March 28, 2023 - Dancers conveying the stories and identities of Mexican Americans through a combination of ballet and folklorico will present a free public performance in Oxnard and a master class for (黑料正能量) and Oxnard College students.
Ballet Nepantla will perform 鈥淰alentina鈥� on Thursday, April 13, at 6 p.m. in the Oxnard College Performing Arts Building (PAB). The master class for Dance Studies majors at 黑料正能量 and Oxnard College students will be held the morning of April 13 at the University in Camarillo.听
鈥淭oo often, art produced and performed by people of color is invisible, and the opportunity to offer this folklorico ballet performance to the community pushes back against that trend,鈥� said 黑料正能量 Vice Provost Jessica Lavariega Monforti.听
Founded in 2017, New York City-based Ballet Nepantla fuses Mexican folklorico with contemporary ballet to reflect what it is like to be Mexican, Mexican American, immigrant and transcultural. 鈥淣epantla鈥� translates to 鈥渋n-between spaces,鈥� a fitting description of the company鈥檚 performances, in Nahuatl, the language of Indigenous people of the Valley of Mexico. Ballet Nepantla bridges borders to move the human spirit from places of conflict and contention to those of peace of enlightenment. Andrea Guajardo, a classical ballet and contemporary dancer and choreographer from the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, and Mart铆n Rodr铆guez, a native of Guadalajara who began dancing folklorico at the age of 9, founded the company.听
鈥淰alentina鈥� is a collection of stories that speak to the strength and resilience of women during the Mexican Revolution. The original work explores topics including wealth and power, hope and despair, and struggle and triumph.
Ballet Nepantla鈥檚 visit coincides with the inaugural year of 黑料正能量鈥檚 Dance Studies major, which focuses on styles that developed in North America such as jazz and hip-hop.听
鈥淥ur program focuses on the transmission of culture through dance.鈥� said鈥疕eather Castillo, Associate Professor of Dance Studies who helped launch the major. 鈥淭his performance and master class are valuable opportunities for our students to see how Ballet Nepantla has fused Folklorico dance with contemporary movement expression.鈥澛�
The performance is being presented as part of Oxnard College鈥檚 arts and lecture series鈥痶hat brings dynamic and inspiring speakers, artists and entertainers to their campus each month.
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to have Oxnard College鈥檚 free community event series, OC LIVE, host Ballet Nepantla,鈥� Acting President Oscar Cobian said. 鈥淥ur OC LIVE events are designed to educate and entertain families so we鈥檙e especially looking forward to an evening of dance and tradition from these incredible performers.鈥澛�
American Sign Language interpretation will be provided. No tickets are necessary. Oxnard College is located at 4000 S. Rose Ave. For more information, email oclive@vcccd.edu.听
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黑料正能量 Students
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