MITOTE

Choreographed by Liz Gallego

Opening the 2007 season of “DANCEMAKER’s Fall Concert Series” at Texas Women’s University is Mitote, an original choreography grounded in authentic sacramental Indigenous rites. Inside this first-time production by the TWU International Dance Company, Mitote presents traditional movement accompanied by native American instruments.
 

Karla Canamar-Mercado, TWU Senior and Molina H.S. Graduate poses in Aztec Regalia Designed by Rosa Isela Flores

“DANCEMAKER’s Fall Concert Series” begins November 15^th @ 4pm and continues thru November 16^th & 17^th @ 7pm in Margo Jones Performance Hall. Tickets range from $4.oo-$6.oo-$8.oo and the box office opens 45 minutes prior to each performance (no advance ticket sales/reservations available).

A section of Mitote will also be presented at “KIDsDANCE: Rhythms for LIFE,” on November 15^th & 16^th, 2007 in Denton, Texas @ 10am, with free admission, but RSVP is requested for groups.

·          Additional information, maps & driving directions are located at www.twu.edu/soa/dance/pages/events/concerts.html.

·          Questions…please contact the Dance office @ ph: 940/898-2086 or 2085

The project is part of an initiative led by Liz Gallego, president of the Texas Association for Hispanic Dance and Culture. TAHDC's mission is to create bridges between audiences, educators, artists, dancers, musicians, media and other non-profit organizations for the preservation, dissemination and evolution of Hispanic arts and culture in the great state of Texas. To introduce future dance teachers at TWU to the beauty of Mexican dance traditions is an utmost significant step.

Mitote is the culmination of many projects directed by Ms. Gallego from 1990-2007. During this period she taught dance for DISD at Molina High School and W.E. Greiner Middle School. This TWU choreography is based on actual Indigenous sources including Kapulli Tonal Teokalli and Grupo Cualli Tepec Danza Azteca Chichimeca Conchera of Dallas. Two more contributing sources include Alfredo Palomares at a 2001 ANGF Conference in Vera Cruz, Mexico and Ballet Folklorico Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council, Chicago, Illinois. Molina High School has politely loaned the TWU dance company Aztec regalia so elegantly designed by Rosa Isela Flores and Altagracia Valverde.

Mitote begins with a procession to Tonantzin, the Mother Earth; Antigua; a Salutation to the Ancestors, and Danza de los Sembradores, the Sower’s Dance. The presentation continues with  Ollin Tonatiuh, or Movement to the Sun, Permíso the request to complete the ritual and finally the recessional.

A Molina High graduate student from Ms. Gallego’s student alumni, Yesenia Zarraras, provided percussion instruction to the TWU International Dance Company. Another graduate, now a TWU senior, Karla Canamar-Mercado will be featured in the Mitote choreography- as well as three more TWU Concert Series choreographies.