The News

San Miguel de Allende hosts Several Cultural Events

CUBAFEST WEEKEND

A group of dancers of the CubaFest SMA 2016. Photo: Courtesy of Guadalupe Meza.

The 13th Cuban Culture Festival in San Miguel de Allende will close Sunday with a presentation by Cuban actress Idalmis del Risco Siota of her new documentary “Between Mexico and Cuba Everything is Lovely and Rhythmic” (Todo es bonito y sabroso).

The week-long CubaFest SMA opened last week with a welcome speech by Mayor Ricardo Villarreal and a participation by Cuban poet laureate Waldo Leyva. Students from three different San Miguel de Allende universities cheered for Leyva. The students have been the target audience of organizers Lupe Meza and Adolfo Rubio.

Another Cuban author, Margarita Sànchez Gallinal, presented her most recent novel “Old Wood” (Madera Antigua) at the Allende Museum. Sànchez Gallinal also gave a lecture about International Women’s Day on “Women in Cuban Literature,” an account of poetic and literary creativity by the most relevant women writers in the island since the 19th century.

Marisol Martín. Photo: CAPITAL MEDIA/Ricardo Castillo.

In terms of music, CubaFest this year devoted the dance sessions and different choreographies to composer Juan Formell, whose song “Sandunguera” was played, sung and danced to by different musical and dance ensembles.

CubaFest will continue with daily music and dance performances at El Jardín downtown San Miguel de Allende. Check out their site at www.cubaensanmiguel.com.

CASH AWARDS FOR WOMEN ENTREPENEURS

A businesswoman will walk away with $20 thousand pesos in cash next April 19 from the second “Enterprising Women Award 2016” organized by the Business Coordinating Council of San Miguel de Allende (CCESM), presided by Benigno Torres.

Organizing the event is Marisol Martín, who said that many people registered to participate and compete for the award categories which include entrepreneur with the best business vision, young innovator, trajectory and family enterprising. The last three categories will receive a cash prize of $3,000 pesos each.

Requirements to register are being over 18 and participating directly in business located in San Miguel de Allende (SMA).

The contest, Marisol Martín said, is open to all foreign women, but they must be San Miguel de Allende residents who own small businesses in town.

The awards will be delivered in a one-day expo of San Miguel de Allende women enterprises at La Casona Conventions Center on April 19.

People interested in participating can apply by calling (415) 152 75 56 or can write to apresidencia@ccesm.mx.

VIRAL DANCE

University of California San Diego dance professor Patricia Rincón presented this past week at the Charco del Ingenio her choreography “Threads,” a performance she’s been developing since last December with her group, Danza Viral.

She started last December to craft the movements of this dance theatre work and video and interview women of the Otomí Tribe of San Miguel.

Rehearsal of “Threads,” by Danza Viral. Photo: Courtesy of Helena Frigola.

She returned to finish the work and to collaborate with artist Andrea Holguín to edit a short dance video film inspired by Otomí native stories.

Both the live dance performance and the video/film will be premiered at the Blurred Borders Dance Festival in San Diego in April.

The completed work of “Threads” will also return to San Miguel to be premiered in October.