WHEN: Friday, February 24, 2012 at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Old Crane School, 1417 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
(corner of North 2nd & Master Streets)
COST: $10 admission. Must be 15 years old to attend
In honor of Black History Month, Raíces' February Tertulia will highlight the African roots in Cuba's culture. The Tertulia presents Afro-Cuban music and dance.
Dorthy Wilkie, Artistic Director of the dance and drum ensemble group Kùlú Mèlé, will talk about Afro-Cuban dance Orisa and provide a demonstration.
Dorthy has studied a large repertoire of African and African Diasporas dance starting at the beginning of her formal career in 1955. She studies the genre as both an art form and an aspect of her spiritual practice as an Orisa devotee and initiate.
Elizabeth Sayre, the Program Specialist at the Philadelphia Music Project, will discuss Afro-Cuban percussion during the event, while the performance group Timbalona provides the percussion rhythms.
Elizabeth is a musician and ethnomusicologist. As a percussionist, Elizabeth has apprenticed with masters in Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and West African drumming in Philadelphia; New York; Middletown, Connecticut; San Francisco; and Havana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, and Santiago in Cuba.
Timbalona is a folkloric Latin American dance and music group located in Philadelphia established in 2011. Andrés Cisneros from Venezuela, George "Pupy" Castellanos from Cuba,
and Christian Noguera from Argentina form the group. Timbalona's mission is to create awareness for and promote Afro-Cuban art through classes, workshops, and presentations. The group has provided Rumba classes at Raíces Talentos Studio and will begin registration for Orisa classes beginning in March.
A brief presentation will be made by the Headlong Theater during the Tertulia to introduce the "This Town is a Mystery" project that Raíces is partnering with the theater company to produce.
The same evening, Raíces will present the exhibit "Voces y Colores" [Voices and Colors] featuring Colombian artist Erika Gomez Henao. Erika paints the people and vivid landscapes that she remembers from her childhood on the Pacific coast of Colombia. She is currently studying art at Community College of Philadelphia and is working for the Mural Arts Program. Erika is no stranger to Raíces, as she was one of several artists who participated in a Phoenixville exhibit coordinated by Raíces. Her artwork will be on display at Raíces from February 24- March 2012.
On the last Friday of the month, Raíces presents a Tertulia. This event - for people over 15 years of age - is one of Raíces' most popular programs and presents monthly lectures and discussions on cultural topics. During each Tertulia, after the invited guests' presentation and open public discussions, the microphone is opened to any individual or group who would like to share their talents in music, poetry, dance, etc. Raíces calls this cultural encounter in the café atmosphere "a retreat for the soul."
Please note, much of the speaking is in Spanish, but English translation will be available.
Come and learn about Afro-Cuban music and dance!
Kùlú Mèlé
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