VENTURA — A Spanish Heritage Fiesta, a free community event to celebrate Diversity in Culture, will be presented by Ventura College from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24 at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center, 4700 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.
The event will feature professionals and students including Aztec, Folkloric, and Flamenco dances, a Mariachi band, classical guitarists from various Spanish composers and poetry readings. Also included will be Spanish and Mexican art, artifacts, and jewelry exhibits.
Included in the on-stage festivities, will be: Performances by Danza Mexicana Cuauhtémoc, Ballet Folklórico Alma de México and a Mariachi Band and Susana Elena, a classical Spanish and flamenco dancer who performs throughout Southern California. She will honor Spain’s tradition of sophisticated rhythms, explosive, passionate energy, and sublime style with a varied repertoire that will include dances from the classical Escuela Bolera School.
Elena is certified to teach Standards-based dance education, and is listed on the L.A. County Arts Commission’s “Art for All” program directory.
Carlos Gonzáles, one of the most influential classical guitarists in Southern California, will perform works by Fernando Sor, Francisco Tarrega, among others. Gonzáles is the founding director of the Ventura County Classical Guitar Society, and has been the lead faculty member developing the guitar courses at Ventura College since 1981.
Milena Hurtado, a foreign language instructor at Ventura College will be reading a poem by Federico Garcia Lorca, and will perform her own adaptation of two pieces by Lorca: “Romance de la Luna, Luna” and a fragment “Habla la Luna” from “Bodas de sangre”. She will also provide a translation of the piece in English.
Members of the Ventura College Classical Guitar Ensemble, Jesse Davis, Daniel Navarro, Sam Horton and Joshua Lantiegne will also be highlighted, and will conduct solos, duets, and quartets from various Spanish composers in the outside patio adjacent to the Helen Yunker Auditorium Performing Arts Center.