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The Latin Ballet of Virginia’s Alma Latina

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Artistic Director: Ana Ines King Guest Artist: Antonio Hidalgo Paz Dancers: Ana Patricia Nuckols, Marisol Betancourt Sotolongo, Ana Ines King, Antonio Hidalgo

Paz, Roberto Whitaker and Jay Williams.

Lightboard Operator: Jason “Blue” Herbert Director of Children’s Theatre Programming - Pat Foley Children’s Theatre Staff - Peg DeForrest, Michael Stephens

ALMA LATINA

The Soul of the Latin American People full of traditions Celebrating the rhythms that influenced the music, dance and history of Latin America, Alma Latina honors the native essence of Hispanic culture, how this spirit has found expression through times of oppression and how it has triumphed in our modern global society.

From the passionate fury of flamenco to tango’s forbidden heat, the polished elegance of classical ballet to the earthen power of modern dance, the Latin Ballet of Virginia uses the expressive beauty of movement to weave the tales and traditions that are the heart and soul of Hispanic culture. The Latin Ballet combines technical excellence with a soulful depth of emotion and an unwavering commitment to education, diversity and accessibility.

Spain & the Flamenco Flamenco is the most characteristic element of Spanish culture, especially throughout the southern region of Andalucía. Flamenco dance has an extensive historical background that parallels the cultural development of Spain itself.

The first form of Flamenco was called “Cante JONDO (Hondo)” (Deep song). The dance form was born in caves and ghettos, where gypsies hid from their rulers. Gypsies forms of Flamenco were later influenced in reverse from many Andalusian folkloric dance and music forms. In the 1800, during the times of Latin American colonization, Flamenco instruments and music from Latino America and the Caribbean and that further enriched many of the native Andalusian flamenco forms.

Colombia Cumbia has its origin in San Basilio, a little town on the Atlantic coast of Colombia, South America. It was danced and created by the slaves to temporarily leave their cares behind, to feel brief happiness and to forget the heavy work and hard life. It was danced at night in the Palenque de San Basilio behind the ocean walls, the place where the slaves used to hide from the Spanish.

The cumbia is danced with wide, long white skirts, with tropical flowers on the dancer’s hair and a candle as a ritual to illuminate the darkness.

The Amazon rainforest is home to over three hundred species of mammals, thousands of freshwater fish, tens of thousands of trees and nearly a hundred thousand other plant species. There are nearer two millions species of insects. New species of wildlife are discovered every 3 days in the Amazon!

Mexico & El Salvador Cucurrucucú Paloma is a Mexican Huapango song written by Tomás Méndez Sosa (25 July 1927 – 19 July 1995) in 1954. Huapango is a style of Mexican music and folk dance. The dance is inspired by the lyrics in reference to the characteristic call of the dove as peace evoking love and hope.

El Instante del Amor (The Instance of Love), a song performed by The Mustangs soft rock band of El Salvador. Lyrics and song by Chamba Rodriguez in 1967.

Cuba & Puerto Rico Salsa Salsa means sauce, gravy, and its ingredients are many, and depends upon where it’s made. But one thing is certain: it’s got plenty of spice.

Like much of the greatest popular music, the creative fire was lit when Africa met the cultural cauldron of the New World. For salsa, it began in Cuba in the 1940s. One part Yoruba drumming, one part call and response vocals, it was diced with the music of local, indigenous people.

Then, with heaping measures of musical Spain, France, and the country dances of England, the son was formed. And it was very tasty indeed.

Rumba Rumba is fiesta. Rumba is the combination of music, song, and dance that is the foundation for a party. It involves the human body, the human voice, and tremendous rhythmic sense. And since the Cuban Revolution of 1959, rumba has become even more enigmatic, full of contrasts and contradictions, reflecting life and projecting national goals in contemporary Cuba.

Bailando song and dance is a contemporary rumba flamenca that combines rhythms of flamenco from Spain, rumba from Cuba and Reggaeton from Puerto Rico.

Reggaeton Reggaeton is sweeping the Latin music world with its irrepressible blend of tropical Latin and reggae rhythms. As the mixture of hip hop, rap and reggae caught the imagination of urban youth in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Latin cultural centers in the U.S., the majority of new reggaeton artists catching the public's imagination came from Puerto Rico - to the extent that reggaeton is often thought of as primarily Puerto Rican Music.

Dominican Republic Merengue dance and music is the national dance of Dominican Republic.

The name of Merengue is taken from the Spanish name of the meringue, a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar. Perhaps because the merengue lyrics, music, and dance encapsulates the sense of becoming a passionate Latin lover, merengue evokes the cry of “Azucar!” (sugar) which denotes charisma and sensuality in the Latin culture.

Merengue is the reflection of the Dominican people who love to have a good time no matter of what! This style of music was created by Ñico Lora, a Dominican of Spanish descent, in the 1920s.

Drifty and the Chocolate Factory

By Paul Deiss Grades Pre-K - 3 Nov. 30 - Dec. 22, 2015

The Little Lion

By Irene Ziegler, based on the book by Nancy Wright Beasley Grades 5 - 12 Feb. 1 - 26, 2016

Little Shop of Horrors

By Howard Ashman and Alan Menken Grades 6 - 12 Apr. 1, 8 & May 13, 2016

Johnny Appleseed

By Tom Width and Paul Deiss Grades Pre-K - 4 Apr. 11 - May 12, 2016

Special Thanks

is a proud supporter of Swift Creek Mill Theatre 804-748-5203 SWIFTCREEKMILL.COM/YOUTH-PROGRAMS