World-class danzón concert coming
By Krishna Villena
November 7, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Dance
Acerina y su Danzonera 
Sat, Nov 15, 8pm
Plaza Real del Conde, Events Room
150 pesos; reservations 50 pesos (four-seat table)

On November 15, the highly acclaimed Acerina and his Danzonera, the premier danzón group in North America, performs in San Miguel.

Miguel Faílde, from Matanzas, Cuba, is credited with creating this musical genre, which combines elements of traditional Spanish dance and French contradance. 

In Cuba, slavery existed until the beginning of the twentieth century, and social, economic and racial divisions prevented interaction between white and black cultures. Out of this divisiveness danzón emerged to open a door to people of different races and social statuses to share the dance floor.

“This cultural blending helped lead to the Cuban war of independence in 1894,” said Adolfo Rubio, a journalist and music critic. It is said that thanks to the danzón, Cubans had a moral and ethical basis to consolidate as a nation, that it gave them identity and a sense of belonging.”

In Mexico, danzón started with Cuban percussionist Robert Consejo Valiente, who arrived in the Yucatán in 1921 and joined maestro Juan Concha and his Stars orchestra. 

The orchestra later moved to Mexico City, where Acerina took over the band and created Acerina and his Danzonera. The group has been together since 1940. “Music enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enjoy and dance to one of the greatest orchestras in the world,” said Rubio.

Dance classes will be given by the professional dancers who accompany the orchestra, and local danzón instructors will also be on hand. 

Advance tickets are on sale Thursday and Friday, November 13–14, in the Jardín and at Plaza Real del Conde.

Acerina is coming
By Leonardo Rosen; Photos by Carmen Riojas

Dance
La Primer Danzonera de América “Acerina”
Sonora Cumarebo
Sociedad Civil en Marcha fundraiser
Sat, Nov 15, 9pm
Centro de Convenciones
Plaza Real del Condé
Salida a Querétaro
200 pesos

Danzón
Orquesta Marimba Tono 13 
Sun, Nov 9, 1–3pm & 6–8pm
Sun, Nov 30, 1–3pm & 6–8pm
Jardín kiosk
Free

Two members of “Danzonmanía” performance company of México City, performing in the Jardín.

Two years ago the danzón didn’t exist in San Miguel, with the exception of a rare special exhibition. It is now definitely a part of the cultural landscape of this city, thanks to the enthusiastic response to the bimonthly social dance events in the Jardín, a latter-day “love-in,” with the fabulous orquesta marimba “Tono 13.” Thank you, everybody.

We’re coming back bigger and better on November 9 and 30, with Tono 13 sessions of danzón and other dance rhythms. Men are dancing again and more and more people are doing the danzón for the first time. It’s beautiful!

In the middle of the month, the danzón explodes in this town in all its dazzling glory. The Sociedad Civil en Marcha, a respected San Miguel service organization, is best known for presenting the annual Encuentros Internacionales de la Convivencia Universal in May. This international cultural festival promotes universal friendship and peace. The Society’s special fundraising gala dance on November 15 features Mexico’s most famous danzón orchestra of all time, La Primer Danzonera de América “Acerina.” In social dance circles, that name is pronounced reverently; there is no better than “Acerina.” The local band Sonora Cumarebo also appears, playing a variety of Latin rhythms. There will be danzón exhibitions and Club de Danzón Mercerina will be on hand to greet and dance with you.

Consejo Valiente Robert “Acerina,” the forever-king of the danzón, passed on to glory in 1987. However, his grand orchestra under the direction of maestro Diego Pérez plays on, absolutely faithful to the master’s unique style. This immortal of music and dance who said, “I was born in Cuba, but I am Mexican,” left an indelible personal imprint on the danzón.

Now, we in San Miguel have the opportunity to experience Acerina’s legacy. The table reservation is 50 pesos and tickets are 150 pesos, sold at Plaza Real del Conde, Hernández Macías 47, and in the Jardín. Telephone 152-2995 or 152-1003 for information.

Zumba with César is more than a fitness class
By Krishna Villena

Centro de Artes Escénicas El Recreo (César)
Monday thru Friday 9am, 
Tuesday, Thursday 7am
Monday, Wednesday 8:30pm, Friday 8pm
20pesos 

Parque Benito Juárez (César) 
Saturday 8:30am
20pesos 
Parque Clouthier (Cristina) 
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5pm
Free

Canchas del Frac. Insurgentes (Cristina)
Tuesday, Thursday 5pm
Wednesday 6:30pm
Free
www.zumbacesarzumba.com 

Through affordable public classes given in outdoor spaces such as Parque Juárez and the Jardín esplanade, César Espinosa and Cristina del Carmen De Anda Morales are the two certified instructors who have undertaken the challenge of popularizing Zumba in San Miguel.

Atención’s Krishna Villena had the opportunity to talk with them.

Krishna Villena: César what did you do before coming to San Miguel?

César Espinosa: I used to work as an entertainer for a hotel chain and on cruise ships. I traveled a lot. One day I decided I had to come back home to my parents and live here.

KV: How did you adapt to coming home? CE: I arrived with almost no money and two suitcases. I said to myself, “I am not going to die of starvation,” and I started knocking on doors. I taught Pilates, Tae Bo and spinning classes.

I am also a professional dancer. It was very hard because nobody knew me, and nobody trusted me. It took me about a year to get people to know me. I set up a studio where I taught jazz dance for girls. 

KV: How did you start teaching classes at the Recreo art center?

CE: Through my jazz group and Carmen Arroyo, the administrator. I will always thank Carmen for this opportunity. I also started teaching dance classes for adults. One day, one of my students showed me a video of a Zumba class. I was very interested and searched for more information in the internet. Soon, I went to Monterrey to become certifed to teach Zumba.

KV: Cristina how did you and César become a team? Cristina del Carmen De Anda Morales: I was part of the Folkloric Ballet of San Miguel de Allende. I got hooked on Zumba during the first class I took with César. I’m an accountant, and now I teach Zumba, too.

I’m in charge of organizing classes, scheduling, appointments, etc. We work in harmony. 

KV: Do you teach outdoor Zumba classes? 

CDA: Yes, I teach at Parque Clouthier and in the Insurgentes neighborhood park, in collaboration with a Social and Human Development Department program called Rescuing Public Spaces. The department pays me directly; the only condition is that people keep the parks clean and in good shape.

KV: Zumba classes have not just brought you economic benefits, but also great personal satisfaction. Why do you help other people? CE: Why not? We all have had a need sometime in our lives and asked for help.

There are a lot of people that don’t know that the Sunday classes in Parque Juárez are to benefit others. 

KV: What has touched you the most?

CE: Some time ago, a man with cancer came to us to ask for help. We had a class and gave him the money for his therapy expenses. After a while he came back again because he was very ill and needed more help. He hugged us and thanked us for the help. Unfortunately, he died before we could give him the money. For us that was a farewell hug.

KV: What is your goal in doing this? CE: What I want is to create a chain of favors. I do something for you; you do something for other people. I think we all must work as a team.

It is important to be aware of the huge needs of the people in the communities and poor neighborhoods. Let’s all do something! 

KG: What are your future plans?

CE: There’s a lot of new Zumba stuff coming, such as new tools like maracas. Zumba Kids is becoming popular, too, and I also have a plan for classes for pregnant women that I will present to the Zumba Fitness company. The invitation is open to everybody.

Zumba Fitness was born in Colombia in the mid-nineties. Its creator, Beto Pérez, never imagined that introducing salsa and merengue in an aerobics class would give him the key to generate an innovative fitness program.

Today, Zumba Fitness continues growing in popularity around the world. In Mexico, San Miguel de Allende is one of the cities where it has been most successful.