ALAMOSA – The Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area was awarded a mini-grant from The Colorado Trust to assist with the April 22 Celebration of Cultural Music. The funds from The Colorado Trust allow the Heritage Area to feature several performances at their upcoming fundraiser.

Mariachi San Luis and Semillas de la Tierra will be performing together to kick off the evening of cultural music. Violins, trumpets, and Guitars are the instruments of the Mariachi dating back to the 1800’s. Members of a mariachi wear a Charro suit. These suits are adorned with silver buttons called botonaduras that line the sleeves and legs.

The accompanying Mexican folklorico dance to mariachi music was popularized in the 1960’s in the United States. This type of folk dancing varies from region to region and depicts historical and often religious events. The women wear elaborate and colorful costumes that show off the designs as they twirl.

Los Vecinos Bailadores “The neighbors that dance” will be providing traditional dance instruction at the fundraiser. The group plans on performing and then teaching the traditional Spanish dances of El Vals, La Varsoviana, La Escoba, and La Marcha. These traditional dances have been an integral part of the hispano culture.

El Vals is a Spanish version of the Waltz, as in many cultures it is an old custom to allow a couple to spend time together during a dance under the watchful eyes of their parents and everyone else in the room. La varsoviana is a 3/4 time AABB form, danced to the violin. Couples line up single file and perform the dance in a line. La Escoba is a fun, vigorous dance much like musical chairs where each person rushes to find a partner and not be the one in the middle left holding the broom. Marriage is one of the most sacred and treasured times in a young couple’s life and often the wedding reception is as profound as the wedding ceremony. As part of the night’s celebration the Hispano wedding dance of la Marcha de los Novios or the march of the wedding couple will be the last dance to end the dance instruction portion of the evening.

For more information about this event visit the organization’s website at sdcnha.org