Danzantes Unidos Festival 2010 -- Registration Nearing Capacity!

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:
Registration Nearing Capacity!

San Jose is ready to welcome Danzantes Unidos' annual gathering, Danzantes Unidos Festival (DUF) 2010, "La Feria Mexicana," on March 26, 27 & 28, 2010 at Evergreen Valley College.

Over 400 dancers have registered for workshops. THANK YOU! Registration confirmations will be emailed to group directors and registrants beginning the week of March 22.

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There are still many fine opportunities to participate at DUF 2010, and 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

DUF 2010 Late Registration Deadline Is March 24!

Late Registration -- $85.00, March 11 to March 24, includes class registration. Showcase Concerts included only while supply lasts -- no guarantees on these sell-out performances.

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

Showcase Concert Tickets Available Online
Showcase Concert tickets are accessible online via the "Sales Items Only" button on our secure registration page. Tickets will be bundled with Group Registration Packets; non-group affiliated tickets will be held in Will Call at the door. Concert tickets will not be mailed.

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 (or submitting the same class three times) 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 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. We would like to give a special thank you to SF Bay Area group directors and dancers from the following groups:

Ballet Folklorico Mexico Vivo, Redwood City
Flor de Mexico, Union City
Los Laureles, San Jose
Alegria de San Jose
Ensemble Folklorico Tierra Mestiza, San Jose
Danzantes de Alegria, Fremont
www.alegria.org
www.folkloricoonline.com

Our final week of volunteer opportunities continues on Saturday, March 20. Please contact danzantes@aol.com to sign-up. No experience is necessary, just mucho corazon. ¡Gracias!

DUF 2010 Workshops -- 6 Classes CLOSED

[ Photo of young folklorico dancers ]

Six classes have been filled and are now CLOSED: Nuevo Leon, Veracruz Sotavento, Colima, Sinaloa, and Abanico Folklorico I & II. The following fantastic options are still available including two new sections of children's classes to accommodate the surge of young dancers. Instructor bios are available for viewing online.

Rudy Figueroa, San Jose, CA
Folklorico Fun -- Introduction to movement, rhythm, music, and 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."

Rosalie De Verona, Los Angeles, CA
Abanico Folklorico I -- This class is for green and yellow level children ages 7-10 and will include the following repertoire: Si Chuy from Sinaloa, El Colas & La Iguana from Veracruz, and Jota Jaliscience from Jalisco. Girls please bring rebozos.

Netza Vidal, San Francisco, CA
Abanico Folklorico II -- This class is for green and yellow level children ages 9-12 and will include the following repertoire: La Majahua (Nayarit), El Indio de Comitan (Chiapas), and Jesusita en Chihuahua.

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; El Pulque, San Miguelito & Danza de Moras y Cristianas de San Pedro; Bailete Cruzado, Batalla Principar, Paso Doble. Participants are asked to bring a machete, skirt, and rebozo.

Rafael Valpuesta, Los Angeles, CA

This class is for yellow and blue level dancers ages 14-40 and will include a suite of dances from the state of Campeche: El Campechito, El Pavito, La Guaranducha, El Jarabe Criollo, and Los Almudez.

Cecilio DeCastro, El Monte, CA
Jalisco -- This class is for green level dancers ages 14-40 and will include El Tirador, El Gusto, and 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 and a huapango (TBA).

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, including Sones y Jarabes de Guanajuato; Jarabe Gatuno, Los Barreteros, El Mosco y el Jarabe Guanajuatense; Cuadrillas de Chinacos.

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, and 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, and 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.

Danzantes Unidos is pleased to announce the Showcase Concert lineup for these two days:

Showcase Concert I, Friday, March 26:
Grupo Folklorico Los Laureles, San Jose
Grupo Folklorico Los Soñadores, Laguna Niguel
Juventud Latina Genesis (Children), Watsonville
Grupo Folklorico Santa Paula, Newark
Grupo Folklorico Oyohualli, Bakersfield
Fiesta! Grupo Folklorico & Amor de Mexico, Santa Ana
Ballet Folklorico Mexico Vivo (Children), Redwood City
Ensemble Folklorico Tierra Mestiza, San Jose
Grupo Folklorico Fresno City College, Fresno
Ballet Folklorico Las Estrellas (Youth), Hayward
Las Cruces Folklorico, San Jose
Grupo Folklorico Los Mejicas de UCSC, Santa Cruz
Juventud Latina Genesis (Youth), Watsonville

Showcase Concert II, Saturday, March 27:
Ensemble Folklorico Tierra Mestiza, San Jose
Ballet Folklorico Las Estrellas (Adult), Hayward
Ballet Folklorico Resurreccion (Youth), Monterey Park
Juventud Latina Genesis (Adult), Watsonville
Raices de Mi Tierra, Sacramento
Los Mestizos de San Jose, San Jose
Ballet Folklorico Raices Mexicanas, Stockton
Ballet Mexico Folklorico de Jose Mendoza, San Jose
Los Paisanos de Selma, Selma
Ballet Folklorico Mexico Vivo (Adult), Redwood City
Ballet Folklorico Resurreccion (Adult); Monterey Park
Grandeza Mexicana, Los Angeles

Showcase Concert Tickets are available online now. Go to the registration page and click on "Sales Items Only" to order the Chaperone Package which includes a ticket for Friday and another for Saturday. Space permitting, individual evening tickets will be sold at the door.

DUF 2010 Mercado

It's time to break those cochinitos! You will find the best deals on all your folklorico needs at the DUF 2010 Mercado. Confirmed vendors include:

My Folklorico Closet
Rosa's Folklor Mexicano
Casa Folkorica
Galeria CruziMimiMex
A World Fit for Kids
Joyeria Araceli
Karinas Dance Shoes
Olveritas Village

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

The Danzantes Unidos hotel block at the Hayes Mansion is sold out of double rooms. Single rooms with king bed are still available at the same rate of $89. Persons wishing to make use of spa services should contact the hotel for rates and to schedule an appointment.

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

The Radisson San Jose Airport is offering a block of rooms for $69/double and $79/double with breakfast for two. This hotel is approximately 11.5 miles from Evergreen Valley College. Please use group code 'Danzantes Unidos' when making your reservation.

Radisson San Jose Airport
1471 N. 4th St., San Jose, CA (MAP)
Reservations (Toll-free, US & Canada): 1-800-395-7046
Telephone: (408) 452-0200
Email: rhi_sanj@radisson.com

An Invitation from World Arts West

World Arts West, producers of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, invites leaders of Northern California Mexican folkloric dance companies to attend a community meeting, to hear your ideas on how World Arts West can better serve your community.

The primary goals of this meeting are to:

(1) better understand the issues, concerns, and opportunities faced by the communities served by World Arts West,
(2) hear what these communities think about World Arts West and the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, and,
(3) get some practical ideas on how World Arts West as an organization can better serve these communities through the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival and other programs.

The information received in these meetings will be used by World Arts West to develop new strategies to provide new services and opportunities to all the dance communities they serve.

This meeting will be facilitated by the independent consulting firm WolfBrown with World Arts West staff and Board members also in attendance.

The meeting will be held at:

Evergreen Valley College (MAP), Gullo II Conference Room
Saturday, March 27th, 4pm to 5:30pm

Dinner will be included.

All attendees will also get a free pass (+ 1 guest) to one of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival Dress Rehearsals (June 4, 10, 18, 25).

If you wish to attend, please RSVP to 415-474-3914 or to mahea@worldartswest.org as soon as possible.

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico -- Two Performances in San Jose

[ Photo of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico ]

From the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City comes the incomparable Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández in a special, gala production commemorating the Bicentennial Celebration of Mexico's Independence and the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution. The 75-member troupe of dancers and musicians is pulling out all its artistic stops this anniversary year with new, eye-popping choreography and a glamorous restaging of traditional pieces not seen in decades. The company will appear on Sunday, March 28, at 3pm & 7pm at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, located at 255 Almaden Boulevard (MAP). Tickets range from $32.50 to $59.50 and can be obtained by calling the San Jose Convention Center Box Office at 408-792-4111. Event tickets are also available at all Ticketmaster outlets. Online sales can be made at www.sjtix.com and www.ticketmaster.com.

For a $5.00 discount, Danzantes Unidos participants can enter the promo code: DUF.

For additional performance information, please visit www.danceforpower.org.

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