Esperanza Arts Center
VIRTUAL LATINO ARTS FESTIVAL / 2021
September 15 – October 13, 2021
Latinx music, dance, and theater from around the world
Streamed Events and Performances 7:30 pm every Wednesday
Feos
Teatro y su Doble
September 15
A man and woman meet for the first time in the line at the movie theater. Both have visible physical deformities, are alone and have lived their whole lives being stared at. Inevitably, they realize they have something in common and that they are ‘made for each other’. Together, they decide to go in search of the light behind the darkness, although nothing is quite as it seems.
Inspired by the story La Noche de los Feos by Mario Benedetti and with the playwright Guillermo Calderón, Feos is the latest production by Teatro y Su Doble from Santiago, Chile using puppets and animations as the main characters in the story.
Sofia Viola
September 22
Sofia Viola takes us into her home in Buenos Aires for an intimate acoustic set that highlights the strength of her voice and the brilliance and honesty of her songwriting. Embracing her guitar and her charangón, Viola’s songs drift from tango to vibrations of the Andes, from milonga to happy cumbia, from rock to vallenato, and from chamamé to blues. She composes songs in which she professes her unconditional love for Latin American folklore in all its dimensions; and in her solo show, she tells micro-stories that speak of love, ecology, junk food, and universal themes from her perspective. Sofia’s provocative humor leads the audience on a journey to discover the roots of Argentina through the characters and landscapes that inhabit her songs.
Luna de Cuernos
Fifth House Ensemble
September 29
Luna de Cuernos is a modern interpretation of a Puerto Rican folktale inspired by the true stories of Chicagoans and told through music for woodwind quintet and stunning illustrations by Sarah Becan. It’s the story of a tight-knit group of friends and family under threat, and the risks they will take to defend the garden that is their community’s source of life. The program features works by Mario Lavista, Miguel del Aguila, Bohuslav Martinu, Alexandre Tansman, and Jörg Widmann.
Minas
October 6
Led by Orlando and Patricia Haddad, Minas’ impact on the Philadelphia music and cultural scene has been a constant since 1984, when the couple moved from Rio de Janeiro to The City of Brotherly Love. They introduced Philadelphia audiences to Brazilian Carnaval, founded the city’s first samba drum troupe – Philasamba, and have presented educational programs introducing the music of Brazil in schools for more than half a million children.
Calpulli Dance
October 13
Calpulli Mexican Dance Company’s repertoire is a carnival of folkloric traditions and original creations both choreographic and musical developed since 2003. Artistic Director & Co-Founder Alberto Lopez Herrera tells narrative-based stories entirely through dance, music, elaborate and colorful costumes, and the passion and virtuosity of its performers.