[RAICES] Interactive Workshops: Fri, Feb. 7!

[Melissa Scheid Frantz]

Join the Cultural Center for two exciting, interactive workshops on Friday,
Feb. 7!  

4:30 pm: Interactive Workshop, "The Three in One" with Jose De Jesus
6:30pm:  Salsa and Merengue Class with Andrea Rosario De Jesus


"The Three in One"
Feb. 7, 4:30pm, Cultural Center

The cultural trinity of the Spanish Speaking Caribbean; the African,
European and the Indigenous, has both inspired and challenged the identity
struggles of Latin-Americans and Latinos. Come learn about the beauty and
complexity of Caribbean cultures in this workshop that will analyze the
three main cultural influences over the Spansh Speaking Caribbean.  The
workshop will focus primarily on Cuba, although other islands will be
discussed as well.  Jose De Jesus, Masters Candidate in Latin American
History at Tufts University, will lead a discussion on the manifestation
of these cultures in poetry, music, religion, language and food.   


"Salsa and Merengue Class"
Feb. 7, 6:30pm, location to be announced
Limit 20:  email mscheidfrantz at hampshire.edu to reserve your space - give
full name and number.

This beginning level salsa and merengue class will offer you a brief history 
of the dance and music forms that began in Cuba some 100 years ago. We will 
discuss the African influence on this form of dance and music and will then 
learn some of the basic salsa and merengue dances. We will do partner work 
as well and have a great time both learning movement and making it our own. 


Bios:
Jose M. De Jesus was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico in 1975.  At the age
of six, his family moved to New York City, where Jose was raised.  Jose
graduated from Wesleyan University with a Major in History, afterwards
going on to teach United States and Latin American History at Concord
Academy in Concord Massachusetts.  Currently, Jose is pursuing his Masters
Degree in Latin American History from Tufts University, where he continues
his love for teaching as a teaching assistant.  Jose has worked closely
with the Experiment in International Living, a summer abroad program for
high school students, since he was a participant in 1992.  Jose is
passionate about travel, most recently focusing on Latin America with
trips to Cuba, Mexico and Chile.  Jose currently lives in Concord,
Massachusetts with his wife Andrea.  

Andrea Rosario De Jesus was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She
attended 
Packer Collegiate, where she studied dance for 6 years. Upon entering 
Wesleyan University, Andrea was a dancer in four large scale dance concerts; 
one of which was a senior thesis presentation. Throughout the last five 
years, Andrea has continued taking dance classes and teaching dance to young 
people. In addition to working as a dance teacher, Andrea has taught dance 
during afterschool programs. Her experience lies in modern, African dance 
and salsa/merengue dance. She currently lives in Concord, MA with her 
husband Jose.



Melissa Scheid Frantz
Director, Lebron-Wiggins-Pran Cultural Center
Hampshire College
Amherst, MA  01002-5001
tel: 413-559-5415
mscheidfrantz at hampshire.edu
http://www.hampshire.edu/


The Lebrón-Wiggins-Pran Cultural Center is a resource and meeting center
dedicated to raising awareness on issues of race, ethnicity, oppression and
underrepresentation by providing support and resources to students of
underrepresented cultures and ethnicities and to the entire campus
community.