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For more information on this or other Women's History events at Cemi Underground, go to www.cemiunderground.com.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Community calendar: Inspiring women
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For more information on this or other Women's History events at Cemi Underground, go to www.cemiunderground.com.
Q&A: Writer Sofia Quintero
On the reading corner
This month you can meet and greet Sofia Quintero, author of the novel "Divas Don't Yield." Quintero will discuss and sign copies of her "Divas Don't Yield" from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Ave. at 104th Street, El Taller, 3rd Floor, East Harlem.
3 Questions for Sofia Quintero
1. What was the inspiration behind your book?
The novel "Divas Don't Yield" was based on a screenplay I wrote almost 10 years ago in response to the so-called Latin pop explosion or as I prefer to describe it - the six months in 1999 when Latinos were "in" again. It was difficult for me to celebrate our popularity because one, I suspected it would be fleeting, and two, the few Latinos handpicked for stardom were not very diverse. I decided to write a screenplay that would break out not just one but four different Latina stars including an Afro-Latina and hopefully an out lesbian. It is much easier to get a novel published about four Latinas than it is to have a film produced about one.
2. If you were casting the movie version of "Divas Don't Yield" who would be your picks for the main characters?
That's actually something I hope readers of the novel will assist me. Most of my favorite actresses at the time I wrote the
screenplay like Rosario Dawson and Zoe Saldana can no longer play college students. But I realize that I may not be familiar with the upcoming Latina talents, so I'd love it if readers of the novel will go find "Divas Don't Yield" on Storycasting.com and post their suggestions. I'd be especially indebted if they could lead me to a spectacular Afro-Latina actress who could pull off Jackie.
3. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I've been writing stories since I was eight years old. At the age of 12, I wrote my first "novel," and it starred all the kids on my block! When I was about 15, I wrote another based on the b-boys in my high school, so I've been writing with a hip-hop aesthetic for over 20 years. However, it wasn't until I had my creative recovery at the age of 28 that I decided to pursue writing as a career. I encourage anyone who aspires to create art to follow the 12-week program in Julia Cameron's "The Artist Way." That is one of the books that has changed my life.
Light refreshments will be provided at Tuesday's meet the author event. RSVP required: lacasaazulbookstore@gmail.com. -- Aurora Anaya-Cerda
Aurora Anaya-Cerda is owner of the independent La Casa Azul Bookstore and a new contributing writer to Puerto Rico Sun. For more information, visit www.lacasaazulbookstore.com or e-mail lacasaazulbookstore@gmail.com. Article reprinted with permission from La Casa Azul Bookstore.
This month you can meet and greet Sofia Quintero, author of the novel "Divas Don't Yield." Quintero will discuss and sign copies of her "Divas Don't Yield" from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Ave. at 104th Street, El Taller, 3rd Floor, East Harlem.
3 Questions for Sofia Quintero
1. What was the inspiration behind your book?
The novel "Divas Don't Yield" was based on a screenplay I wrote almost 10 years ago in response to the so-called Latin pop explosion or as I prefer to describe it - the six months in 1999 when Latinos were "in" again. It was difficult for me to celebrate our popularity because one, I suspected it would be fleeting, and two, the few Latinos handpicked for stardom were not very diverse. I decided to write a screenplay that would break out not just one but four different Latina stars including an Afro-Latina and hopefully an out lesbian. It is much easier to get a novel published about four Latinas than it is to have a film produced about one.
2. If you were casting the movie version of "Divas Don't Yield" who would be your picks for the main characters?
That's actually something I hope readers of the novel will assist me. Most of my favorite actresses at the time I wrote the
screenplay like Rosario Dawson and Zoe Saldana can no longer play college students. But I realize that I may not be familiar with the upcoming Latina talents, so I'd love it if readers of the novel will go find "Divas Don't Yield" on Storycasting.com and post their suggestions. I'd be especially indebted if they could lead me to a spectacular Afro-Latina actress who could pull off Jackie.
3. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I've been writing stories since I was eight years old. At the age of 12, I wrote my first "novel," and it starred all the kids on my block! When I was about 15, I wrote another based on the b-boys in my high school, so I've been writing with a hip-hop aesthetic for over 20 years. However, it wasn't until I had my creative recovery at the age of 28 that I decided to pursue writing as a career. I encourage anyone who aspires to create art to follow the 12-week program in Julia Cameron's "The Artist Way." That is one of the books that has changed my life.
Light refreshments will be provided at Tuesday's meet the author event. RSVP required: lacasaazulbookstore@gmail.com. -- Aurora Anaya-Cerda
Aurora Anaya-Cerda is owner of the independent La Casa Azul Bookstore and a new contributing writer to Puerto Rico Sun. For more information, visit www.lacasaazulbookstore.com or e-mail lacasaazulbookstore@gmail.com. Article reprinted with permission from La Casa Azul Bookstore.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Concert of art songs by classical composers from Puerto Rico
Music
La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña, Inc. invites you to a concert of art songs by classical composers from Puerto Rico
Mezzo soprano Anna Tonna and pianist Daniel Daroca will present a recital of art songs by composers from Puerto Rico at 3 p.m. TOMORROW at La Casa, 1230 Fifth Avenue, Suite 458 (between Fifth and Madison Avenue) in Manhattan.
Dominican-American mezzo-soprano Anna Tonna and Cuban pianist Daniel Daroca will showcase songs by Puerto Rican composers from the past and present. Tonna and Daroca will highlight the various compositional styles of Puerto Rico's most important classical composers in the genre of art song and their song settings of Puerto Rico's national poets. This same concert will be presented at The Casals Festival of Puerto Rico by these artists on March 19. La Casa’s performance will be the New York premiere of several of the pieces to be performed, including the “Tres Canciones de Luis Palés Matos” by Luis Prado.
This concert demonstrates the rich repertoire and variety of Puerto Rico’s classical composers, with styles that show influences from folklore to romanticism, to more modern and contemporary idioms. Ms. Tonna and Mr. Daroca will interpret 20 songs by Héctor Campos-Parsi, Awilda Villarini, Julio Mirón, Luis Antonio Ramírez, Jack Delano, Narciso Figueroa, Ernes to Cordero and Luis Prado.
The program will conclude with “Tres Canciones de Luis Palés Matos” by the young Puerto Rican composer Luis Prado. This cycle was first premiered by the mezzo Nancy Fabiola Herrera in Philadelphia. The cycle was first presented by Tonna and Daroca in Puerto Rico at the Festival Iberoamericano de las Artes in August of 2008 and was requested again for the March 2009 Casals Festival of Puerto Rico.
Mezzo-soprano Anna Tonna returned recently from Madrid where she served as U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Spain from 2007-2008. She completed an investigation of the Spanish composer Julio Gómez (1886-1973) at La Fundación Juan March, under the tutelage of the distinguished Spanish pianists Miguel Zanetti and Jorge Robaina of the Escuela Superior de Canto of Madrid. In the fields of recital and concerts, Anna Tonna has bowed with the following organizations: Música de Cámara, Los Amigos de la Zarzuela, Elysium Between Two Continents and Joy in Singing in Nueva York. The mezzo soprano has appeared in Alice Tully Hall (Lincoln Center), Weil Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall) CAMI Hall, Merkin Hall and New York's Town Hall.
Cuban born pianist Daniel Daroca has given recitals and master classes in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Daroca has worked as=2 0an accompanist at the Juilliard School and is currently on the faculty of Kean University. He has participated in the opera seasons of Opera de Colombia and Wexford Festival Opera, among others. The Alban Berg Stiftung, the Verein der Freunde der Musiklehranstalten (Vienna), the Folkwangschule Essen, the Rotary Foundation International, and the Manhattan School of Music have endorsed his accomplishments through honors and fellowships. Daroca is a vocal coach and a frequent collaborator in vocal recitals.
Suggested Donation: $10. For more information contact (212)722-2600 or email lacasaprnyc@verizon.net.
source: La Casa release
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Study of our soul
Pensamientos
Puerto Rican studies
is the study of our
soul. It has kept
our identity safe
from assimiliation
suicide. -- Samaris Ayala
Puerto Rican studies
is the study of our
soul. It has kept
our identity safe
from assimiliation
suicide. -- Samaris Ayala
Women of El Barrio Wanted
Activism
Women of El Barrio (WOEB) promotes the leadership of Puerto Rican women regardless of age, sexual orientation, religious preferences, political affiliations or socio-economic status. Through the annual Women’s History Month celebration, WOEB has the opportunity to recognize women who have contributed to enhancing the quality of life in El Barrio/East Harlem according to the criteria stated below:
Required Criteria: All nominees must have the following attributes for this award:
*Must be a woman of Puerto Rican descent
*Must be a resident of El Barrio/East Harlem
*Must be active in the cultural, social, political efforts, enhancing quality of life in El Barrio, demonstrating leadership, mentorship and/or creativity.
If nominating a young woman, the candidate should be aspiring, mature, active, creative and be seen as an emerging leader.
Nominations are due by MARCH 12.
Here's the link for the nomination form:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p231/alyssa2178/WOEB2009NominationForm.jpg
You may also e-mail WOEB at womenoeb@gmail.com to have the form sent to you.
The WOEB celebration will be Thursday, March 26 at the Taino Towers, Crystal Room in East Harlem.
source: Women of El Barrio
Women of El Barrio (WOEB) promotes the leadership of Puerto Rican women regardless of age, sexual orientation, religious preferences, political affiliations or socio-economic status. Through the annual Women’s History Month celebration, WOEB has the opportunity to recognize women who have contributed to enhancing the quality of life in El Barrio/East Harlem according to the criteria stated below:
Required Criteria: All nominees must have the following attributes for this award:
*Must be a woman of Puerto Rican descent
*Must be a resident of El Barrio/East Harlem
*Must be active in the cultural, social, political efforts, enhancing quality of life in El Barrio, demonstrating leadership, mentorship and/or creativity.
If nominating a young woman, the candidate should be aspiring, mature, active, creative and be seen as an emerging leader.
Nominations are due by MARCH 12.
Here's the link for the nomination form:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p231/alyssa2178/WOEB2009NominationForm.jpg
You may also e-mail WOEB at womenoeb@gmail.com to have the form sent to you.
The WOEB celebration will be Thursday, March 26 at the Taino Towers, Crystal Room in East Harlem.
source: Women of El Barrio
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