Queer Scouts: Intro to Latino Cultural Dance

Name: Queer Scouts: Intro to Latino Cultural Dance
Start: 2024-10-12T13:00:00-04:00
End: 2024-10-12T16:00:00-04:00
Location: Rock the Block Studio 1202 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI

Schedule

Sat Oct 12 2024 at 01:00 pm to 04:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Rock the Block Studio 1202 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI | Lansing, MI

Learn about the history and cultural nuances of a selection of Latino dances from a professional dancer! Then, we’ll learn the basic steps of the cumbia, moving from solo to partner to group dancing. Afterwards, we’ll have light refreshments from 3-4pm. This is open to complete beginners and you don’t need a partner to attend and dance! Wear closed toe shoes and clothes that are comfortable to move around in.
The dance demonstration explores the cultural nuances of Latino music and dance with an emphasis on style, technique, and comport. Latino music and dance are very complex and extremely expansive in origin and nature. This demonstration will focus on the complexity of flamenco and its relationship to Mexican folkloric dance.
It will also exhibit the commonality of dance from the Caribbean such as bolero, cha-cha-cha, merengue, and salsa. Each dance style has its own origins and style, yet have similarities.
To conclude, it will explore the cumbia and its distinction as a unique folkloric and social dance form originally from Colombia that is danced in all of Latin America, Spain, and the United States. Space is limited, registration required.
Register: https://forms.gle/ohcjJ1JZFaDZuGDW8
Location: Rock the Block Studio
1202 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI
About Your Troop Leader:
Lorenzo Lopez is a native of Michigan and a graduate of Michigan State University and has been part of the Latino Cultural arts through dance as a teacher, performer, choreographer, and director for 30+ years of performing, directing, and producing Latino music and dance production as director of festivals, concerts, and Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations; presenting Hispanic dance forms at the highest levels through concerts, dance workshops and festival celebrations. Studied tap, modern, ballet and Flamenco (LCC), studied Mexican Folkloric Dance with the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, Escuela de Danza and the Instituto de Mizoc, Mexico City, studied modern dance (MSU).
Taught Mexican Folkloric Dance at Lansing Community College for 6 years, directed the Ballet Folklorico Lopez for 10 years, co-director of Sabor Latino Dance Company presenting Cumbia, Merengue, Cha-cha-cha and Salsa for 5 years, and performed as guest artist with Ballet Hispanico of Lansing, MI, Ballet Folklorico Estudiantil, Flint, MI, Ballet Folklorico Corktown Detroit, MI and Maria del Carmen Spanish Flamenco, Detroit, MI. Worked with Raices Mexicanas of Detroit from 2010 to 2011.
What is Queer Scouts?
Queer Scouts is a series of free, all ages workshops for learning craft and outdoors skills in an inclusive environment that centers 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. Anyone is welcome, though we ask that any kids are accompanied by a trusted adult. All supplies are included, and folks are welcome at any skill level. Attendees will receive a button or "badge" for learning their new skill, and folks are welcome to attend as many (or few!) workshops as they're interested in.