22 (2pm), 2008 at The Theatre at Reagan High School, 7104 Berkman Dr, Austin Texas, 78752. Admission $15 Adults. $10 Children (12 & under), lap children free (2 & under).
Buy tickets online
without service charge.
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.
The Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center is an all-volunteer run nonprofit 501C3 dedicated to sharing all of Puerto Rico's cultural traditions with our community, and handing down our beautiful heritage to the next generation. This performance project has the partnership support of local industry including Embassy Suites Austin-Central, Capps Rent a Car Inc., Target, Fiesta Mart, HEB Central Market, and Jo-Ann Fabrics.
Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance's season of programs and performances are sponsored in part by IBM, Ruta Maya Coffee, 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.
Puerto Rican Style Salsa/Latin Dance Workshops - Spring 2008
[NOTE: OUR SALSA WORKSHOPS ARE OVER FOR THE SPRING. CHECK BACK IN AUGUST FOR FALL SCHEDULE.]
Learn to dance Salsa and other latin social dances -- Puerto Rican Style -- through
monthly workshops, three back-to-back classes each day, that offer distinct
material
in style and technique. Classes will be taught by our own PRFDancer Berto Ramos.
Spring Schedule - Feb 23, Mar 15, Apr 19, May 10
- Class 1 (2pm) - Basic Salsa ON1 includes basic men and lady's steps,
turns and partner work technique
- Class 2 (3pm) - Salsa step by turn breakdown with easy turn patterns
- Class 3 (4pm) - Male/Female Salsa body movement, technique,
foot and hand shines.
- On Apr 19th, Class 2 (3pm) - Bachata step by step by breakdown
with easy to follow patterns turns & technique.
- On Apr 19th, Class 3 (4pm) Basic ChaCha step by step footwork
and turn patterns.
Take one class or take them all!
After class, make plans to go out dancing with old and new friends!
Cost is $15 per class. Discounts for taking multiple classes/same day:
2 for $25, 3 for $30.
Here's a FLYER!
Classes will be held at our cultural center at 701 Tillery Street, Austin TX 78702.
Here are directions to our cultural center.
6th Annual Spring Gala - May 17, 2008, 2-6pm
In this exclusive semi-formal event, our Cultural Center participants and
their families and friends celebrate the end of the season with
our PRFDance Familia Members and Industry/Local Sponsors.
This proud afternoon of music and dancing-for-all features
special performances by our Performing Arts students and Performing Company.
Our largest donors will be recognized for their generosity!
Here's how you can become a
PRFDance Familia Member .
Taino Batu' Ballgame & Celebration Areyto - Sunday, April 27, 2-5pm
Calling all Tainos, Sports Fans and Dance Lovers! Bring the kids for a Family
Day to learn the Ancient Taino ballgame called Batu'. With similarities
to both soccer and volleyball, Batu' was the first game Europeans encountered
that was played with a rubber ball. A ceremonial ballgame,
Batu' was also played for competition and to resolve conflicts between
communities. It has been regaining popularity in Puerto Rico
and parts of the Carribean over recent years, and soon in Texas!
Bring your maraca! After the game we'll be heating up our new
Ceremonial Mayohucan
with a celebration Areyto to mark the first Taino community event ever in
Texas! This Workshops in Puerto Rican Studies & Sports event will take
place on the lawn outside our Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center,
701 Tillery Street in Austin, and will be free and open to the public.
Workshop - Robert Clemente, "The Great One" - Sunday, February 3, 2008, 2-4pm
This event launches our 2008 Workshops in Puerto Rican Studies!
Roberto Clemente was the first Latin American player elected to the baseball
Hall of Fame, and was regarded by many as the finest all-around player of his era.
In 1972, the Latino community lost one of the most widely idolized figures in
sports
history when Clemente died in a plane crash while on his way to Nicaragua to help
in relief operations following a severe earthquake.
On February 3rd, 2008 (2-4pm), Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance will offer a
workshop on the life of Roberto Clemente. Edwin Baez, our workshop host
will be showing his lifetime collection of Clemente memorabilia and will
also bring a kit to teach children how to collect and price baseball
cards. This event will be FREE and open to the public.
Edwin Baez, a member of the University of Texas Technical Staff, teaches
at Dept of Physics and is a die hard Clemente fan! Edwin will be the host
of this 2008 Series that will offer workshops by Puerto Rican experts in a
wide variety of topics.
Octavitas Performance & Celebration - Sunday, January 20, 2008, 2-5pm
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Come celebrate "Octavitas" -- the last holiday of
"Las Navidades" celebrated on the Island. Bring your instruments and sing along
to traditional Puerto Rican songs. Test your poetic wit with traditional "Bombas."
Enjoy performances of music and dance by our Professional Company
and Performing Arts Youth Students. This celebration will take place at our
Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center, 701 Tillery Street, in Austin,
Texas. Here are directions.