La Luna Nueva — Miracle Theatre Group’s festival of Hispanic arts and culture from around the world in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month — opens in just a couple of weeks, and we couldn’t be more excited about the diverse line-up (see the whole schedule in English; vea el horario completo en español). Our Marketing Assistant Stefanus Gunawan continues his look backstage visits with our guest artists, offering an inside look at their life, their passion, their art. Here, guest blogger Stefanus Gunawan chats with Nelda Reyes, singer/poet of Nuestro Canto.
In their Luna Nueva festival show, Gerardo Calderón and Nelda Reyes will present legends, myths and tales from the Aztecs, Mayans, Toltecs and Huicholes — legends of love, nature and everyday life. In this family-friendly bilingual performance, Nuestro Canto fills the theatre with the magic of masks, movement, and imaginative storytelling at Milagro on Sept. 16 at 2pm. Ages 5 and older. Bilingual. Disfrute, escuche, y relájese con Nuestro Canto.
How did your interest in the music, the dance, and the culture of the legends of Mexico began?
Since I was a child, my family and I traveled through many cities and towns in Mexico, since my father was Mexican. Each place offered a new and different culture, in places such as Chiapas and Jalisco it is quite evident the indigenous influence. I saw the people, heard their language, ate their food, and used their clothes which they fabricated. In reality, you are able to live that part of the culture. To see the beauty of their creations, to read their histories, which my grandparents told me, that became a part of my life also.
What was your inspiration?
My inspiration was the attempt to encounter, in myself, this part of my culture and my country which I missed dearly, and the cultivation to continue learning the beauty, wisdom, and to share it with others. It gives a feeling of unity to explore other ethnicities, it helps me to be proud of my culture, and it gives me motivation to learn more. I believe that it is the same with Gerardo also.
How do you incorporate the music with your poetry in this show?
The music is created by Gerardo and accompanied by historical and traditional music. It is like a painter who goes describing the resonating landscape where the history develops itself. It is beautiful, and it is made by the use of replicated antiquated instruments.
Of what will you be speaking of, and what will the theme be in terms of legends of Mexico?
These legends talk about things that we experience today, but they were written a long time ago. They tell stories about things like truelove, real animals, fantastic and mythical characters. The show will be spoken in Spanish, English, and bilingual, depending on the audience that will see the show in that moment. It is VERY FUN!
This year’s La Luna Nueva festival is made possible with the support of PGE Foundation, The Oregonian, Oregon Arts Commission, Regional Arts & Culture Council and Work for Art. Festival events occur September 14-29, 2012 at El Centro Milagro, 525 SE Stark Street, Portland, Oregon 97214; a complete schedule is available here. Admission varies; several events are FREE. Purchase tickets at 503-236-7253 or www.milagro.org (follow links for «La Luna Nueva» in right-hand sidebar).