The Semblanza Latinoamericana held its annual Latin American Folk&Dance festival at the Los Angeles Theater Center on October 17. The night was filled with beautiful representations of Bolivia, Panama, the United States, Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, and Ecuador. Audience members in the cozy theater rooted for their respective countries just as passionately as the fans of the Los Angeles baseball team that was playing somewhere else not too far from there. Even so, their was an all around respect and admiration for all of the countries in general, for it seemed that each country received a gasp and wondering stare from at least one audience member who was not familiar with their dance. Evey one learned something that night, whether it was a lyrical gesture or a greater tolerance for their fellow Latin American neighbor. Most of all, the most prominent lesson was that there is a richness and diversity throughout the countries that form Latin America, and it was appropriately displayed through dance.
Here are some photos from that night.
1.Los Angeles Based Tierra Blanca performing an Afro-Mestizo dance from Veracruz, Mexico.
2.Colombia's group Folklore de Mi Tierra performing "La Puya Loca" cumbia.
3.From Cuatro Caminos Art&Flamenco, Lisa Solar and guitarist Walter Molina performing a style called Alegria.
4.Panama's Ballet Folklorico "Viva Panama" dancing to "El Borracho" and "Viva Panama".
