2008 Woodie Awards
Aztec performers connect through dance
Dahlia Seroussi
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Features
Last Tuesday, Aztec dance group Calpulli Tonalehqueh filled Conference Rooms A and B with the sounds and movements of Danza Mexica (me-shee-ca). The performers donned "penachos" (large feather headdresses), animal skins, shells and stones, all of which are elements found in nature. Those who did not wear a headdress wrapped a scarf around their head as a reminder that the head is the first part of the body to enter the world.
The De Anza club ¡LEAD!and the Inter Club Council originally found Calpulli Tonalehqueh at Focus the Nation, an event about climate change that took place in January.
The dancers provided a mechanism for education, said Mayra E. Cruz, a child development and education division instructor, as well as the financial representative of the Latino Heritage Program.
Through the Latino Heritage program, Cruz hopes "to bring to De Anza opportunities for connections with culture, our roots [which make us] who we are as individuals," she said.
The show included a PowerPoint presentation about Mexica culture, education and beliefs. According to it, the Mexica were the first to provide preschool and kindergarten education to their people.
This event kicks off a series of Latino heritage events taking place in May and early June. A Cinco de Mayo festival will aim to continue "that element of culture that unites people," said Cruz.
Calpulli Tonalehqueh holds dance classes on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Alum Rock Youth Center, and on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the National Hispanic University.
The Latino Heritage Program will also soon be hosting a community resource fair and an LGBTQ event.
Dahlia Seroussi is a staff reporter for La Voz. Contact her at dahliaseroussi@lavozdeanza.com.
The De Anza club ¡LEAD!and the Inter Club Council originally found Calpulli Tonalehqueh at Focus the Nation, an event about climate change that took place in January.
The dancers provided a mechanism for education, said Mayra E. Cruz, a child development and education division instructor, as well as the financial representative of the Latino Heritage Program.
Through the Latino Heritage program, Cruz hopes "to bring to De Anza opportunities for connections with culture, our roots [which make us] who we are as individuals," she said.
The show included a PowerPoint presentation about Mexica culture, education and beliefs. According to it, the Mexica were the first to provide preschool and kindergarten education to their people.
This event kicks off a series of Latino heritage events taking place in May and early June. A Cinco de Mayo festival will aim to continue "that element of culture that unites people," said Cruz.
Calpulli Tonalehqueh holds dance classes on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Alum Rock Youth Center, and on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the National Hispanic University.
The Latino Heritage Program will also soon be hosting a community resource fair and an LGBTQ event.
Dahlia Seroussi is a staff reporter for La Voz. Contact her at dahliaseroussi@lavozdeanza.com.
Be the first to comment on this story