Danzantes Unidos Festival 2010 -- Register Today!

Danzantes Unidos® and its logo are registered in the U.S. Pat. and Trademark Office. Use of Danzantes Unidos® or its logo without permission from the Danzantes Unidos® de California organization will result in legal action. Danzantes Unidos is a federally recognized nonprofit organization and there is NO OTHER Danzantes Unidos Festival sanctioned by this organization.

Danzantes Unidos Festival 2010 - Register Today!

Preparations are now in full swing for Danzantes Unidos' annual gathering, Danzantes Unidos Festival (DUF) 2010, "La Feria Mexicana," on March 26, 27 & 28, 2010 at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, CA.

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You can find out more about this exciting three-day event by exploring any of our Festival Quicklinks, listed below:

Workshops
Schedule of Events
Showcase Concerts
DUF Pachanga & Fandango
Festival Hotel
Registration
Mercado Vendor & Program Ads
Festival Syllabus
DUF 24/7 for FANatics ONLY

We'll be sending out additional information to our electronic mailing list. If you've received this newsletter from a friend and would like to join the list yourself, you can sign up for our mailing list now.

We look forward to seeing you at DUF 2010!

Sinceramente,
Maria Luisa Colmenarez
President, Danzantes Unidos

Online Registration is now OPEN for DUF 2010

All registration information will be processed online and is payable by ATM or credit card. The registration fee includes a movement session and admission to the evening Showcase Concerts.

Festival size will be limited to the first 600 registrants, and onsite registration will be limited to remaining space available.

All Registrants will be required to sign and submit a Waiver and Release of Liability. Registrants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone.

School groups paying via Purchase Order, contact registration@danzantes.org for processing.

Please note that when you register, you will be signing up for one class, and that will be your class for the weekend. Registrations are non-transferable.

Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Should your first choice be full before you register, we will automatically place you in your second or third choice, depending on what is available. Failure to submit a second or third choice will result in a delay in your class confirmation. In special circumstances, class changes are allowed, space permitting, and must be done via onsite registration.

Click the button below to register online now!

For your convenience, you may register multiple group members at a time.

DUF 2010 Registration Fees

Regular Registration -- $80.00 until March 10, includes class registration and two evening Showcase Concerts.

Late Registration -- $85.00, March 11 to March 24, includes class registration.

Chaperones -- $30.00 until March 24, includes two evening Showcase Concerts on Friday and Saturday. Please note that these concerts do sell out and individual tickets may not be available onsite.

Onsite Registration -- $90.00, March 26 to March 28, includes class registration. Does not include Showcase Concerts.

DUF Class Selection Guidelines

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Classes are divided by age and will be strictly enforced. Our instructors have prepared their material with maturity levels in mind, and we will honor their requests to transfer out students who do not meet the criteria.

Green -- Less than 5 years continuous participation in a regular program
Yellow -- 5 to 10 continuous years in a regular program
Blue -- 10 or more continuous years in a regular program

A regular program meets at least two times per week throughout the school year.

DUF 2010 Instructors & Course Descriptions

Danzantes Unidos is pleased to announce this year's faculty & workshop offerings. Instructor bios are available for viewing online.

Rudy Figueroa, San Jose, CA
Folklorico Fun -- Introduction to movement, rhythm, music & games for young students ages 3-7 (plus one parent/guardian). Students are asked to bring a pillow and blanket for "pollito" nap-time. Only student needs to register and one parent/guardian is admitted to class (class only). Accompanying parent opting to attend evening concerts must purchase "chaperone package".

Ana Bustos-Ponce, Fresno, CA
Abanico Folklorico I -- This class is for green and yellow level children ages 7-10 and will include repertoire from Sinaloa, Veracruz & Jalisco.

Maria Cerda, Fresno, CA
Abanico Folklorico II -- This class is for green and yellow level children ages 9-12 and will include: Nayarit - El Buey, Chiapas - El Torito, Chihuahua - Gallinita

Sergio Sartiaguin, Nayarit, Mexico
Abanico Folklorico IV -- This class is for blue level youth ages 11-14 and will include a sampling of repertoire from the four corners of Mexico.

Marco Sanchez, Sacramento, CA
Puebla -- This class is for yellow and blue level dancers ages 14-40 and will feature Sones y Jarabes Poblanos & Danza de Moros y Cristianos de San Pedro. Participants are asked to bring a machete, skirt & rebozo.

Juan Santana, Riverside, CA
Colima -- This class is for yellow and blue level dancers ages 14-40 and will include El Pedregal, El Pitayero & Las Comaltecas.

Carlos Santoyo, San Diego, CA
Sinaloa -- El Sinaloense, La Chiclanera, El Coyote, La India Bonita, El Parraleno.

Cecilio DeCastro, El Monte, CA
Jalisco -- This class is for green level dancers ages 14-40 and will include and will include El Tirador, El Gusto & El Angel.

Janet Johns, Watsonville, CA
Huasteca Veracruzana -- This class is for yellow and blue level dancers ages 14-40 and will include Danza de Los Viejos & a huapango tba.

Patricio Hidalgo, Veracruz, Mexico
Veracruz Sotavento -- This class is for yellow and blue level dancers ages 14-40 and will feature tecnica de zapateado in the improvisational style most commonly seen at a 'fandango'. Repertoire will include a son de monton, son de pareja and a specialty dance. Students will learn repiqueteos (hard percussive footwork), cepillados (soft brush steps and patterns) and mudanzas (rest steps) for each son.

Jose Tena, Las Cruces, NM
Nuevo Leon -- This class is for yellow and blue level dancers ages 14-40 and will include La Bola (polka), El Cerro de La Silla (schotis), La Grulla (polka) & Pavido Navido (huapango)

Zenon Barron, San Francisco, CA
Guanajuato -- This class is for blue level dancers ages 14-40 and will feature dances from the state of Guanajuato.

Benjamin Hernandez, East Los Angeles, CA
Jalisco -- This class is for yellow and blue level dancers ages 18+ and will feature dances from the state of Jalisco.

Guadalupe Castro Paramo, Bakersfield, CA
Baja California Sur -- This class is for yellow and blue level dancers ages 18+ and will include: La Suegra, El Chaveran, El Apasionado, El Tupe, La Alegria & Las Calabazas

Jose Vences, Los Angeles, CA
Morelos -- This class is for yellow and blue level dancers ages 18+ and will feature dances from the state of Morelos.

Rudy Garcia, Union City, CA
San Luis Potosi -- This class is for yellow and blue level dancers ages 18+ and will feature footwork, styling and technique of huapangos from the state of San Luis Potosi. Repertoire to include: La Presumida, El Querreque, El Caiman

DUF 2010 Concert Showcases

The DUF 2010 Concert Showcases on March 26 & 27 (Friday & Saturday) will feature the work of folklorico companies throughout the state, as well as those making the pilgrimage from throughout the country. Concert Director Juana Saludado is currently taking sign-ups from groups interested in sharing their work with their peers. Please contact her at Concerts@danzantes.org to request the application. There is no fee involved. The deadline for applications is March 10, 2010.

DUF 2010 Mercado

You will find the best deals on all your folklorico needs at the DUF 2010 Mercado. Vendors who are interested in applying may contact our Mercado Representative, Andrea Hernandez, at DUFMercadoRep@yahoo.com. The deadline for applications is March 10, 2010.

DUF 2010 Lodging

Danzantes Unidos Festival Staff will be housed at:

Dolce Hayes Mansion, 200 Edenvale Avenue, San Jose, CA (MAP)
(408) 226-3200 or (800) 57-DOLCE

DUF 2010 rate is $89. The group code for DUF 2010 is "danzantes." A block of 100 rooms is being held for us at this hotel. Breakfast is not included at this rate.

For your convenience, follow this link to reserve your room online at:
www.dolce-hayes-mansion-hotel.com

[ Photo of Hayes Mansion ]

Once a lavish private estate, the Hayes Mansion stands as one of the South Bay's most impressive and distinctive historical structures. Surrounded by lush, emerald green lawns, accented with gardens of vibrant, colorful flowers and guarded by towering palm trees, the 100-year old estate has been refurbished, upgraded and transformed into a luxurious hotel, conference center, resort, and spa. Steeped in tradition and rich in history, the mansion provides visitors with an extraordinary experience. The Dolce Hayes Mansion is an exquisite fusion of turn-of-the century luxury and high tech convenience. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the meticulously renovated Spanish Colonial Revival-style manor is as opulent as ever. DUF 2010 is very pleased to offer this architectural gem to DUF participants.

Our staff endured many scouting trips, meetings with sales directors, and long-distance phone calls before selecting the Hayes Mansion as the festival hotel. There are other, smaller budget hotels in the vicinity which either did not have the capacity for our event, were out of the comfort range for travel, or were not interested in negotiating a special rate. That info is available upon request.

DUF 2010 Volunteers

It takes many hearts and hands to run this festival, and each year we are grateful for the wonderful support shown to our staff by the area folklorico companies. If you would like to add your hands, please contact Maria Luisa Colmenarez at Danzantes@aol.com for volunteer opportunities. There will be a DUF 2010 Volunteer Meeting on Sunday, February 21 at 6:30pm at the Flor de Mexico Dance Studio, 30998 Huntwood Avenue, Suite 105, Hayward, CA (MAP). No experience is necessary, just mucho corazon. ¡Gracias!

About Danzantes Unidos de California

Danzantes Unidos de California is the cultural network of Mexican folk dancers and artists in California. It was incorporated in 1994 to promote and support the Mexican Folk experience through the performing and visual arts, including, but not limited to, the annual three-day festival known as the Danzantes Unidos Festival.

For more information, visit www.danzantes.com