2009 BRAVO! An Evening of Song and Dance season opens June 17
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BRAVO! An Evening of Song and Dance, a variety show for all ages, sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department, was offered 12 fabulous times this past summer at the historic Arneson River Theater in La Villita.These award winning summer dance performances, featuring the Parks and Recreation Department’s dance troupes, capture the flavor and passion of Old San Antonio and its cultural roots in Mexico and Spain. Experience and enjoy the colorful, traditional costumes and dramatic performance numbers as performed by Fandango and Alamotion Dance Troupes at the picturesque Arneson River Theatre in downtown San Antonio’s La Villita. Feel the passion of Spanish Flamenco driven to the beat of the classical guitar and clicking of the castanets. Absorb the drama of traditional folkloric numbers, such as the Mexican Hat Dance and Mexican Polkas danced to the unique rhythms of the accordion. High energy jazz and tap routines round out an evening of moving and memorable entertainment. All the performances, emceed by local media personality and singer Elizabeth Ruiz, will be Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The 2009 dates are June 17, 18, 24 and 25. July 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23. Special guests include Mariachis Campanas de America. The program begins at 8 p.m. General Admission is $8. Proceeds from ticket sales and concessions benefit both dance troupes.
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ˇBravo! An Evening of Song and Dance took annual summer show took center stage at the 2007 National Recreation and Park Association’s national conference in Indianapolis when it received the Dorothy Mullen Arts and Humanities Award.
Named after recreation and parks pioneer Dorothy Mullen, the award honors the most innovative and effective arts and humanities programs across the U.S., and aims to inspire others who may consider developing similar programs in their area. The awards are based on the size of the population served by the program and are judged on the basis of content, innovation, contribution to the community, and the expansion of interest in the arts and humanities.
In order to win the national award, the program first had to win the Texas Park and Recreation Society (TRAPS) state Arts and Humanities award and then the Southwest Region of NRPA Arts & Humanity Award.
BRAVO! has a long tradition of presenting great song and dance featuring the department’s two dance troupes, Fandango and Alamotion, on stage each summer at the Arneson River Theater. The dance troupes perform Mexican Folkloric, Spanish Flamenco, tap, jazz, hip hop and lyrical dance. The show also features emcee Elizabeth Ruiz and guest artists including: Mariachis Campanas de America and a variety of local celebrities.
“Cultural programming has been the hallmark of the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department for over 70 years,” says Special Programs Supervisor Mona Lisa Montgomery. BRAVO! fills the need for public performance opportunities and experiences for young dancers who want to take their dancing to a pre-professional level and it enhances the city’s tourism efforts by giving visitors opportunities to experience what is best about San Antonio and the Parks and Recreation department: traditions, diversity and talent.”
The Fandango and Alamotion Dance Troupes are composed of young dancers who participate in an audition every August that is open to all dancers as well as those who participate in the City of San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation sponsored dance programs. Both troupes perform throughout the year representing the Parks and Recreation Department at various events citywide.
The Parks and Recreation Department’s Special Programs section offers dance classes as well as music, visual arts and more at four community centers; the Berta Almaguer Dance Studio, 138 S. Josephine Tobin Drive; Our Lady of the Lake University International Folk Culture Center, 100 S.W. 24th Street and Sam Ash, 25 N.E. Loop 410 throughout the year.
For more information email Special Programs.
For TTY assistance, call 210-207-3039.