By Elsanne Barrows

An evening of belly dance at the Teatro Santa Ana: —“Una Noche de la Danza del Vientre” — features dancers from Sonora, Queretaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi and the United States in a varied, sumptuous spectacle of dance as taught at Libelula dance studio in colonia San Antonio. Belly dance teachers and professionals from these diverse areas of Mexico come to San Miguel’s Libelula studio once a month to learn the studio’s signature tribal style, which will be the crown jewel of the evening. Rounding out the show will be more classic belly dance styles and a palette of colors and sounds, infusing spectators with the mystical movements and compelling rhythms that characterize dances from the Middle East.  “A Night of Belly Dance” comes to San Miguel to the Teatro Santa Ana on Saturday, May 25, at 7pm. Tickets are 100 pesos and are available at the Teatro Santa Ana, Reloj 50A.

Dance
Bellydance show
“A Night of Bellydance — Una Noche de la Danza del Vientre”
Sat, May 25, 7pm
Teatro Santa Ana
La Biblioteca
Reloj 50A
100 pesos

By Leonardo Rosen

At its regular Monday meeting of April 29, 2013, the City Council of San Miguel de Allende voted unanimously to bestow a great honor on the Club de Danzón “Mercerina.” This legislation gives our group a special status as the official representative of our city to the danzón in all of the Mexican Republic. We express our deepest appreciation to Lic. Mauricio Trejo, Presidente Municipal (Mayor), Lic. José Luis Chagoyán, Síndico Municipal (Deputy Mayor), and Prof. Acasio Martínez, Director de Educación, Cultura y Tradiciones for proposing this and to the City Council for approving it.

Dance
Danzón
w/Club de Danzón “Mercerina”
Sun, May 12, 1-3pm & 5-7pm
Jardín Principal
Free

At this writing, some of us are about to travel to the biggest national danzón event of the year in the port of Veracruz, May 2-May 5. On June 15, the Club de Danzón “Mercerina” will perform at the Muestra Nacional del Danzón de San Luis Potosí 2013. From now on wherever we go, we will proudly carry this badge of honor. We have always represented San Miguel de Allende to the best of our ability. Now, we have a wonderful new incentive to do this even better.

Since the danzón did not travel intact from Cuba and Mexico to the US and other countries, many people in the world do not know what an important tradition it is in this country. Since it arrived here from Cuba more than 130 years ago, it has been a source of pride and joy for the Mexican people. It is a national treasure. You may not know that the Tango Argentino is a Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad de UNESCO. (This status is not only granted to places.) One of my dreams is to see the danzón also receive that prestigious award. It would be very well deserved.

Please join us for “El Danzón y Otros Ritmos Bailables con el Club de Danzón Mercerina” on Sunday May 12, 1pm-3pm and 5pm-7pm in the Jardín Principal of SMA at the Kiosco. Admission is free. We are now in San Miguel’s low season, so we especially appreciate your support and participation. We play the best Latin music for your dancing pleasure, as well as present dance exhibitions. ¡Rico y Suave!

Every year, the same thing happens with the end of Holy Week. The Mexican tourists go back to work and school in Mexico City and other places. The “snowbirds” return to their northern countries, now that it is warm enough up there. What happens to San Miguel? It dies. It goes through two and a half to three months of “Business is terrible.”

Dance
Danzón
w/“El Danzón y Otros Ritmos Bailables con el Club de Danzón Mercerina”
Sun, Apr 14, 1-3pm & 5-7pm
Jardín Principal
Free

What some other touristic cities do is present highly attractive events during what would otherwise be slow months. For example, the port of Veracruz presents the biggest national danzón event of the year at the beginning of May. It is very hot and humid, but the faithful, such as I, fill up the hotels and restaurants, and buy plenty of stuff. Toward the end of May, when it is even stickier, the bordering city of Boca del Río presents an international salsa festival that packs them in. No, I won’t give a whole list of Mexican cities that offer really terrific events in the so-called “down months.”

San Miguel should be offering some bigger, high-quality events in April, May and June. Otherwise, there are only expensive weddings, which benefit a very few big hotels, but not the town’s businesses in general. What can be done?

The Club de Danzón “Mercerina” performed in the Muestra Nacional del Danzón de Guanajuato 2013 (National Danzón Exhibition of Guanajuato 2013), February 22-24. Groups came from all over the country to perform their choreographies in costume before the public, and then they and others attended a gala dance. The same two very famous danzón orchestras played at two muestras and at the gala dance. This meant that some 45 groups performed and that some 1,500 people bought tickets to the dance. The finishing event was a free concert/dance in the Jardín de la Unión with the Symphonic Band of Guanajuato. The city of Guanajuato did very good business. The hotels and restaurants were full and people bought plenty of stuff.

In November of 2011, the Club “Mercerina” presented a low-cost, admission-free regional event with recorded music in connection with the Feria de la Lana y el Latón. More than 20 groups from all over the Bajío and as far away as México, DF performed, even though we were in direct competition with a national danzón event in San Juan del Río, Guanajuato, that very day. It was very successful. Because of the transition period between city governments, we couldn’t get the support to repeat it in 2012. How about the “Segunda Convivencia Regional del Danzón en San Miguel de Allende 2013?” This would be a good way to test the water to see if it would be possible to present a more elaborate national danzón event here. Our honorable municipal government has our proposals in writing.

What I’m saying has not only to do with the danzón. There are so many possibilities for fairs, festivals, expositions, etc. in music, dance, regional arts and crafts, regional gastronomy, and more. Of course, these would have to be very well advertised. San Miguel does not have to die after Holy Week!

Doing our part to keep it alive, we present “El Danzón y Otros Ritmos Bailables con el Club de Danzón Mercerina” on Sunday, April 14, in the Jardín Principal, 1-3pm and 5-7pm. Admission is free. We play your favorite Latin music for dancing and we present dance exhibitions by San MIguel’s best. For information, please call 152-6385 (Educación y Cultura) or 154-5840 (Leonardo Rosen). With your participation, we’ll reach our fifth anniversary in very few months. “Mi Vida Por Un Danzón” (“My LIfe For A Danzón”).

Men in belly dance? At Libelula dance studio in the colonia San Antonio, exclusively women come to classes and I am often asked this question: do men belly dance? The answer: yes. Traditionally, folkloric styles of Middle Eastern dances have a very clear role for men in the dance. Yet, in art there are no boundaries, and Steven Eggers from California, with an international reputation that has taken him to Russia, Germany, and Colombia, to name a few countries, will share with our community just what has taken him so far: a genre of belly dance called Tribal Fusion Bellydance.

Bellydance Show
“The Most Beautiful Boy in Bellydance”
Sat, Mar 9, 7pm
Shelter Theatre
Vicente Guerrero 4
Col. San Rafael
100 pesos

In this genre, precision articulations are emphasized and a clear, concise control over isolations leaves audiences amazed. Rounding out the show will be more classic belly dance styles and a palette of colors and sounds, infusing spectators with the mystical movements and sumptuous rhythms that characterize dances from the Middle East. “The Most Beautiful Boy in Bellydance,” Eggers’ tagline, comes to San Miguel to the Shelter Theater Saturday, March 9, at 7pm, Tickets are 100 pesos and are available at the Shelter Theater (Vicente Guerrero 4, colonia San Rafael).

By Leonardo Rosen

As a man, it is not pleasant for me to say that our greatest problem in the world of social dance is men. Over the years, I’ve written other articles attempting to explain why many (most?) men don’t want to dance. The best explanation that I can come up with is that they have a morbid fear of looking ridiculous.

Dance
Danzón w/El Danzón y Otros Ritmos Bailables con el Club de Danzón Mercerina
Sun, Feb 17, 1-3pm & 5-7pm
Jardín Principal
Admission is free
For more information, please call 152-6385 (Educación y Cultura) or 154-5840 (Leonardo Rosen)

Men, I have news for you. Must of us men already look ridiculous, even without dancing. Why? This is because when we were very young, we were brainwashed with the idea that it was “sissy” for a man to be graceful in anything but sports, which, of course, doesn’t include figure skating. Instead, we were trained that the height of masculine behavior was to lurch around like a tribe of Neanderthals. That is, with feet and knees splayed outward, a kyphotic curve of the vertebral column and no idea of what to do with hands that are not holding a beer and a sandwich. What nonsense! This “manly man” absurdity has horrified many self-respecting women. But, what can they do? They can only deal with what’s out there.

Women love to dance and know that they don’t have to be Pavlova in order to do it and enjoy it. It is very sad that so many women are forced to sit on the side in social dance events.

It is unjust that so many husbands refuse to dance with their own wives. It isn’t that there are not enough men. It’s that there are too damned many of them who refuse to dance. Guys, it is okay to dance. You don’t have to be Fred Astaire. If you dance, you will give great pleasure to the women in your lives. If you are unattached and you dance, you’ll meet the nicest and most interesting women. Based on my own life experience, I think this far better than spending the night on a bar stool getting sloshed and talking silly “bull—t.” Talk about looking, and sounding, ridiculous!

My object here is not to insult or offend my fellow men. I just ask you to please think about what you are doing. In social dance, we need you and want you. Guys who are new to our world are welcomed and appreciated. To the man who says, “I can’t dance. I have two left feet,” I answer, “That’s excellent, because you’ll always know with which foot to start!”

A good place to start is at El Danzón y Otros Ritmos Bailables con el Club de Danzón Mercerina. Admission is free. For more information, please call 152-6385 (Educación y Cultura) or 154-5840 (Leonardo Rosen). We always play the best Latin dance music. ¡Pa’ Bailar y Pa’ Gozar con Ritmo y Sabor!

Many thanks to Victor Manuel Velázquez, Director of Environment & Ecology of San Miguel, for the lovely certificates of recognition presented to the Club de Danzón “Mercerina” and to me on Sunday, February 3, in the Parque Juárez. Thanks also to Eric Morales and Juan Méndez of that department, and of course, to Mauricio Trejo, Presidente Municipal.

Once again, San Miguel de Allende presents the famous Feria de la Candelaria in the Parque Juárez with its beautiful exhibition and sale of plants and flowers. As in previous years, the Club de Danzón “Mercerina” has been invited to participate with “El Danzón y Otros Ritmos Bailables…..”. Our longtime favorite, the Orquesta Marimba “Tono 13,” plays live and swinging on both dates. We thank the city’s Department of Environment & Ecology for giving us this honor.

Dance
Danzón
w/“El Danzón y Otros Ritmos Bailables…..”
Sun, Feb 3, 1-3pm & 5-7pm
Sun, Feb 10, 12-3pm
At the Feria de la Candelaria 2013
Parque Juárez

Thus, we are at the Feria in the Parque Juárez presenting your favorite Latin dance music, live, on two dates: Sunday, February 3, with two shows, 1-3pm and 5-7pm, and on Sunday, February 10, with one show, 12 noon-3pm. Of course, admission is free. For further information, please call 120-4339 (Ecology) or 154-5840 (Leonardo Rosen).

Personally, I can’t think of a more pleasant way of spending time than smelling those lovely flowers and dancing with the Orquesta Marimba “Tono 13.” Can I have an “Amen” on that? Thank you, my brothers and sisters!

For the 32nd year the National Dance Company will present The Nutcracker in Mexico City. This year, the 80 dancers will offer a performance characterized by artistic and technical innovations and will be accompanied by the orchestra of Bellas Artes, under the baton of director Tadeusz Wojciechowski.

The Nutcracker was written in German in 1816 by E. T. A. Hoffmann and adapted into French by Alexandre Dumas. In 1891, Marius Petipa proposed the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky adapt the story as a ballet. With a script by Petipa and choreography by Lev Ivanov, The Nutcacker premiered on December 17, 1892, at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

In Mexico, the ballet was first performed at the Auditorio Nacional in 1969, in a staging by the Classic Ballet of Mexico choreographed by Jorge Cano. In 1980, the INBA’s National Dance Company premiered a version by Nina Novak, based on Lev Ivanov’s original at the Palacio de Bellas Artes on December 2. Since 2001 the ballet has been performed at the Auditorio Nacional, as it will be this year.

In an interview the choreographer, Nina Novak, said, “This year the performance presents a technical and artistic evolution. We demand the maximum of our dancers because suddenly we found that the movements of this ballet were easy for them, so we decided to make some modifications to make it possible to observe the virtuosity of the performers on stage. As for the artistic aspect, it is a bit more complex because of the nature of the characters. It is not the same for a classical dancer to represent the Sugar Plum Fairy as to play Juliet or Carmen. To bring all those fanciful and unrealistic characters to life represents a worthwhile effort on the part of the members of the company. It’s a challenge to convince the audience—mainly children—that the fantasy is real, so we appeal to emotions and feelings. This year we are accompanied by an orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s work, and that imparts a special character to the performance.  If the dancers listen and follow the emotional tone of the director, they will never make a mistake and will achieve their mission. The inspiration and the most eloquent element to maintain an artistic tone in The Nutcracker is music.”

The ballet is divided into two acts. The first act tells the story of a girl named Clara, who receives a nutcracker from her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, on Christmas Eve. The gift provokes the envy of her brother, Fritz. They go to sleep and Clara dreams that she becomes small, and she finds herself in a battle between mice and a nutcracker, whom she saves. He comes to life as a handsome prince and as a sign of gratitude he invites her to travel through the snow forest.

During the second act, the Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets, where they are welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy. When the Prince describes their daring battle with the mice, she rewards them with a celebration of dances. Different nationalities are represented by the dances of the sweets: chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, tea from China, and so on.

Clara is played by Eliza Ramos, prima ballerina, who in an interview shared her excitement about playing the character. “To play a younger girl, I tried to remember back to my childhood in order to convey what I felt at Christmas, so that I could carry out my character. I try to improve the technique, but I do not neglect the artistic part. This is the most important because the expression of emotions is what moves and excites the public.”

“The Nutcracker is a beautiful Christmas story, and this show includes many dancers, live music, majestic and colorful costumes and fantastical scenery. You don’t need to be an expert to understand the story. In that sense it is a very accessible story for viewers,” said Ramos, who graduated from INBA’s National School of Classical and Contemporary Dance.

Shows are scheduled on Friday 21, 4:30 and 7:30pm; Saturday 22, 7:30pm; and Sunday 23, 4:30 and 7:30pm. Tickets are on sale at the venue box office and Ticketmaster. The ticket prices are as follows: preferred, 500; luneta, 400; balcony, 250; and stage 1, 180 pesos.

Before saying anything else, the Club de Danzón “Mercerina” aplogizes to everyone for all the last minute confusion surrounding our event of Sunday, October 28. However, it was not our fault. Even though our events of that date and Sunday, November 11, were already scheduled and advertised, we were informed at the last moment that we were not permitted to use the Jardín Principal. Prof. Acasio Martínez Ramírez, new Director of Education & Culture, a very fine person, did his best for us. We are grateful to him. Through his good offices, we moved the October 28 event to the shopping plaza, La Luciérnaga. We also thank the management and merchants of the plaza for allowing us this. We were to do two sessions, 1pm-3pm and 5pm-7pm. Last minute announcements were made on radio and television. However, on arrival we found that we were changed to one long session from 1pm-5pm to avoid conflict with the Day of the Dead/Halloween costume parade and contest. What a day!

Danzón
El Danzón y Otros Ritmos Bailables con el Club de Danzón “Mercerina” (recorded music)
Sun, Nov 11, 1-3pm & 5-7pm
Plaza Comercial “La Luciérnaga”
free
Please call in advance for any changes in the schedule at 152-2200 (Teatro Angela Peralta) and 154-5840 (Leonardo Rosen).

All of this happened too late to “pull” our article from Atención. Yes, El Danzón y Otros Ritmos Bailables……. is scheduled for Sunday, November 11, 1pm-3pm and 5pm-7pm, admission-free. However, it would be wise to check a couple of days in advance at 152-2200 (Teatro Ángela Peralta) or 154-5840 (Leonardo Rosen). This time, it should go smoothly (we hope).

As for the future of our public events, we are for the moment dancing in limbo. We do not have clear information as to our government’s plans for the Jardín Principal. We hope that the use of another public space, such as the Parque Juárez or the Plaza Cívica, will be granted to us. However, we simply do not know at this time what will happen. As we get more information, we will share it with you.

Dear public, thank you for more than four years of your support. At this time, we need your understanding and your patience.

Looking back on more than five years of classes and four years of admission-free public events with the Club de Danzón “Mercerina”, there are various things I wish for in San Miguel de Allende. These are not in order of priority:

Danzón
Sun, Jul 29, 1-3pm & 6-8pm
The Kiosco of the Jardín Principal
For more information, call 152-2200 (Teatro Ángela Peralta) or 154-5840 (Leonardo Rosen)
Free

1. I wish for a new modern municipal convention and exposition center, large enough to handle really big events. Certainly the First National Danzón Congress of SMA could be one of them. It is a shame that certain major events that were formerly held here say they cannot do that now because our city does not have sufficient infrastructure. These events have grown and San Miguel hasn’t. By the way, have you seen the beautiful new convention center in the city of Guanajuato?

2. I wish for a new municipal auditorium in our city, of adequate capacity for big events. Our neighbor city, Dolores Hidalgo, has one. Have you seen it? How is it that San Miguel doesn’t have one? The Teatro Ángela Peralta is historic and picturesque. However, it does not have the capacity for larger events. The Cine Hermanos Aldama is larger than the Ángela Peralta, but it is privately owned and has to be rented. It is for sale, but I really don’t know if it would be more economical to just build a new auditorium than for the government to purchase the Aldama.

3. I wish for better utilization of Sam Miguel’s public spaces, especially the Jardín Principal, the Plaza Cívica and the Parque Juárez. I believe that our events, “El Danzón y Otros Ritmos Bailables…” could serve as the prototype for a variety of regularly scheduled admission-free events that have both cultural and entertainment value. These needn’t be costly for the government. Hey, I am a volunteer. I use my CD collection, my knowledge of Latin music and dance, and whatever skills I may have as an MC. I am a bargain! And, I love doing it. There are others like me in other areas of culture.

4. I wish that the municipal government remembers our large and economical event of last November, “La Primera Convivencia Regional del Danzón en San Miguel de Allende 2011” This was in support of the Feria de la Lana y la Latón at the Jardín. The Club de Danzón “Mercerina” elaborated and paid for publicity, invitations to performing groups, signs, programs, certificates of appreciation, etc. The government later gave us partial reimbursement. We were provided with the platform, chairs and technical assistance that were being used all the week of the Feria in any case. In return, with only recorded music, we presented a five-hour event with the coming and going of many people, including lots of tourists. More than 20 groups from all over this region and Mexico City chose to perform at our event with recorded music, instead of going to a national danzón event with live orchestras in San Juan del Río, Queretaro, the very same day. There were interludes of public dancing, too. This event was another bargain! We thank the Department of Fomento Económico for giving us a certificate of recognition. We hope the government considers that high-quality cultural entertainment, admission free, is a big tourist attraction. Also, the people of San Miguel want and deserve this on a regular basis.

5. I wish that we had our wonderful versatile Orquesta Marimba “Tono 13” to play again for our events. We had them for our first year in the Jardín. They didn’t cost that much, as live music goes. We thank the government for paying them. However, we were informed that there would be no more budget for this, and there hasn’t been. Yes, we play the very best recorded music, but there’s nothing like the energy of a good live band.

Believe me, I am grateful for what the government that is leaving has done for us. It helped us according to its priorities. We hope to have a positive and productive relationship with the new municipal government. As cultural volunteers, we are here to serve the people and the government by doing what we know best.

Our events are free of cost, since as many of you already know, the only admission fee is your beautiful smile!

For those of you familiar with San Miguel, you may have heard the name of Carly Cross or Casa Carly. Originally from the greater Philly area but having lived in Montreal, Maine and Northern Virginia, Carly moved to San Miguel in 2001 after founding MexArt, the only program of its kind for teens in Mexico. In 2003, Carly purchased land in San Miguel and in 4 months constructed Casa Carly, the now-permanent home of MexArt. The MexArt Summer Institute is made up of one-month programs where students focus on art or dance and Spanish language. MexArt excels in teaching the visual arts and dance while providing a cultural experience. Most participants travel here from the United States or Canada, although past students have also hailed from Mexico and other countries. Participants choose one area in which to focus their training and other areas with which to experiment. Student talent varies in ability from having an interest to having years of experience and all levels are welcome.

MexArt performan
Fri, Jul 27, 5:30pm
El Sindicato
Recreo 4

For students wanting to become global citizens, MexArt is the perfect first step. Professional artists, dancers and Spanish faculty are talented and enthusiastic teachers. I have been fortunate to be a part of the inspired faculty at MexArt for seven years now. I first met Carly in 2006 and have since been traveling to San Miguel from New York City to teach dance. Each year has brought me much joy and many memorable experiences. I enjoy teaching in a professional setting, helping to create a challenging and dynamic class environment where students can immerse themselves in their skills and artistry. This year I am excited to be working with another talented group of dancers between the ages of 15 and 21.

MexArt participants have also had the pleasure of working with some of San Miguel’s most notable dance teachers in areas of specialty training. Arabian Dance with Julieta Sanchez, Authentic Movement with Ximena Velasco, Social Dancing with Christie Olvera and the crew at Arthur Murray (Ramon, Tara and David), Breaking with Ricardo “Rica” Arellano, and African Dance with Jennifer Hofmann. This year students also gave aerial work a try with Nisha Ferguson of Gravityworks. In addition the MexArt dancers have been teaching a free community service class, twice a week, to kids living in San Miguel. We are excited to present our student show Friday, July 27, at El Sindicato, in culmination of our month’s work. Some special guests will be taking the stage including the MexArt dancers and MexArt kids of San Miguel!

Another exciting aspect of MexArt is the visual arts program. Students choose from painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, metal work, jewelry making and community service. At least 75 percent of these teachers have been teaching with MexArt since its opening summer in 2001. This year’s participants have worked alongside Shannon Reece, who has taught every summer since MexArt was founded. Shannon concentrates on photography and printmaking, with many one-woman shows and significant awards for her work. Another 2012 instructor is Oscar Martinez Heredia, painting and drawing. His work is currently being exhibited at OMO gallery, in the Fabrica Aurora.

Paco works with students in silver jewelry. Born and raised in San Miguel, Paco learned jewelry making from his father. With Paco’s patient guidance and input students produce professional looking jewelry with their own creative touches. Jose Juan Palacio is another San Miguel native that teaches ironwork. He learned his trade by working in a metal workshop with his family and now has his own shop. Joan Elena is the pottery teacher for MexArt. She specializes in hand building, wheel throwing and unique decoration techniques. Rocio and Enrique Prado round out the teaching staff, serving as the Spanish teachers.

The MexArt staff is compiled of outstanding professionals including camp counselor Marti MacInnes, a middle school teacher from San Fransisco, CA. Casa Carly’s staff help create a comfortable home environment for campers with Juana Hernandez as the resident chef.

The 2012 Art students will be presenting their work along side the MexArt Dancers in a combined show. Please join us for an art preview before the dance performance begins. For more information on MexArt, please visit the website at www.gomexart.com