◊ MONTHLY TERTULIAS ◊
On the last Friday of every month, our Talentos studio is converted into Café Encuentros to host the Tertulia.
This event — for people older than 15 years of age — is one of Raíces’ most popular programs, which presents monthly lectures and discussions on cultural topics.
At the end of each tertulia, we open the microphone to any individual or group who would like to share their talents in music, poetry, dance, etc. We call this a cultural encounter in the café atmosphere, a retreat for the soul.
Please be aware that most of the speaking is in Spanish, but we do have people available who can interpret in English.
Admission is a suggested $10.00 donation. Come share this experience!
FEBRUARY TERTULIA- Cuba’s African Roots/Las Raíces Africanas de Cuba
Kùlú Mèlé Obatala Performance -Jaci Downs Photography
In honor of Black History Month, this month’s Tertulia on Friday, February 24, 7- 10pm, will highlight the African roots of Cuba’s culture. The Tertulia will feature a lecture and demonstration of Afro-Cuban music and dance.
Dorthy Wilkie, Artistic Director of the dance and drum ensemble group Kùlú Mèlé will talk about the Afro-Cuban dance Orisha and provide a demonstration.
Dorthy has studied a large repertoire of African and African Diasporas dance starting at the beginning of her formal career in 1955. She studies the genre as both an art form and an aspect of her spiritual practice as an Orisha devotee and initiate.
Elizabeth Sayre, Program Specialist at the Philadelphia Music Project, will discuss Afro-Cuban percussion during the Tertulia, while the performance group Timbalona will provide the percussion rhythms.
Elizabeth is a musician and ethnomusicologist. As a percussionist, Elizabeth has apprenticed with masters in Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and West African drumming in Philadelphia; New York; Middletown, Connecticut; San Francisco; and Havana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, and Santiago de Cuba.
Timbalona Performance by Timbalona
Timbalona is a folkloric Latin American dance and music group located in Philadelphia established in 2011. Andrés Cisneros from Venezuela, George “Pupy” Castellanos from Cuba, and Christian Noguera from Argentina form the group. Timbalona’s mission is to create awareness for and promote Afro-Cuban art through classes, workshops, and presentations. The group has provided Rumba classes at Raíces Talentos Studio in 2011 and will begin registration for Orisha classes beginning in March.
A brief presentation will be made by Headlong Theater during the Tertulia to introduce the “This Town is a Mystery” project that Raíces is partnering with the theater company to produce.
The same evening, Raíces will open the exhibit “Voces y Colores” [Voices and Colors] featuring Colombian artist Erika Ristovski. Erika paints the people and vivid landscapes that she remembers from her childhood on the Pacific coast of Colombia. Erika is no stranger to Raíces, as she was one of several artists who participated in a Phoenixville exhibit coordinated by Raíces. Her artwork will be on display at Raíces from February 24- April 27, 2012.
Please note, much of the speaking for this Tertulia will be English, but Spanish translation will be available.
Come and learn about Afro-Cuban music and dance!
