Our classes, programs. and rehearsals are held
at our brand new, beautiful Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance and Cultural Center,
a 2,100 square foot facility featuring dance studios with hardwood maple
floors and mirrors. The cultural center is located 701 Tillery Street, in
East Austin.
Company Dance Class (Advanced) - By Invitation Only
This fast-paced company class is targeted for company members, who are
already at an advanced level in Puerto Rican folkloric dances.
The class teaches new advanced dances and techniques and
focuses on traditional dances such as Bomba, Plena, Seis and Danza.
To grow a well-rounded company, we also experiment with modern styles
of dance relevant to our culture. This on-going class
is divided into 6-week workshops that focus on a single dance style.
Each class builds on knowledge from previous lessons towards a
complex, full-length, folk-dance choreography for performance.
Stage presence and teamwork are a major focus of this class.
We also make use of acting skills to bring our dance expression to another
dimension. Lessons on Puerto Rican food, language,
history, and more are added to enhance the base appreciation of
Puerto Rican culture. Our classes are joyful, fun, and challenging!
Semesters culminate in a major Performance
June (spring) and December (fall).
MUSIC PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
Youth Choir
This music class teaches traditional and popular Puerto Rican
compositions, including Canciones Infantiles (traditional children's
songs) to children and teens. It is a joyful way to
practice or learn spanish! Semester works towards a
Recital
performance in May (spring) and December (fall), with live musical
accompaniment.
Youth Percussion Class
This music class for beginning Youth (ages 10 through Teen) teaches traditional
percussion rhythms from Puerto Rico, such as Bomba and Plena, as
well as other afro-caribbean percussive rhythms relevant to our culture.
Instruments taught include barriles, panderos, and small percussion.
Lessons on Puerto Rican food, language, history, and more
are added to enhance the base appreciation of Puerto Rican culture.
Semester culminates in a Recital
in May (spring) and December (fall).
Company Percussion Class
By invitation only. This very advanced percussion class teaches
traditional percussion rhythms from Puerto Rico, such as Bomba and Plena, as
well as complex compositions for barriles, panderos, small percussion, and other percussion instruments. Lessons on Puerto Rican food, language, history, and
more are added to enhance the base appreciation of Puerto Rican culture.
Semester culminates in a Recital
in May (spring) and December (fall).
Student Music Ensemble
This program teaches Puerto Rican compositions to those demonstrating an
intermediate to advanced level of proficiency in an instrument,
percussion, or voice. This ensemble is ideal for junior high, high
school, or adult students who have command of their instrument and
are interested in learning authentic orchestration of Puerto Rican music
and cultural traditions. Semesters culminate in a
Recital in May (spring) and December (fall).
Professional Music Ensemble
Audition Required. This program teaches Puerto Rican compositions to those
demonstrating a very advanced proficiency in instrument, percussion, or
voice. It is
targeted at advanced through professional musicians interested in learning
authentic orchestration of Puerto Rican music and cultural traditions.
For those already familiar with Puerto Rican music and culture,
folklore, and traditions, this music ensemble offers opportunities to
work on the highest-quality performance material, keep polished, and/or
improve technique and orchestration skills.
Semesters culminate in a Recital
in May (spring) and December (fall).
Professional-level musicians who demonstrate a devoted heart, and a passion
and commitment to the non-profit mission of PRFDance, may be invited to
join the PRFDance Performing Company Musicos.
Puerto Rican Masters
By Director's Invitation. This program attracts active, professional musicians
already fully skilled and knowledgeable in the full breath of Puerto Rican
music, folklore, history and cultural traditions. These members are a
living resource to PRFDance in the full cross-section of Puerto Rican
traditional music, including the
range of compositions, traditional styles, and the history of composers
and musical artists relevant to our culture. Their expertise is
complete enough to teach a class in Puerto Rican music and culture,
and can represent us as an "expert" in Puerto Rican music and
cultural traditions at a conference, workshop or live media interview.
Puerto Rican Masters participate in the Professional Music Ensemble
and enjoy working on high-quality performance material, keep
polished, or improve their technique and orchestration
skills. Commitment to attend regular rehearsals is a program requirement.
Semesters culminate in a Recital
in May (spring) and December (fall).
Puerto Rican Masters who demonstrate a devoted heart, and a passion
and commitment to the non-profit mission of PRFDance, may be invited to
join the PRFDance Performing Company Musicos.
Performance Training Program - Music
By Director's invitation. Advance students excelling in the Student
Music Ensemble Program, and in their instrument, may be invited to
participate in
the Performance Training Program. This highly competitive program teaches
the art of professional-quality performance in folklore and provides an
opportunity to learn advanced-level material.
Commitment and good attendance is a program requirement. Semesters culminate
in a Recital
in May (spring) and December (fall). Successful apprentices who have
reached an advanced or professional level may be invited to join the
PRFDance Performing Company Musicos. This invitation is highly competitive
and is not guaranteed through this program.
Performing Company Musicos
By Director's formal invitation only. Very advanced musicians from
the Professional Music Ensemble or the Puerto Rican Masters program who
have demonstrated a devoted heart and a
passion and commitment to the nonprofit mission of PRFDance may be invited to
join the PRFDance Performing Company Musicos. Our Company performs at
cultural and artistic events in Austin throughout the year. Company
musicians remain active members in the Music Ensemble as well as attend
closed company rehearsals that polish material to performance perfection.
On selected nights, full-company rehearsals are held which include Company
Dancers. Commitment to attend the Ensemble program and company rehearsals is a
program requirement.
Full Company Rehearsals
By Director's formal invitation only.
Our Company performs at cultural and artistic events in Austin throughout the year. As needed,
full company rehearsals are held which are a combined rehearsal for the entire
PRFDance Performing Company of Dancers and Musicans. There's nothing like
practicing and performing artistic material live to inspire the best sound in music and
the most joyful dance. There is nothing like practicing and performing live
to really learn how to work as a team.
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
Semi-Annual Recitals
(Photo Album)
Learning the art of performance is an important part of the formal
education students receive through our programs. Professionals
participating in our programs also enjoy the opportunity to work on
high-quality performance material and present. For this reason, the fall
and spring semesters culminate in a Recital. For students, this valuable
out-of-classroom training gives them experience and insights that
cannot be learned in a studio. It also gives our professional-level members a
chance to be a role model for up and coming talent.
The Spring Gala in May gives students the important experience
of performing in a distinct and close-up setting, as well as an
opportunity to present with our professional-level performing company.
Sembrando Herencia, in December,
is a full-length performance that provides a real-theater experience
and an opportunity to share the stage with our Performing Company.
Good attendance during the semester is required to master the material
and perform in these recitals.
Company Performances
(Photo Album)
Our professional performing company, Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance,
performs at cultural and artistic events in Austin throughout the year. We
also perform in two annual full-length productions that joyfully celebrate
Puerto Rican folklore and culture.
Celebrando (June) is a professional-quality, main-stage production
and joint-performance with Puerto Rican masters. Sembrando Herencia
(December) is a full-length performance that gives our performing
arts students an opportunity to share the stage with our Performing Company.
Classes Outside of Austin
See our Links Page for a listing of the schools and
cultural centers that we know of
in other cities. If you teach Puerto Rican traditional dances, music or culture,
contact us and we'll add your information.
Dr. Ana Maria Maynard, Director
Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center
Center Location: 701 Tillery Street, Austin TX 78702-3740
Mailing Address: 15228 Quiet Pond Court, Austin TX 78728-4555
Phone: +1.512.251.8122
Email: dance@prfdance.org
Web: www.prfdance.org
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