July 4th, 2009MECA presents Independence/Independencia!
4th of July Celebration
A multicultural festival with the best view of Downtown Houston's fireworks display! The Dallas based Inner City All-Stars heat up the dance floor with their New Orleans style jazz and old-school funk. The festival will also feature Houston's very own Urban Souls Dance Company as we celebrate America's cultural and ethnic diversity. Local DJs Jason "jay¢ee" Colunga, Chris "Meshak the Bubbla" Garza, and Nibu Abraham (promoter/dj for 90.1 KPFT's Generasian Radio) will also join the festivities.
Dow School Fundraiser - No outside food or beverage allowed.
Best view of Downtown Houston's fireworks display!
Time: 4-10 p.m.
| Admission:
FREE | | Location:
Old Sixth Ward Art Park | | 1500 Lubbock (& Trinity)
Houston, TX 77007 |
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July 17th, 2009Mariachi Vargas Master Workshop and Concert
July 17-18, 2009
Mariachi Vargas is known throughout the world as "El Mejor Mariachi del Mundo". Now in their 5th generation, the group has recorded over 60 CDs and has been featured in more than 200 films and music videos. The group is recognized for touring with Linda Ronstadt in her "Canciones de Mi Padre" tour, for the recent production of "Mariachi: The Spirit of Mexico" airing nationally on PBS and for its latest recording of traditional ballads with Mexico's superstar Luis Miguel. The group will perform selections from their latest CD. Mariachi Vargas will hold a one-day master workshop that will include multi-level classes of technique and repertoire.
Contact Sandra Herrera at 713-802-9370 X 32 for further workshop information.
Workshop Registration: April 1 – July 3, 2009
Workshop Date: July 17, 2009
Concert Date: July 18, 2009
| Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 |
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July 27th, 2009Renacimiento Concierto
Sponsored by NALAC and the Heineken Green Ribbon Initiative
July 27–31, 2009
Workshop of original music by Elio Villafranca performed by emerging and professional musicians. This workshop will feature classical settings fused with other musical genres. The combination of the mariachi ensemble with a classical orchestra, jazz concepts, and Bata drums from Afro Cuban Santeria allows for singular sounds and rhythmic combinations that will make this a unique and creative workshop. Open to all musicians. Please contact Lizeth Gonzalez for registration information.
Registration dates: June 22-July 20, 2009
Fee: www.meca-houston.org
| Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 |
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September 4th, 2009Hispanic Heritage Art Exhibit
September 4 - October 9, 2009
Cruz Ortiz uses print, performance, and video to embrace issues relating to his experience growing up in the bicultural landscape of South Texas. Replacing classical icons with symbols of contemporary pop culture such as taco trucks, canned beans, and an alter ego named Spaztek, Ortiz’s work maintains a tense relationship with consumerism and his heritage. Antonio Cruz Ortiz MECA’s Alum will showcase his personal works in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
| Admission:
FREE | | Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 |
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September 11th, 2009Opening Reception: Hispanic Heritage Art Exhibit
| Admission:
FREE | | Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 | | Time:
7:00 PM |
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September 25th, 2009Amalia Hernandez Ballet Folklorico Master Workshop
September 25-27, 2009
Amalia Hernández (Founder) has dedicated her life work to the never-ending quest of rescuing the dance traditions of Mexico. In 1952, she decided to leave the institute to form her own dance company, Ballet Folklórico de México, to present her vision of Mexican Folkoric Dance. Classes will include Contemporary dance technique, Folkloric rhythms, skirt and zapatiado techniques.
Please visit our Ballet Folkorico page for further details regarding the Master Workshop.
www.meca-houston.org
| Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 |
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October 25th, 2009MECA’s Día de los Muertos Festival – At Traders Village
Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future
Día de los Muertos is a traditional Latin American holiday that honors and celebrates the lives of family and friends who have gone before us. A playful mockery of death and a reaffirmation of life are demonstrated through music, dance, and visual arts. MECA proudly extends this annual celebration for its third consecutive year at Traders Village Houston.
Time: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
| Admission:
FREE | | Location:
Traders Village | | 7979 N. Eldridge Rd.
Houston, TX 77041 | | Time:
11:00 AM |
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October 30th, 2009Ochpaniztli
Ochpaniztli – “the sweeping of roads” is a time of year when the people of Mexico partake in a ceremonial cleanse of their homes and community. Far beyond the literal cleaning of a space, a cleanse can also take on a spiritual element. The Historic Dow School, MECA’s home since 1993 was built in 1912. Throughout the years numerous visitors to Dow School have recounted paranormal experiences. As we approach Dia de los Muertos, MECA’s Dow School Cleanse will acknowledge and honor the stories and spirits of the building. As part of the tour, guests will learn Mexican beliefs and traditions for dealing with paranormal activity through music, dance, and ritual. Guest leader: Javier Herrera and Tlaloc Aztec musicians and dancers.
| Admission:
$15 | | Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 | | Time:
9:00 PM |
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October 31st, 2009Día de los Muertos Altar Exhibit
Application Deadline: October 28, 2009
October 31 – November 28, 2009
The community is invited to participate and create an altar in honor of a past relative or loved one. Family members honor their deceased loved ones with ofrendas or offerings such as photographs, bread, foods, flowers, toys, and other symbolic offerings. Personalize the altar with images of saints; favorite objects, or whatever you think would honor your loved one. Altar exhibit competition contestants could win 1st, 2nd or 3rd place.
Refer to MECA’s online application:
www.meca-houston.org.
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October 31st, 2009MECA Día de los Muertos Festival presented by GOYA
Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future
October 31 - November 1, 2009
MECA’s Dia de los Muertos Festival features celebrations from throughout Latin America, with an altar exhibit competition, foods from Latin American countries, and vendors selling authentic Latin American Dia de los Muertos arts and crafts, The Calavera Fashion Show, and two performance stages. This festival truly is a community cultural event celebrating our ancestors and Latin American traditions.
Time: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
| Admission:
FREE | | Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 | | Time:
11:00 AM |
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November 13th, 2009Catherine Ramirez performs classical chamber music by Latino composers
Reviewed as “wonderful, an astonishing artist” (Brian Dickie, Director, Chicago Opera Theatre), Colombian-Mexican American flutist Catherine Ramirez has gained recognition for her vivid and compelling interpretations of both classical and contemporary music. A winner of numerous awards, she has performed in Italy , France , Austria , Canada , Mexico , and throughout the United States . In this concert collaboration with MECA, Catherine and friends will perform a rich array of chamber music by Latino composers. Catherine is currently a doctoral student of Leone Buyse at Rice University ’s Shepherd School of Music.
| Admission:
$6.00 Per Person (All Ages) presale via phone at 866-468-7621 or online at TicketWeb.com
$10.00 Per Person (All Ages) at the door | | Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 | | Time:
8:00 PM |
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November 14th, 2009
December 11th, 2009La Pastorela - La Musica del Cielo
Written and Directed by Peter Webster
In collaboration with the Mexican Consulate
December 11-13, 2009
Since the early days of Christianity in Spain and England, pastorelas or shepherd’s plays have depicted the long trek of those first pastores to the holy site of the Nativity. Franciscan missionaries brought the pastorela to Mexico in the sixteenth century and this ancient folk.
December 11-12, 2009 at 8 p.m.
December 13, 2009 at 2 p.m.
| Admission:
$5 (suggested donation) | | Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 |
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December 11th, 2009Fiesta Guadalupana
Performance & Visual Art Exhibit/Silent Auction
In honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe.
This festivity is opened with the traditional serenade of “Las Mañanitas” to La Virgen de Guadalupe. Prayers in song are followed and a procession leads the crowd into our outdoor pavilion where the Pastorela – La Musica del Cielo, will be performed. This year MECA invites the entire community to pick up a wooden panel (Retablo) and create a dedicatory to the Virgen de Guadalupe to be sold in a silent auction. For more information please contact Diana Muniz at 713.802.9370. MECA welcomes the community to participate and share this tradition.
| Admission:
FREE | | Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 | | Time:
7:00 PM |
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December 14th, 2009MECA Winter Arts Recitals
December 14-17, 2009
| Admission:
Adults: $3
Students: $2 | | Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 | | Time:
7:00 PM |
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December 16th, 2009La Posada in the Old Sixth Ward Historic Neighborhood
Starting at MECA’s Dow School Campus
“Las Posadas” begin on December 16th and commemorate the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. After dark a procession follows with lighted long slender candles and sings traditional Posada songs as they approach the door of the house assigned to the first “Posada.” Together they chant an old traditional song and awaken the master of the house to ask lodging for Mary. Those within the house deny them entry. Again, the company pleads for admittance. Traditionally three houses are visited; the third one welcomes the guests once the owner of the house finally learns who his guests are. He then jubilantly throws open the doors and bids them welcome. A musical fiesta follows with traditional foods served. MECA welcomes the community to participate and share this tradition with the entire family.
| Admission:
FREE | | Location:
MECA Dow School | | 1900 Kane Street
Houston, TX 77007 | | Time:
7:00 PM |
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Dates & Times Subject to Change
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