Blogamole › Hispanic Heritage Month

By Vanessa Beatriz Soto

Cuban ballet dancers are setting the dance world on fire. How did they pick up their passion for dance? How can that passion be shared with people who are new to the art form? We sat down with ballet royalty Lorena and Lorna Feijoo for a chat.

Blogamole: Your mother was a dancer, your father was an actor. How did you start dancing?

Lorena: My mother took me to the theater, my father took me to the studio... I was always listening to classical music, watching the girls in costume when I was little. In the Ballet Nacional De Cuba, all the dancers brought their kids. You didn't need to ask anybody, 'can you take care of my child?' All the kids watched the dance classes and saw their parents rehearsing, and after a while my interest grew and grew.

Lorna: My sister was watching ballet from the womb! By the time my mother had me, she had stopped dancing, and was a teacher at the National Ballet School, which is the most important ballet school in Cuba. I had never really thought of being a dancer - I wanted to do everything! But one day, I just auditioned, and I passed the test. I went to my mother and I told her: 'I passed the test. I want to study ballet.' My father said, you know, maybe it's better if you are a contemporary dancer, to avoid comparisons with your sister? (By the time I got started, my sister had already been in the school for three years. She had won international prizes.) My mother would say, you're not as disciplined with your diet, you like candy and chocolate, you have to sacrifice a lot, get up early. It's a very hard career. My parents thought I wasn't going to have the discipline for it! But I did it. I wanted it.

B: In the US, Ballet is a passion for a small minority of people. What's the best way to enlarge that audience and get people interested?

Lorena: In recent years, dance has become a real presence in media. Theaters are a medium for a small group of people, whether its for the symphony or opera, for people who already appreciate the performing arts. In the US, television is the best way to reach people. Programs like So You Think You Can Dance, and Dancing with the Stars, bring dance to the people. Dancing with the Stars has a bit of classical dance as part of its program. When people see that classical dance and music is accessible, that it isn't so foreign, they can start understand, to become interested and get a taste and appreciation. We need more arts channels, where we can show the variety and breadth of the performing arts.

Lorna: Dance has always been with us, but, unlike sports, it doesn't have that huge, passionate audience. In Cuba, people live to see the ballet. It's not like that here. So for us, something like (our appearance) on Dancing with the Stars was a huge thing! Truly, when the called us and gave us the news, it was a beautiful thing... Black Swan is another example. It got people going to the movies and looking at people dancing ballet. I'd love to see more movies - not documentaries, although I love them - but movies about ballet. Also, I think community outreach programs are key. At the Boston Ballet, we do lots of performances for schools, and no matter how tired we are from the night before, we are always excited for those matinees. The kids love it! We say to each other in the company, those kids are our very best audience.

So what about you? Are you a ballet fan? Would you hit the theater to check out a new movie with a ballet theme? Tell us in the comments!

Tags Arts and Culture, Black Swan, blogger: Vanessa Beatriz Soto, Boston Ballet, Cuba, Cuban Ballet, Dance, Dancing With The Stars, Hispanic Heritage Month, Lorena Feijoo, Lorna Feijoo, San Francisco Ballet, So You Think You Can Dance

By Vanessa Beatriz Soto

I sat down with Octavio Roca a few days ago to talk about his latest work, the gorgeous, photo-rich tome Cuban Ballet. Born in Cuba and a long-time US resident, Roca has written music and dance criticism for The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and The San Francisco Chronicle, among others, and is chair of the Arts and Philosophy department at Miami Dade College.

Growing up in the US in the 80s, I struggled to identify role models who were like me. What's it like today? Octavio Roca shared some of his thoughts on the significance of the Cuban diaspora on the ballet world, and how Hispanics in general and Cuban ballet dancers in particular are shaping American culture.

Blogamole: So tell us - how did Cuban Ballet come to be?

O.R. I have been a music and dance critic most of my life, and I am also Cuban. Being very close both to Cuba and to the art form, I noticed... Cubans are the Russians of the 21st century. The influence Cuban dancers are having on dance today, especially dance in America, is like that of the Russians in the 1980s. In the case of Russia, it's easier to understand - Russia's huge! Cuba is little... it's a miracle, that kind of influence that Cuba has in culture in general, but especially in dance.

I was working at the San Francisco Chronicle as lead dance critic, and by sheer coincidence, back to back, I got to see Lorna Feijoo with the Cuban National Ballet, in Giselle, before she defected, and then her sister Lorena's first Giselle with the San Francisco Ballet. I was so touched. They were so beautiful. Those two women are as good as it gets today. It touched me, because I thought I couldn't recover that kind of culture.

So I thought - Let's tell the whole story! I was in a perfect place to do this, because my mother danced in the company (The Cuban National Ballet), my mother was a Wili in the first Giselle I ever saw, with Alicia Alonso with Igor Youskevitch! When you start with the best, you get marked for life.

I told the story of ballet in Cuba, going back to the 19th century, through the beginnings of the present company, in 1948 before the Revolution: Alicia Alonso -Cuban National Ballet's director-, Fernando Alonso, and Alberto Alonso, the founders. I also chose to tell the stories of the new Cubans. The young ones are doing two very important things: they are keeping Cuban culture alive at a time that is very difficult, because Cuba has gone through a lot, and is going through a lot. And yet, here you have this art form that is so beautiful, thriving.

It interested me that people like Lorena and Lorna Feijoo are leading dancers of the San Francisco Ballet and the Boston Ballet. Every major American company has Cuban principals and Cuban teachers. At the same time as all of us Cuban writers and artists are trying to maintain our own identity, there is a dialog going on: we are also shaping the culture of the country we now call home.

American culture today is Hispanic-accented, and our particular Hispanic influence is a source of pride. We are making a major contribution to American culture."

Octavio Roca's book, Cuban Ballet, with forewords by Alicia Alonso and Mikhail Baryshnikov, is available for purchase now.

Tags Alicia Alonso, arts, Ballet, blogger: Vanessa Beatriz Soto, Boston Ballet, Cuba, Cuban Ballet, Dance, Hispanic Heritage Month, Lorena Feijoo, Lorna Feijoo, Mikhail Bayshnikov, Octavio Roca, San Francisco Ballet

By Michael Lopez

It's hard to believe that Hispanic Heritage Month is winding down. Throughout the past several weeks, we've showcased some truly inspiring artists, musicians, and fashionistas. And before it's all over, we thought it would be fun to share one more cultural tidbit – the delicious plate, Chile en Nogada!

A perfect addition to any Latino dinner table, this traditional Mexican dish mixes elements of sweet Nogada cream, tender ground beef and just the right amount of pepper spice. L.A.'s Frida restaurants specialize in the seasonal delicacy and founder Vicente del Rio gave us some tips on how to prepare it.

"Chile en Nogada is a very special entrée," del Rio explained. "Because it has so many seasonal ingredients, we only include it on our menu in the fall. It actually made its Frida debut on Mexican independence day this year."

Truth be told, Frida's Chile en Nogada isn't just a yummy main course, it's a work of art! Blending colors that ironically match the Mexican flag (red, white, and green in case you didn't know), it contains a wide variety of ingredients, including pomegranates, pears, cream cheese, and walnuts.

As Vicente explained, the base of the dish consists of a giant green chile, cut open and stuffed with meat.

"At our restaurants, we use ground tenderloin," he said. "After carefully seasoning it, we put it in the sliced bell pepper and add in pear slices, green apples, raisins, and pine nuts."

That alone would make a pretty tasty meal, but the yumminess doesn't stop there. One of the key flavors of Chile en Nogada is the slightly sweet Nogada sauce, which is made of cream cheese, milk, and a special Mexican ingredient called nuez de castilla.

And for the final touch, del Rio makes sure each Chile en Nogada plate is decorated with bright red pomegranates.

"The pomegranates are a seasonal item and they really help make the dish," he said. "We sprinkle them over the Nogada sauce and, for the final touch, we add peach slices on the side of plate. Many of our customers love to blend it all together."

But don't think that's all that Frida is famous for. Known for taking their name from the legendary Mexican painter, they currently have four restaurants in southern California. Vicente proudly describes his menu as "authentic Mexican cuisine" and features items like Molcajete, Camarones al Tequila, and Mole.

You can follow his Twitter and Facebook pages for all kinds of recipes and more Mexican cooking tips.

What's your favorite traditional Mexican dish? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chile en Nogada, Cultura, Food, Frida, Frida Restaurants, Hispanic Heritage Month, Vicente del Rio

By Tony St. Jean

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Tr3s is featuring the stories of seven remarkable Latino students and honoring them as Agentes de Cambio. These seven students are the 2011 Hispanic Heritage Youth Award Recipients, selected for their extraordinary accomplishments and talent. Check out Melissa, Jose, and Catarina – all Latino youth change-makers committed to doing what they love while making a difference.

Though she is still a student, Melissa is already looking to teach the next generation of youth. She wishes to become an English teacher to instill a love of reading and writing in others. In addition to her academic achievements, Melissa is the Editor-in-Chief to both the Spanish Literary Magazine and the English Literary Magazine her school publishes. Melissa, who is Venezuelan and Spanish, has a positive outlook on her future – “It’s not just recognition for what I accomplished so far, but also support and motivation for what I hope to achieve in the future.” Melissa’s passion in education is match by our next participant’s drive to help others.

Catarina loves to help so much that she has set a personal goal of logging 4,000 hours of community service by her 25th birthday. During the summer, Catarina volunteers at Peeble’s Elementary School where she works with children as a teacher’s aide. She was given the title “Community Service Lieutenant” by her school for her extraordinary efforts in the community. Catarina recently taught a week long course in animal awareness to kick off her Leadership Academy Senior project. She strives to be a role model to her peers, “I want to set a good example. I want everyone to be able to go out and volunteer”. Our last student also wishes to motivate others with his actions.

Jose Antonio Villanueva’s mom told him that if he wanted to get further in life, it would be through education. Taking his mother’s advice, Jose has excelled in academics and has become the top Hispanic Math and Science student in his school district. Jose was named a National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar for placing in the top two percent of Hispanic SAT test takers. His high AP test scores earned him the prestigious AP Scholar Award. Jose, who is Mexican and Spanish, wants to see more Latinos in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields. Jose attends Stanford University where he is majoring in Civil Engineering.

Tags Education, Hispanic Heritage Month, Latinos

By Michael Lopez

Expect a lot of activity from Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy in the next few months. The popular puppets have been popping up in commercials, posters, and even talk shows to promote their upcoming movie. And proving their connection to the Latino audience, Kermie and company filmed a Hispanic Heritage Month promo too.

Colorful as ever, the Muppet couple proudly saluted HHM and even dropped a few Spanish lines.

"Viva Latinos!" Miss Piggy exclaims towards the end of the spot.

Of course if you're in the mood for Fozzie Bear or The Great Gonzo, you can watch their videos as well. Clips on the Kermit homepage feature a tribute to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," blooper reels, and tons of exciting trailers for the new film (including a great Girl With The Dragon Tattoo spoof).

Be sure to catch their big screen adventure when it hits screens on November 23. Not only does it star all of your favorite fuzzy friends, it's got Rico Rodriguez, Danny Trejo, and Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo (just to name a few!).

Are planning on watching the new Muppet movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Danny Trejo, Hispanic Heritage Month, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Movies & CineMás, Muppets, Piolin, Rico Rodriguez, The Muppets

By Michael Lopez

A few weeks back President Barack Obama pledged his support for Hispanic Heritage Month and now he’s carrying through on that promise. Appearing at a live online roundtable today, the Commander-in-Chief answered questions about immigration, the DREAM Act, and even the possibility of a Latino President.

"I am absolutely confident that within my lifetime we will have a Latino candidate for president who will be very competitive, and may win," Obama stated at the conference.

Though, by the sounds of it, the President didn’t believe that candidate would come from the Republican party (or at least not now). Obama went on to explain how the GOP lacked leadership on topics like immigration reform.

"Only a few years ago, you had some Republicans who recognized that we needed to fix our immigration system," Obama said, referring to his predecessor, George W. Bush. "Right now you do not have that kind of leadership coming from the Republican party."

But that of course begs the question, what would Obama and his fellow Democrats do to help with the issue? The Prez was quick to bring up the national DREAM Act again, which would give undocumented college students and military personal a path to citizenship. He said he has continually pushed Congress to pass the bill and that he is more than ready to sign it.

Obama also addressed issues like Puerto Rico’s statehood (which he believes will remain a commonwealth) and Cuban relations.

"We are open to a new relationship with Cuba," the President went on to say. "If the Cuban government starts taking the proper steps to open up its own country and provide the space and the respect for human rights that would allow the Cuban people to determine their own destiny."

All of Obama's remarks toward the audience did sound very encouraging. But will he follow through on his promises to help the Latino community? Perhaps the real answers will reveal themselves after the 2012 Presidential Election.

Would you vote for Obama in the next election? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Barack Obama, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cuba, Cultura, DREAM ACt, Hispanic Heritage Month, Immigration, Politics, President Obama, Puerto Rico

By Michael Lopez

Ever since she first burst on the scene, teen star Victoria Justice has proudly proclaimed her Puerto Rican heritage. Her mother and grandmother come from a long line of strong Latinas and she was proud to show them off via Twitter for Hispanic Heritage Month.

"Just finished a hispanic heritage month promo for @NickelodeonTV w/ my great g-ma & my mom. It's going 2 be cute, look!" she posted.

Looking at the three generations of Justice, it’s easy to see where Victoria gets her striking good looks! But the HHM festivities are just part of how she's been spending her very busy week.

Justice is also in the middle of filming her Nick show Victorious, posing for pictures on Girl’s Life magazine, and recording hit singles. Her latest release, "Almost Paradise," is a remake of a 1980's classic and will be featured on the new Footloose soundtrack.

We're sure she's making mom and grandma very proud!

Do you ever post abuelita pix on your Facebook and Twitter accounts? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, footloose, Hispanic Heritage Month, Hot Stuff, victoria justice, Victorious

By Michael Lopez

Penélope Cruz, Shakira, William Levy…What do these celebs have in common? Sure they’re all Latino, but they also all have killer smiles. In fact, a new study is reporting that millions of Latinos across America have great smiles and place a lot of emphasis on good dental care. Armed with that knowledge, brands like Crest and Oral-B are now looking to target Hispanics with an onslaught of new marketing campaigns.

Procter & Gamble (which owns Crest and Oral-B) helped fund the new dental survey, which polled over 2,000 Latinos throughout the U.S. Of those who participated, 80 percent said they believed people with nicer smiles are more successful. Interestingly, 60 percent of those surveyed said they would rather be confident about their teeth than their body weight.

But the real goldmine for P&G came from the stat that showed the strong emphasis Latinos place on oral care. A majority of the participants said that they are less likely to leave home without brushing their teeth than washing their face or combing their hair (we prefer doing all three).

The study also alluded to a great deal of self-consciousness among Latinos and oral hygiene. More than 90 percent of those surveyed said they are worried about the health of their teeth and four out of 10 are embarrassed of their less than white smiles.

P&G is hoping to change all that with a new line of products that they’re aiming specifically towards the Hispanic community. The Crest & Oral-B Complete Collection includes whitening toothpaste, advanced flossing materials, and a "dual-action" mouthwash for fresh minty breath.

"We at P&G understand the unique needs of the growing Hispanic community and offer a vast collection of products tailored to [their] specific needs and habits," marketing director Dennis Legault said. "Our new Complete products provide noticeable improvements in oral health and appearance."

And just to prove they mean business, P&G is setting up Crest Complete booths at several high-profile Hispanic Heritage Month festivals. Look for them in cities like Dallas, Miami, and L.A.

Do you believe in good dental hygiene? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Crest, Cultura, Dental Care, Hispanic Heritage Month, Oral-B, Procter & Gamble

By Michael Lopez

Hispanic Heritage Month is in full bloom and this past week, even more notable Latinos received honors at the HHM Award ceremony in Washington D.C. Stars like Juanes, Eugenio Derbez and Luis Enrique made very memorable appearances at the Thursday event, but none got more attention than honoree Roberto Gomez Bolaños, aka "Chespirito!"

Roberto has been entertaining audiences across Latin America for over 50 years and the crowd seemed thrilled to have him at the event. Known for his childlike "Chespirito" character, the 82-year-old Bolaños suffered several heart attacks in recent years and has been keeping a low public profile.

In fact, many thought he would not show up in person to receive his Hispanic Heritage Award honor. But proving that he's still ever the prankster, Roberto surprised everyone by appearing on stage alongside his wife Florinda Meza.

To add to the fake-out, "Chespirito" even recorded a faux video that was played for the live audience. In it, he apologized for not being there in person because of health complications. But as the lights went on, there he was, smiling in his wheelchair.

"Thank you, thank you so much, this is incredibly beautiful," he tearfully said from the stage. "This award is a huge distinction that I appreciate for all its value. It is immense for me."

Another surprise appearance came from Juanes, who also has been very low pro since "taking a break" from music a few months back. Now sporting longer hair and a rather dapper suit, he showed up to accept the evening’s Vision Award.

Legendary musician Ruben Blades was on hand as well and spoke passionately from the stage about the ongoing immigrant struggles in America. Tr3s faves William Levy (still sporting the chrome dome) and Maite Perroni hosted the event, which honored notable Latinos in the fields of entertainment, sports, business, and medicine.

Which Latinos do you feel deserve to be honored this month? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Award Shows, chespirito, Cultura, Hispanic Heritage Awards, Hispanic Heritage Month, Juanes, Maiti Perroni, roberto gomez bolaños, Ruben Blades, William Levy

By Michael Lopez

In case you haven't noticed, President Barack Obama has put a much stronger emphasis on acknowledging Hispanics these days. Is it because he feels more drawn to the Latino struggle? Or is it because he wants some votes in the next election? That remains to be seen. But what is worth noting is the White House's big plans for Hispanic Heritage Month.

The President and First Lady kicked off HHM with an appearance at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Awards. Better known as the CHCI's, the gala brought out Tr3s faves like Luis Enrique and even Prince Royce (who sang the national anthem). Notable honorees of the night included civil rights leader Orson Aguilar and Chris Weitz, who directed the critically-acclaimed A Better Life.

At the reception, Obama made a impassioned speech to the 3,000 CHCI guests, emphasizing job creation and the national DREAM Act. The DREAM, if passed, would give undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship via college or the military.

"I will do everything in my power to make the DREAM Act a reality," Obama said. "The truth is reforming our immigration system is central to repairing our economy."

And, per a recent White House press release, the HHM acknowledgements do not end there. Prominent Latino members of the Obama administration will be writing posts on the White House blog and video interviews with community leaders will be available on the President's website.

Additionally, FEMA will conduct a "Hispanic Heritage Month Preparedness Summit" on Thursday, followed by a special message from First Lady Michelle Obama at the evening's HHM Awards. Later in the month, the Oval Office will hold a special screening of the documentary Citizen USA, which profiles modern-day immigrant issues in America.

When summing up Hispanic Heritage Month, the White House website made a point to include a snippet of Obama's famous interview with Jorge Ramos where he said,

"Hispanics constitute the country's largest and fastest growing minority group. They have had a profound and positive impact on our country through, among other things, their community's strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and service. Our country was built on and continues to thrive on its diversity, and there is no doubt that the future of the United States is inextricably linked to the future of the Hispanic community."

Do you think President Obama sincerely cares about the Latino community? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags A better life, Barack Obama, Blogger: Michael Lopez, CHCI, Cultura, DREAM ACt, Hispanic Heritage Month, Politics, President Obama, Prince Royce