Our Cultural Center's program on Puerto Rican Studies focuses on topics
beyond the performing arts. Lecturers expert
in select areas of Puerto Rican culture offer workshops
in a wide range of topics including literature, food, history,
arts, crafts, sports, and more. Are you an expert on a topic of Puerto Rican
culture or history? We are happy to promote your work.
Contact us for an opportunity to give a workshop!
Film Screening Event: ...And the Dead Shall Rise!, August 21, 2010, 7 pm
Flyer: DeadShallRiseFlyer.pdf!
Join us as we host film producers Carlos Aceves and Gabriel S. Gaytan for the Austin,
Texas premier of "...and the dead shall rise!", a documentary film about the
efforts of several Chicano activists in the 1980s
to revive indigenous traditions once thought lost in a remote time:
In 1969, under El Plan Espiritual de Aztlan, the Chicano Movement ushered in a renewal
of the consciousness of mestizaje, the mixture of Spanish and Indian as a basis for
cultural identity. By 1980 many Chicana/o activists had decided to steer a different
course, that of reclaiming indigenous identity. "...and the dead shall rise" documents
their efforts in both local and international settings, outlining an ideological
framework that now resonates in nearly all Mexican American communities.
Through a narrative guided by the words of 80 year old Rafael Guerrero we witness the
literal rebirth of practices once thought lost in a remote time. Don Rafael, a Yaqui
veteran of the Mexican Revolution, founding member of the United Farm Workers, and
graduate of the University of California, speaks with a compelling authority. He
convinces the viewer that his message was prophetic and it continues to resonate
whenever we hear Evo Morales speak before the U.N. or read blogs about 2012 on the
internet.
The film premiered at the International Latino Film Festival in Chicago in 1990. Now
you can participate in its revival and decide for yourself if don Rafael's prediction
that the "dead shall rise" is becoming a reality. Join us for the Austin premier and
participate in a dialogue of what constitutes an indigenous identity. Special guests
for a panel discussion after the viewing include Dr. Mario Garza, Indigenous Cultures
Institute; Dr. Tekina-eiru' Maynard, Tekina-Suania, Concilio Taino; and the film's
producers Carlos Aceves and Gabriel S. Gaytan.
This event will take place at the Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center,
701 Tillery Street, Austin, TX, 78702. For more information, contact PRFDance or
Maria Rocha, Indigenous Cultures Institute, (512) 393-3310, ICIinfo@IndigenousCultures.org.
3rd Annual Taino Family Camping Trip, October 8-11, 2010
Every year is amazing and we will do it again!
In October, our PRFDance & Cultural Center members, our
cultural arts students and their families
will be enjoying our 3rd Annual Taino Camping Trip for the whole family.
As each year, we will fly Cacike Caciba Opil of
The Concilio Taino
Guatu-Ma-Cu A Boriken
to Austin for a special weekend that will celebrate Taino heritage and give our
families an "outside the classroom," experience in Taino traditions.
Enjoyed activities will including hiking Taino style -- with
mayohuacan (log drum) and maracas! -- Naming and Coming of Age ceremonies,
1000 year ceremonial old ballgames of Batu,
Taino artisanry, authentic Areytos (ceremonial dances), and more!
Don't miss this camping event in the traditions we enjoy on Boriken! More details in
the coming months.
2nd Annual Taino Family Camping Trip, October 9-12, 2009
Last year was amazing and we will do it again!
On October 9-12, 2009, our PRFDance & Cultural Center members, our
cultural arts students and their families
will be enjoying our 2nd Annual Taino Camping Trip for the whole family.
This 4 day event will fly the Cacike Caciba Opil of
The Concilio Taino
Guatu-Ma-Cu A Boriken
to Austin for a special weekend that will celebrate Taino heritage and give our
families an "outside the classroom," experience in Taino traditions.
Planned activities this year include: hiking Taino style -- we take our
mayohuacan (log drum) and maracas with us whereever we go! -- coming of age
and naming ceremonies, play 1000 year old ball game of batu, taller
de artesania Taina and more! Don't miss this camping event in the traditions we
enjoy on Boriken! This family event is sponsored by Ruta Maya Coffee,
Fiesta Mart, and many private donations.
1st Annual Taino Camping Trip, Oct 10-13, 2008
On Oct 10-13, our PRFDance & Cultural Center students and their families
will be enjoying a 1st Annual Taino Camping Trip for the whole family at
Granger Lake. We've reserved campsites for this 4 day event that
will fly El Concilio Taino (http://conciliotainopr.org)'s
Cacike Caciba Opil and Abuela Arani to Austin for a special weekend that will
celebrate Taino heritage with educational activities that will include:
- learn how to sculpt in clay Taino style (vasijas de barro)
- learn how to make casava bread
- play the Taino ballgame of Batu
- a Taino naming ceremony
- and of course, lots and lots of areitos!
This project is sponsored in part by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.
Taino Batu' Ballgame & Celebration Areyto - Sunday, April 27, 2008, 2-5pm
Calling all Tainos and Sports Fans!
Our next 2008 Workshops in Puerto Rican Studies & Sports series invites you
to bring the kids for a Family
Day to learn the Ancient Taino ballgame called Batu'. With similarities
to both soccer and volleyball, Batu' was the first game Europeans encountered
that was played with a rubber ball. A ceremonial ballgame,
Batu' was also played for competition and to resolve conflicts between
communities. It has been regaining popularity in Puerto Rico
and parts of the Carribean over recent years, and soon in Texas!
Bring your maraca! After the game we'll be heating up our new Ceremonial
Mayohucan (http://www.prfdance.org/manayani.htm) with a celebration
Areyto to mark our first Taino community event! This event will take place on
the lawn outside our Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center,
701 Tillery Street in Austin, and will be free and open to the public.
Robert Clemente, "The Great One" with SURPRISE GUEST - Sunday, February 3, 2008, 2-4pm
This event launches our 2008 Workshops in Puerto Rican Studies!
Roberto Clemente was the first Latin American player elected to the baseball
Hall of Fame, and was regarded by many as the finest all-around player of his era.
In 1972, the Latino community lost one of the most widely idolized figures in
sports
history when Clemente died in a plane crash while on his way to Nicaragua to help
in relief operations following a severe earthquake.
On February 3rd, 2008 (2-4pm), Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance will offer a
workshop on the life of Roberto Clemente.
Edwin Baez, our workshop host
will be presenting his lifetime collection of Clemente memorabilia.
SURPRISE GUEST Zulma Clemente will be sharing personal memories about
her Tio (uncle). Edwin will also bring a kit to teach children how to
collect and price baseball cards. This event will be FREE and open to
the public.
Edwin Baez, a member of the University of Texas Technical Staff, teaches
at Dept of Physics and is a die hard Clemente fan! Edwin will be the host
of this 2008 Series that will offer workshops by Puerto Rican experts in a
wide variety of topics.
Poetry Workshop (Luis Pales Matos) - Oct 9, 2005, 2-4pm
Our Puerto Rican Studies program proudly announces a
a poetry workshop by Tomas Ayala-Torres entitled:
"To the Rhythm of Nappy Hair and Mulatto Things,"
a recital and introduction to the poetry of Luis Pales Matos.
This entertaining workshop will present the poetry of Pales, how it
spans Afro-Caribbean literature, and what it means to Puerto Ricans.
This workshop will be presented in Spanish and English by Puerto Rico's
own Tomas Ayala-Torres, creative writer and translator with expertise
in World Literature and Poetry.
This two-hour workshop will take place on Sunday, October 9, 2005 from
from 2-4pm at the Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center.
Admission is $5, but FREE to current Cultural Center student/participants
and FREE to PRFDance Familia Members! PLEASE RSVP - seating is limited.
Art Showing and Vejigante Mask Workshop --
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, 1-3pm
The Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center will feature
Puerto Rican artist Lucy Llera in our next Workshop on Puerto Rican
Studies. This workshop will display her artwork rich in Puerto Rican
cultural themes and provide a hands-on art project for children.
Lucy will also be bringing beautiful examples of carnival masks from
Puerto Rico and teach us about their history. Her arts
and crafts project will teach children how to make a vejigante mask
of their very own to take home. Something fun for every age!
This two-hour art showing and vejigante mask workshop will
take place on Saturday, January 31, from 1-3pm at the Puerto Rican
Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center. Admission is FREE to current
Cultural Center students and participants! Donations from visitors
appreciated.
Please register by email (dance@prfdance.org) or phone (512-251-8122) by
January 25 to help estimate craft materials and refreshments.
The Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center is located at 507B
Pressler Street in Austin Texas (between MOPAC & Lamar, off 5th).
Here's a
FLYER for this event.
Biography - Lucy Llera
Lucy Llera was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico. She
received her bachelors degree in art and education
from
the University of Puerto Rico, and was an art
teacher for over 13 years in Cidra. In 1982 she
moved to Texas where she studied art at the
University of Texas at San Antonio. Afterwards she
continued her teaching career in bilingual
education,
for which she has received awards. From 1984-93,
Lucy
studied painting with Warren Hunter, a respected
artist in
San Antonio, and later with Daniel Green and
Dalhart Wingberg. She is a member of the Water
Color Society,
the Calligraphy Guild, and the Coppini Academy of
Fine
Arts. In Coppini, she received awards such as
Artist of the Month and 2nd prize in oil painting.
Since 1986 she has been a member of Sociedad
Herencia Puertorriquena, a San-Antonio based Puerto
Rican cultural organization, for whom she has created
cultural-themed posters for their annual festivals.
500 Years of Puerto Rican Food - June 1, 2002, 1-3pm
The Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center will host Dr. Daisy
Diaz-Alemany who will present an entertaining and historical lecture on
the evolution of Puerto Rican food through 500 years of history, discovery to
present time. This two-hour workshop will take us on a culinary journey
through the three major ethnic influences of Puerto Rican
culture -- native Taino, African, and European heritage.
This workshop takes place on Saturday, June 1, 2002, from 1-3pm
at the Austin Community College campus at Rio Grande in
Room 343 on the 3rd Floor.
This cost is $7, which covers refreshments and class materials.
Early registration by email (dance@prfdance.org) before May 15th
will help estimate class materials and refreshments.
ACC's Rio Grand Campus is located at 1212 Rio Grande Street in Austin
(corner with 12th Street). See map for directions -
http://www3.austin.cc.tx.us/evpcss/rgc/map.htm
Biography - Dr. Daisy Diaz-Alemany
Dr. Daisy Diaz-Alemany is a Puerto Rican who has a profound
and abiding love for everything culinary, and is a serious
student of the relationship between food and culture in
different countries. She has a Ph.D. from UT-Austin in
Human Resources Development, and is a Licensed Professional
Counselor (LPC).
DRAMATIC READING and POETRY WORKSHOP, Sept. 22, 2001, 3-5pm.
Mercedes Cruz-Gonzalez is an internationally recognized Puerto Rican poet who
has performed her poetry all over the world. This two-hour workshop will
include readings (in spanish) from her published work, "El Coqui,"
as well as exercises on creating poetry.
| When: | Saturday, Sept 22, 3-5pm |
| Where:
| Austin Community College campus at
The Highland Business Center
5930 Middle Fiskville Rd.
See map - http://www3.austin.cc.tx.us/evpcss/hbc/map.htm |
| Room: | 4th Floor, room 411 |
| Cost: | $3 to cover refreshments and class materials |
| To Register: | dance@prfdance.org or 512-251-8122 |
Please register - classroom seating is limited. This workshop is supported
in part by the AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS.
Biography - Mercedes Cruz-Gonzalez
Born in Puerto Rico, Mercedes Cruz-Gonzalez is an internationally recognized poet. She has performed her
poems in Tailandia, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Columbia, Panama and other countries. In Costa Rica she directed a
radio program under the auspices of UNESCO. Mercedes is also a song writer, actress and journalist, and has
worked in radio, theatre and film. Her songs have been interpreted by Enrique, winner of the Premio OTI of
San Antonio, by Tejana singer Silvia Sol, pianist Paco Paco, and Tony Croatto, famous trovador of Puerto Rican
music. In 1995, the National Hispanic Honor Society of the Southwest
Texas State University (San Marcos) dedicated their edition of "Al Principio" to her work as a poet,
composer and journalist, and for her contributions to hispanic culture.