Spring Time Full of Dance

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Luna Negra Dance Theater, Chicago’s premier professional dance company devoted to the creation and presentation of Latino contemporary dance, presents its spring concert, an exceptional performance of the work of four critically acclaimed Latino choreographers at the Athenaeum Theatre on March 5 and 6, 2005.

Luna Negra’s March concert program will include:

Sonetos de Amor (Love Sonnets) by Pedro Ruiz-A World Premiere exclusively created for Luna Negra. Inspired by the words of the poet Pablo Neruda, Ruiz has created a lyrical and romantic piece set to a range of music from Mexico to South America.

Cantos par una Noche Viajera (Songs for a Night Journey) by Eduardo Vilaro-An exquisite ensemble dance set to Dvorak’s Gypsy Songs sung by soprano Michelle Areyzaga and accompanied on piano by Ravinia Festival’s Welz Kauffman.

Vidrio by Eduardo Vilaro-A romantic duet set to by Rachmaninoff’s Vocalize, sung by soprano Michelle Areyzaga and accompanied on piano by Ravinia Festival’s Welz Kauffman.

Late…after Siesta by Eduardo Vilaro-A magical duet that uses gestures, both funny and horrific, to expose a couple’s emotional ambiguity and struggles to find connection. It is set to music by Alejandro Jaen as sung by Chavela Vargas.

The Last 12 Minutes by Ron DeJesus-A deep and intense piece that imagines the choices we make and the emotions we experience to get to acceptance and release in both life and death.

Batucada Fantastica by Vicente Nebrada-A classic work by the late Venezuelan master choreographer. It is a stunning series of eight solos that culminate in a riot of ensemble dancing. Set to the music of Luciano Perrone, this piece captures the exuberant energy of Brazil’s Carnival.

The Spring performances will be Saturday, March 5 at 8:00pm and Sunday, March 6 at 3:00pm. The Athenaeum Theatre is located at 2936 N. Southport in Chicago. Tickets are $15-$20 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster at (312) 902-1500 or www.ticketmaster.com and The Athenaeum Theatre Box Office (773) 935-6860.

21st Chicago Latino Film Festival

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Join the International Latino Cultural Center in a celebration of Latino Culture and Cinema at the 21st Chicago Latino Film Festival.  A broad selection of films from more than 20 countries, ranging from documentaries to comedies and dramas.  From the traditional to the experimental, the Festival has something for everyone.

(Look for a complete film listing on their website in mid-March)

Opening Night
Fri, April 8th - Thorne Auditorium, Northwestern University

A Night of Spain
Mon, April 11th - Piper Alley & Tony n' Tina's Wedding

Noche Mexicana
Sat, April 16th - Thorne Auditorium, Northwestern University

Closing Night
Wed, April 20th - Piper Alley (Party location TBA)

Tickets for the Galas go on sale Friday, March 4, call (312) 431-1330
www.latinoculturalcenter.org

Marisol Comes Back To Pilsen

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A panel discussion on the American Girl new doll, Marisol Luna. Members of the community, students and Chicago residents will hear diverse perspectives on the ways in which a doll can trigger public debate about how a minority neighborhood is represented to the larger public.
Panelists:

* Claudia Romero, Pilsen Alliance Board Member
* Ray Salazar, Radio Commentator for Chicago Public Radio
* Christina Gomez, Assistant Professor, Sociology, Northeastern Illinois University
* Salvador Cerna, Co-District Director, Congressman Gutierrez D-4
* Frances Aparicio, Moderator, Professor/Director Latin American and Latino Studies, UIC

Thursday, February 24, 2005
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Rudy Lozano Library
1805 S. Loomis
Chicago, IL
This event is free and open to the general public. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, please call (312) 996-2445.

Winter Time In the Desert

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Mariela In the Desert

For those of you who loved "The Sins of Sor Juana" by Karen Zacarías and directed by Edward F. Torres than you must check out "Mariela In the Desert" by the same playwright and directed by Henry Godinez. The lead actress is Sandra Márquez the same one from "Sins."

Play Synopsis: Jose and Mariela are two artists who lived the high life in Mexico City, counting Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo among their friends. Now they live in a ruined artists' colony in the desert as Mariela waits for Jose to die. They anticipate the arrival of their grown daughter, and live with the ghost of their young son.

Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60601
Tickets: 312-443-3800

Opening Date: January 29, 2005
Closing Date: February 27, 2005

Mexicanidad: Celebration of Mexican Art

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This weekend give your sweetie some art from heart. Join Artistic Director Edward F. Torres of Teatro Vista in a unique collaboration with the Art Institute of Chicago as ensemble members Charin Alvarez and Gustavo Melado presents slides and excerpts from letters and diaries of famed Mexican artists. Afterwards, you can head next door to, my favorite after theatre supper club, Petterinos and treat your sweetie to scrumptious appetizers and sinful margaritas.

Sunday, February 13, 2005
The Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn
Chicago, IL 60601

Tickets only $10 and $7!

For tickets call Goodman Box Office at 321-443-3800

Bless Me, Ultima

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I was scanning articles when I came across this article out of Colorado. Some dinky superintendent in Colorado pulled "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya from a ninth grade English class. You would think the teacher was assigning them to read Mein Kampf. Someone found the language and "paganistic practices" offensive. This freak has also admited to not reading the book. Leave it to some bible thumping yahoo whose kid probably curses like a sailor and watches all the crap on tv. What fascinates me is the power of words and the fear that they can invoke. So it's the 21'st century and idiots like Conder gives two dozen of the books to a parent to be destroyed. I'll be damned nothing changes.

The book is about Ultima, an old curandera who comes to live with the family of a young New Mexican boy. She teaches him about the healing powers of the natural environment and the human spirit. Rudolfo Anaya is acclaimed as the founder of modern Chicano literature. According to the New York Times, he is the most widely read author in Hispanic communities. His works are standard texts in Chicano studies and literature courses around the world. Click title bar to read article.

Get this banned book now at Amazon

Advocates of the Arts Please Read

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I received this via email and thought I'd share it...

Art Advocates,

President Bush today sent his FY 2006 budget request to Congress, beginning the yearly appropriations process for the nation's cultural agencies and programs including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Office of Museum Services (OMS) and the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs.

For FY 2006, the President has requested $121.3 million for NEA and $138.1 million for NEH. In effect, the President has level-funded these programs; he has neither offered an increase, nor has he requested any
cuts. The President requested a funding boost of $4.19 million (a 12 percent increase) for the Office of Museum Services, bringing the total OMS budget to $38.9 million.

This is the fifth consecutive year, the President's budget has eliminated funding for the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs, which includes model arts collaborations with schools, teacher professional development, and arts programs for at-risk youth. It is important to remember that the President has never requested funding for these programs. This funding is traditionally restored by the Senate and accepted by the House in conference.

As you know, the President's budget is the first step in the appropriations process. While it serves as an important framework, Congress has the power to set its own priorities and change these funding levels. That's where you come in.

Arts advocates can make their voices heard by writing their Members of Congress and urging them to increase funding for arts and culture and restore funding for arts in education programs. We encourage you to
visit our E-Advocacy Center at

www.capwiz.com/artsusa

and write to your elected officials urging them to support funding
increases for the arts.

If you have any questions, please contact Justin Beland, Government
Affairs and Grassroots Manager, at jbeland@artsusa.org.

THINK PINK THIS WEEK

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Chicas think Martinis In Pink this Thursday, February 10 as Futura Mix and Nuestra Imagen Hispana Magazine team up to spoil us at Hot Pink Boutique.

There will be all sorts of goodies from complimentary martinis to manicures.

Hot Pink is located at 1464 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL
(773) 227-7477 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.