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Latin-American Folkloric Dance Group of Mississippi
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The Latin-American Folkloric Dance Group of Mississippi was born as a
project of the Mississippi Hispanic Association (MHA) to promote and
spread the Hispanic cultural traditions in our state. It had his origin
in a letter of intent written by Esperanza Velasquez (MHA president) July
28, 1998, to Lynn Adams Wilkins, director of the Key Arts Community
Program of the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC).
In the letter it was explained the organization of a Latin folkloric
group was necessary to help fulfill the mission of the association. The
letter of intent was accepted and Mrs. Velasquez continued to present a
proposal to obtain a grant of $10,000. A competition for grant funds
among projects all over the state began on Aug. 15, 1998. On Sept. 16
Mrs. Wilkins announced to the association the “matching Grant” had been
awarded.
On Oct. 19, 1988, before the presence of Mississippi first lady, Pat
Fordice, the contract between MAC, (Executive Director Betsy Bradley) and
the Mississippi Hispanic Association (Esperanza Velasquez as president)
was signed. Also present were Elsa Baughman and Otilia Sebuktekin,
officials of the association.
This project would take two years. There would first be a year of
preparation and organization and then a second year of execution. Reports
of the progress of the project would be presented by the required dates
to receive grant funding increments which had to be "matched" with the
same amount funded by the association that was and is the main patron.
Mrs. Aurora Meraz assumed the artistic direction of the dance group as an
unpaid volunteer. Mrs. Meraz was a capable connoisseur and interpreter of
the Mexican folklore.
The association recruited several participants and after several tries
the dancers were: Gilberto Mazy, Silvia Mazy, Erika Vásquez, Jorge
Enrique Maya, Zulmita Cuadra, Gabriel Thomas, Victory Scantlebury and
Rigoberto Murillo. The group made its first presentation during the
International Night of Dance, an activity of the International Spring
Festival of Jackson State University, in the Alamo Theater, April 28,
1999.
The association was committed to recruit partners to support the group.
Aside from MAC, they were: the Arts Alliance of Hinds County, Mississippi
Catholic newspaper, St. Mark Episcopal Church, B.C. Rogers of Morton and
the Clarion Ledger. These partners provided money, publicity and space to
practice. The dancers participation was voluntary. The grant would pay
for clothes, transportation, publicity, sound equipment, music,
instruments, expenses of presentations, etc. Near the end of 1999 Rafael
Mahecha and Mayan Mauricio joined the group. By the middle of 2000,
Murillo and Thomas resigned and in their place Gabriela Thomas, Bibiana
Mahecha and Andrés Méndez joined. Angela Velasquez, Nathaly Love, and
Juan Tarazona were part of the group.
From April of 1999 to Aug.15, 2000, the date in which the first part of
the project was completed, the group made the following presentations:
Children's Summer Sampler, Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi, Inc. Natchez Trace Parkway, Ridgeland, June 5, 1999.
Latin festival, LeFleur's Bluff State Park, Jackson, the Sept. 18, 1999.
International Friends Club, Christmas Program, Dinsmor House Club, Ridgeland, Dec. 16, 1999.
Empowerment 2000, Novia Publishing, “A Spirit of Diversity”, Oct. 2 1999, in Jackson.
"Kaleidoscope, To Multi-cultural Celebration", Hinds Community College, Oct. 25, 1999.
St. Peter's Cathedral, Jackson, Celebrating "Twenty Years of Hispanic Ministry", Our Lady of Guadalupe Day, Dec. 12, 1999.
"International Evening of Dance", Jackson State University, Alamo Theater, April 12, 2000.
"Latin Serenade", Agriculture and Forestry Museum, Jackson, April 29, 2000.
Paso Fino Equestrian Arena Inauguration, Hattiesburg, Aug. 12, 2000.
Latin Festival, LeFleur's Bluff State Park, Jackson, Sept. 16, 2000.
Once the first part of the project was finished, a report was given to
the MAC. The association has continued sponsoring the group. From 2001 to
Dic. 2003, Mrs. Zulma Cuadra assumed the direction of the group. |
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