MEZCLA mixes it up with 'dirty dancing'-11.19.07

NOT BY ME- marisa calleja


Providence, Rhode Island—MEZCLA, the Latino performing arts troupe, held their fall show Thursday and Saturday in a nearly sold out Salomon 101. The "Dirty Dancing"-themed show featured dancers, singers, musicians and poets in 18 different acts representing diverse performance styles and traditions from Latino culture.

This year's performance showcased samba, mambo, salsa and other dance styles from Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Spain and Mexico. The pieces, all choreographed by students in MEZCLA, came from the spirited, eclectic repertoire of the large group.

Some pieces, such as "Bam Bam-Salsa Duet," a Cuban salsa choreographed and performed by Alyssa Iglesias '08 and Daniel Oviedo '10, reflected traditional dance styles. Others, especially the large group pieces, showcased fusion styles created in the United States from Latin American influences. Pieces such as "Reggaeton Salsa Medley," choreographed by Bianca Figueroa-Santana '10, served as dynamic testaments to the continuing evolution of Latino dance styles in the United States.

"Samba Urbano," the first piece in the performance, was a fusion of traditional samba and urban styles. "With this piece, we take that dance out of the land of the Carnaval Brasileiro and onto the streets," read the abstract from the piece's five choreographers - Megan Brattain '10, Rocio Bravo '10, Vivian Garcia '10, Sarah Magaziner '10 and Herald Staff Writer Christian Martell '10. The nine dancers stomped and shook fiercely to traditional samba drums and Fulanito's "Chillando Goma" in this elaborately choreographed piece, dedicated to their mothers "who taught us how to dance."

"Ballroom-Mambo y Salsa," a skillful and sensual three person dance - choreographed and performed by Savonya McAllister '08, Dina Tsukrov '08 and Wilfredo Perez '08 - was one of two ballroom pieces in the show. In combining Cuban mambo, Brazilian samba and American ballroom dance, the choreographers merged these disparate cultures. This indicates the continuing fusions of different Latino and American styles, both in MEZCLA pieces and throughout the dance world.

In addition to dance, MEZCLA's fall show included two spoken word performances - "Socorro" by Irene Castillon '09 and an untitled piece by Alyse Ruiz '09 - which passionately discussed family, tradition and culture. "Socorro" was an ode to Castillon's abuelita or grandmother, who continually sacrificed for her family.

The show also featured two vocal performances and a song by Mariachi de Brown, "La Ley del Monte."

MEZCLA, according to their mission statement, strives "to convey and at the same time teach the beauty, diversity and richness of the Latino culture to the Brown community at large." The group, which is led by an executive board, holds fall and spring shows, as well as open dance workshops throughout the year.

"Just because it's a Latino performing arts troupe, doesn't mean it's specifically for Latinos," said MEZCLA President Marco Martinez '08.

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