District 214 presents annual fiesta
Nothing signals a party more than a mariachi band. Add in vibrant dancers and authentic food specialties from area restaurants, and it has all the makings of a fiesta.
That's exactly what officials with Northwest Suburban High School District 214 call their event - Fiesta Cultural - that takes place from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights.
Officials with the district's community education department have sponsored the event for the last 24 years, growing it from a performance-oriented event in the theater, to the more interactive fiesta.
"This is much more of an all-day festival, representing different styles of music and dance from the Hispanic heritage," says Mike Field, community education director. "We've tried to make it more Latino-centered, rather than Mexico-centered."
The expanded format now features a vibrant plaza, straight out of a village in Mexico or Spain, fashioned out of the field house at Forest View.
There, patrons will find everything from live music, dancing and salsa lessons, to food specialties from El Sombrero Restaurant in Mount Prospect, La Tasca Tapas Restaurant in Arlington Heights, and Lupita's Bakery in Wheeling.
Making it all come alive will be the Mariachi Perla de Mexico, the popular mariachi band from Chicago with its members wearing their traditional charro suits, while playing the trumpet, violin and guitar.
Headlining the theater venue will be members of the Ballet Folklorico Huehuecoyotl of Elgin, performing traditional folk dances from different states in Mexico, and wearing the representative costumes.
Formed in 1996 by Julian Hernandez to promote Mexico's culture, the dance troupe performs throughout the Chicago area.
New to the fiesta are dancers from the group Brasil via Chicago, who bring all the brightly colored, feathered and sequined costumes, and the intense dance styles of the carnival from Rio de Janeiro, to the Northwest suburbs.
Filling out the program will be a variety of community groups, including Alegria Mexicana, a performance group made up of Wheeling High School students, and Studio Viva Kids of Palatine and the children's group Sol Azteca of St. Mary Church in Des Plaines.
Rodriguez DanceTheatre also makes its debut at the fiesta, with their performance in the theater.
The company performs under the direction of Lisette Rodriguez-Narang, dance director at Elk Grove High School, and picks up where District 214 Orchesis Clubs left off.
At the fiesta, her 10 dancers will perform a fuse of Latin styles, incorporating elements of salsa and Flamenco with contemporary technique.
District officials describe the enhanced festival as offering more educational opportunities, and entertainment, for the buck, literally.
"With tickets priced at $12, and children under 10 admitted free of charge," Field says, "it's a great value for the whole family."
<p class="factboxheadblack"> Fiesta Cultural </p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> Noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 </p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road in Arlington Heights </p> <p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $12, with children under 10 admitted free </p> <p class="News"><b>Call:</b> (847) 718-7702 or visit <a href="http://www.CE214.org" target="new">www.CE214.org</a> </p>