This year’s performance of Herencia Latina takes a journey through the cultural ancestors of Latino Heritage.  Our program features dances from different countries in Latino America.  Among the highlights of this year’s program are excerpts from “Danzas with a Twist” (Puerto Rico), “Bongo Concerto” (Cuba), and “Tango Interlude” (Argentina).

Relevance to Curriculum: The educational performance of Herencia Latina will be relevant to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District's core curriculum content of History-Social Studies: California a changing State, addressing content Standard 4.2 for grade four: The Mission Era The Inspiration “The history of California is rich with ethnic and cultural diversity.” California Department of Education – Fourth Grade Curriculum Even among the Latino American immigrant, there is a vast diversity in their style of dance and music. Contempo Ballet’s Herencia Latina focuses on the influence brought in by the European and African culture during the Colonial Era, and the effect these cultures had on the dance and music traditions of the people of Latino America. These traditions became part of California History through the Mission Era and the migration of Latinos in the first half of the 20th Century.

Herencia Latina, a Dance and Education Performance Series, is Free of Charge to students, teachers and chaperones thanks to the generosity of the California Arts Council - Arts Education Exposure.