MUST SEE
AT LEAST ONCE in YOUR LIFETIME
Tucson • Phoenix • Mesa
MARCH 7 - 22
THE VOICE OF THE EAST VALLEY SINCE 1891 AND WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LOCAL REPORTING
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THE SUNDAY
Tribune EAST VALLEY
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ASU deal off, but Coyotes still looking in EV
PAGE 10 Sunday, February 12, 2017
Mariachi music sings out about Mexican culture COVER STORY BY COLLEEN SPARKS Tribune Contributing Writer
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MAR 7–8
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“Exquisitely beautiful. An extraordinary experience for us and the children.”
“I’ve reviewed about 4,000 shows. None can compare to what I saw tonight.” —Richard Connema, renowned Broadway critic
— Cate Blanchett, Academy Award–winning actress
“Absolutely the No.1 show in the world.”
“The orchestra is phenomenal. They are very, very on top.”
— Kenn Wells, former lead dancer of the English National Ballet
— Roger Tallman, Seven-time Emmy Award– winning composer/producer
“AWE-INSPIRING!” “A MUST-SEE!”
“Mesmerizing! Reclaiming the divinely inspired cultural heritage of China. I encourage everyone to see and all of us to learn from.” — Donna Karan, creator of DKNY
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MAR 14–19
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— Broadway world
“The 8th wonder of the world.
People have no idea what they're missing until they come here and see the show.”
—Joe Heard, former White House photographer, watched Shen Yun 6 times
MAR 21–22
lkeda Theater, Mesa
ShenYun.com/AZ 800.880.0188
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hrough the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of genuine Chinese culture. Its stunning beauty, purity, and tremendous energy leave audiences greatly uplifted and deeply inspired. A Shen Yun performance features 100 world class performers, over 400 sets of exquisite handmade costumes, a unique orchestra blending East and West, and dazzling animated backdrops – creating a spectacular performance beyond imagination. Experience divine culture! Experience Shen Yun!
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“5,000 YEARS OF CHINESE MUSIC & DANCE IN ONE NIGHT.”
The Arts Connecting Heaven & Earth
S
tudents in the East Valley are strumming guitars, belting out festive tunes on trumpets and singing passionate melodies in mariachi ensembles to celebrate Mexican culture. But the culture isn’t limited to those of Mexican-American heritage. People of all backgrounds are enjoying learning playing lively songs. Mariachi songs have different themes including love, loss and patriotism. The culture is attracting children, teens and adult students alike to classes and performances in Mesa, Chandler and Tempe. Students say learning to sing in Spanish, bow a violin and pluck the strings of a guitarron – a guitar-like acoustic bass instrument – are ways to honor and learn more about the culture. Several teenagers wearing mariachi trajes – uniforms of long black skirts and pants and vests bearing silver horse designs – played violins, guitar and guitarron at a ribboncutting and open house Feb. 4 at the nonprofit Desert Sounds Performing Arts on West 1st Street in Mesa. Audience members
(Larry Mangino/Tribune Staff Photographer)
Students from Mariachi Sones del Desierto get ready to perform at the group's ribbon-cutting and open house in Mesa.
standing outside on the grass in front of the building beamed as two little girls dressed in trajes held hands and sang a song in Spanish. The students are part of Mariachi Sones del Desierto, which means Desert Sounds Mariachi. They were part of a celebration of
the group moving to a new, larger office space. Desert Sounds helps students in need get instruments for school bands and orchestras. “It’s what I grew up listening to, mariachi See
MARIACHI on page 4
Ex-prostitutes fight their way out of ‘the life’ to help others BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
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hanna Parker of Mesa was beaten unconscious by her pimp, who murdered one of his other prostitutes. Vanessa Compton of Mesa was stabbed in the chest by her pimp and was unconscious in a hospital for three days. She was injected with heroin on a different occasion by her own father, who manipulated her to participate in a variety of crimes to support her drug addiction.
Parker and Compton somehow managed to not only survive, but to escape the seamy underworld known on the street as “the life,” which is not much of a life at all. The years of pain are behind them. Now, they are on a mission to save as many young women from human sex trafficking as possible. “Victim survivors” such as Parker and Compton are doing everything possible to reach prostitutes, speaking at diversion programs and group homes, even being referred by the police because of their unique ability to reach sex trafficking victims through
a regrettable common experience. The message imparted by Parker and Compton focuses on the same themes: prevention and hope. The hope is more help for women caught up in “the life” and a far more enlightened “victim-centered” approach from the Mesa police and other East Valley departments. The focus now is on helping these young women, not arresting them, although some arrests are still necessary to separate the See
THE LIFE on page 8