[Official Show Poster!]
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.
[Rain or Shine, this event will happen. Our facility has both indoor and outdoor spaces.]
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.