El Museo del Barrio is going to the Bronx Zoo! In partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society join us at the Bronx Zoo for their six-week long summer program Passport to the World. Every weekend, we’re highlighting the storytelling, food, music, and dance from a different country of Central and South America at Astor Court. For tickets and information, click here.
On Saturday, July 28th and Sunday, July 29th with ‘Passport to the World ‘ features Ecuador, in partnership with the Ecuadorian American Cultural Center and Ayazamana performance group.
SCHEDULE:
Storytelling
Workshop | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Storytelling is an important aspect of Latin American and Caribbean culture. It is a way that we can communicate shared experiences, values, and learn about something new. Join us each week as we share stories from around the world that talk about different cultures, family, home, magic, and more!
Art Making Workshop
Blankets of the Otavaleño | 11:00am – 3:30pm
The Otavaleño people have been weavers since pre-Incan times. This practice continues today and can be found in the Otavalo market that is very much the public face of the region’s craft industry. Today, we will weave blankets that resemble the textiles of the Otavaleño people.
Movement Workshop
Ecuadorian American Cultural Organization | 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Ecuador comes to life through movement and storytelling. Join us for this workshop that tells the story of the Inti Raymi, a feast in the indigenous communities of Ecuador that celebrates the harvest and the sun. The audience will learn about some of the elements related to this feast, such as the Aya Huma, a masked character that is the leader of the community and leads the dances in this feast. The audience will then learn the basic steps to dance the Inti Raymi, and will conclude with a representation of the feast that includes everyone in the audience.
Performance
Ayazamana | 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Learn about Ecuador through música and dance! Performance group Ayazamana will take you deep into Ecuador and back again through a colorful and meaningful dance performance.
ABOUT AYAZAMANA
Ayazamana was founded in 1992 by Jose Rivera. Mr. Rivera was born in Quito, Ecuador and began to dance at the age of fifteen with Virginia Rosero, a well-recognized Ecuadorian choreographer and dancer. Being a part of Ms. Rosero’s folkloric dance group allowed him to learn the fundamentals of Ecuadorian traditional dance and to perform on various national and international stages. Like many other hard working Ecuadorian immigrants seeking better opportunities, Mr. Rivera arrived in the United States in 1990 and settled in the City of New York. His love for Ecuadorian folk dance motivated him to seek and participate in several dance groups. In 1992, with the help of several close friends, he formed his own group with the name of Ayazamana. The mission of Ayazamana is to promote Ecuadorian culture and teach the new generations about the customs and traditions of Ecuador. This is accomplished by providing educational and entertaining performances throughout the New York tri-state area and neighboring cities and states. Ayazamana also provide classes to young children to teach them the fundamentals of Ecuadorian dance and to give them a space where they can learn to appreciate the culture of our country of origin.