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What is Juneteenth?

On June 18, 2022

*The Red, Black and Green colors of the Pan-African flag represent the blood, soil, and prosperity of Africa, its people, and the African diaspora.*

Juneteenth (short for June 19th) honors the date in 1865, when federal Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. It is the oldest celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

More than two years earlier, The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, establishing that all enslaved people in Confederate states “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

Despite the orders in 1865, emancipation didn’t happen overnight – in some cases, enslavers withheld the information until after harvest season or until Union troops arrived at their property. Finally, in December 1865, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.

The next year, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of “Jubilee Day” on June 19, 1866.

Why not celebrate on July 4^th? Frederick Douglass declared on July 5, 1852: “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity.”

Further reading:

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Four Hundred Souls by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Rachel by Angelina Weld Grimke (the first known play written, produced, and acted by Black creatives)

How can we celebrate?

Make June 19th an annual day of reflection or conversation that celebrates emancipation
Reflect on Black history in the U.S. and the recent and on-going killings of unarmed Black people
Celebrate and recognize the contributions of Black people in America
Buy or donate books about Juneteenth or Black history and share them with local school districts

_{Republished from The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol Instagram 2021.}

Sources:

History.com – What is Juneteenth

Juneteenth.com

Full text of Frederick Douglass Speech

Chag Pesach Sameach! (Happy Passover!)

By Rachel Whittington

On April 15, 2022

In The Sharon & The Studio

Passover, or Pesach, celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and subsequent freedom from slavery. This year, Passover begins on the evening of April 15th and will last for 8 days (7 in Israel).

Why is it called Passover?

As described in the Book of Exodus, G-d told Moses and his brother Aaron to ask the Egyptian Pharaoh to allow the Israelites to leave (and no longer be enslaved). Moses went to the Pharaoh nine times and after each denial, G-d sent a plague upon the land. After the tenth denial, G-d sent an angel of death to kill all the firstborn sons; Moses was instructed to tell the Israelites to mark their doorposts with lambs’ blood and their sons would be spared (literally “passed over”).

To mark this miracle and the subsequent Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites celebrate every year on the anniversary of this time.

How is Passover Celebrated?

Before Passover starts, Jews will clean their homes and purge any leavened bread (chametz). The removal of chametz commemorates how the Jews left Egypt in a hurry and did not have time to let their bread rise.¹ The first night of Passover is marked with a Seder using fine plates and flatware. Once candles have been lit, the 15-step feast begins, centered around telling the story of the Exodus._²

Throughout the Seder 4 cups of wine are consumed (marking different parts of the Exodus) as well as elements from the Seder plate including: Maror (bitter herbs), Chazeret (bitter lettuce, typically romaine), Charoset (sweet paste of fruits and nuts), Karpas (vegetable dipped in salt water, typically parsley). Blessings, songs, and games with children – including The 4 Questions and finding the afikomen – feature throughout!

Find out more about the 15 steps here!

The following day is a day of rest, followed by a Second Seder that night. The rest of the week, no leavened bread may be eaten but some work may be done. At the end of the week are two more days of rest and final celebrations are held.

A Brief History of Holi

By Rachel Whittington

On March 17, 2022

In The Sharon & The Studio

What is Holi?

Holi, also know as the Festival of Colors or Festival of Love, is a Hindu holiday that marks the start of Spring. It is celebrated in the 12th month of the Hindu calendar (Phagun). Like many holidays, Holi is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. [1]

What is the origin of Holi?

Mentions of Holi date back as far as the 4th Century! In the 7th Century, the Indian Emperor Harsha wrote: “Witness the beauty of the great cupid festival which excites curiosity as the townsfolk are dancing at the touch of brownish water thrown … Everything is colored yellowish red and rendered dusty by the heaps of scented powder blown all over.” [2]

The most popular origin involves a sacrifice to save an innocent life. In Hindu mythology, there was a king who killed anyone who disobeyed him or worshipped other gods/beings. The king grew resentful of his sun who worshiped Vishnu instead. As a result, the king conspired to kill his own son. After many failed attempts, he conspired with his sister Holika; in the end Holika gives her own life for her nephew’s. [1]

How is Holi celebrated?

The celebration of Holi usually lasts for two day: Holika Dahan and Holi.

While Holika Dahan is marked with bonfires, the day of Holi sees people of all ages smear each other with dry or wet paint and get showered in powdered color and water.

Did you know?
Holi is celebrated in most parts of India, with each region having its own traditions. The celebrations in northern India tend to be more colorful and vivid while those in the south focus mainly on religious and temple rituals.
Aljazeera: Holi Festival

Common foods and drinks include: guijya, flaky pastries with dried fruit; malpua, deep-ried pancakes; rasmalai, a creamy dessert; and thandai, a sweet, spiced milk-based drink. [3]

Meet the Cast of OPERA LOCOS!

By Rachel Whittington

On March 16, 2022

In The Sharon Performing Arts Center

Come see Opera Locos at The Sharon on April 9th!

About The Opera Locos

The Opera Locos is a comic opera show where five exceptional lyric singers perform some of the most well-known opera hits, sometimes combined in a clever and original way with rock and pop classics. The performance combines the best of clowning and opera to show off these fantastic entertainers in a production unlike any other!

The idea for the show was conceived and created by YLLANA, Spain’s award-winning comedy-theatre company.

The Cast

Edwin Parra, Countertenor/Contratenor

Edwin began his formal singing studies in 2011 at the UACH Faculty of Arts and was also a fellow of the SNFM Vocal Scenic Ensemble in Mexico City. He earned the First Place award at Ópera Durango 2016, and Countertenor of Mexico in the Olivia Gorra 2017 contest. He has sung the operatic roles of Nerone and Ottone from Monteverdi’s l’Incoronazione di Poppea; Cherubino from Le nozze di Figaro and The Cat from El gato con botas opera by Montsalvatge; he also performed Lumiere in the musical Beauty and the Beast.

María Rey-Joly, Soprano

Born in Madrid, María studied violin and piano and later graduated in singing from the Escuela Superior de Canto of Madrid. She completed her training in the masterclasses of Gundula Janowitz, Brigitte Fassbaender, Raina Kabaiwanska and Plácido Domingo. Her vocal personality makes her a highly versatile and flexible singer, allowing her to face a varied repertoire with roles from Mozart to Wagner! Highlights: Richard Wagner: Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung (Woglinde), Die Walküre (Ortlinde and Helmwige); W.A. Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (Pamina and Erste Dame), Così fan tutte (Fiordiligi), Don Giovanni (Donna Anna and Donna Elvira), Don Pasquale (Norina); Leonard Bernstein: Candide (Cunegonde); Giacomo Puccini: La Bohème (Musetta), and many more.

Antonio Comas, Tenor

Born in Barcelona, Antonio made his debut with Massenet’s opera Herodiade at the Gran Teatre del Liceu where he went on to perform Strauss’s Il Capriccio and Puccini’s Turandot. In 2011, he premiered Amadeu, a musical by Albert Boadella about the composer Amadeu Vives, at the Teatros del Canal in Madrid (Ercilla Theatre Award for best actor). Highlights: Candide by Bernstein, Il Sequestro by Alberto García Demestres, La note d’acoté by Alfonso de Vilallonga, El Eclipse by Alberto García Demestres, Yo, Dalí by Xavier Benguerel, Shakespeare’s Richard III, among many more!

Mayca Teba, MezzoSoprano

Mayca is a soprano and Sevillian actress of great vocal and artistic versatility. Her repertoire ranges from Opera and Zarzuela to Musical Comedy, Jazz and Symphonic Rock. She began her lyrical career at the age of 20 at Maestranza Theatre in Seville with producer Pino Cuccia, singing Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Rossenkavalier, and many others. Highlights: Cosí fan tutte, Acis and Galatea, at López de Vega Theatre of Sevilla; Dido and Eneas at Isabel La Católica Theatre-Granada; Orpheus in the Underworld, West Side Story at The Sherman Theatre – Cardiff; Madam Butterfly at the Britten Theatre-London and at the Clonter Opera Theatre in Manchester.

Enrique Sánchez-Ramos, Baritone

Enrique was born in Aranjuez, Spain. He began his musical studies at age 9 at the Joaquin Rodrigo Music School of Aranjuez, Madrid and holds degrees in Solfeggio, Piano Teaching, and Choral Conducting. He made his operatic debut singing “Guglielmo” in Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte. He has also performed in France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Brasil, México and Costa Rica. Since 2004 he has sung as baritone soloist with the early music ensemble Hyppocampus in the complete cycle of Bach’s Cantatas sponsored by Madrid’s Town Hall. Highlights: Orff’s Carmina Burana, J. Melchor Gomis’ opera Le Diable à Seville, Händel’s Agrippina, Gounod’s Faust, Händel’s Messiah, Delibes’ Lakmé.

The Opera Locos performs at The Sharon at 7pm on April 9th!

Buy Tickets!

A brief history of Mardi Gras!

By Rachel Whittington

On March 1, 2022

In The Sharon & The Studio

Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”), also called Carnival, is a Christian-affiliated holiday that is primarily observed on the last Tuesday before Lent. There are many popular regional Mardi Gras celebrations in Venice, Rio de Janiero, and New Orleans that span from Epiphany (the 12th day after Christmas) to Ash Wednesday (the start of the Easter Season).

The holiday was brought to North America as a French Catholic tradition by the Le Moyne brothers in the late 17th Century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France’s claim on the territory of Louisiane (parts of what is now Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama). On March 3, 1699, the brothers held a small celebration and dubbed their landing spot “Point du Mardi Gras”, just outside of modern-day New Orleans.¹

Traditionally, revelers enjoy all the rich, fatty foods (meat, eggs, milk, and cheese) in their homes in preparation of 40 days of prayer and fasting.

Did you know? The word carnival also derives from the feasting tradition: in Medieval Latin, carnelevarium means to take away or remove meat (from the Latin carnem for meat).²

When the Spanish took control of the area in 1762, they banned Mardi Gras celebrations. The bans lasted until 1812, nine years after Louisiana became a state.²

In 1827, a group of students donned colorful costumes and danced through the streets of New Orleans, emulating the revelry they’d observed while visiting Paris. This lead to the first recorded New Orleans Mardi Gras parade ten years later, and the establishment of “krewes” (social clubs that help organize the parades) in 1857.²

Did you know? Rex, one of the oldest Mardi Gras krewes, established purple, gold, and green as the iconic Mardi Gras colors.²

In 1872, the Krewe of Rex chose the bead colors purple, green, and gold as a tribute to the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff (rex is Latin for “king”). Purple stood for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. The original idea was to toss the beads to those in the crowd who exhibited these traits and the people who caught them were said to receive good luck for the coming year.³ Carnival’s improbable anthem, “If Ever I Cease to Love,” was also chosen, in part, due to the Duke’s fondness for the tune.¹ (Each year a different “King of Carnival” is chosen, though the colors and anthem remain largely the same.)

By contrast, Zulu, the oldest traditionally African American krewe, began gifting coconuts to members of the crowd in 1910. Originally, the coconuts were left in their natural state, but they soon began painting and decorating them with glitter.⁴ The Zulu Coconuts are one of the most cherished Mardi Gras prizes.

Did you know? The mission of the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is to save the galaxy by giving the disenfranchised, socially awkward, and generally weird masses access to the magical revelry of Carnival.
Krewe of Chewbacchus

In addition to throwing beads and other goodies, there are many Mardi Gras traditions including: wearing masks, decorating floats, masquerade balls, and eating King Cake.

“Flashing for beads”, however, is not an established tradition. This mostly occurs in the Bourbon Street area of the French Quarter, an area known for its strip joints. In fact, most parades do not weave through the French Quarter due to size restrictions, and the majority of Mardi Gras celebrations are family-friendly!⁵

_[1]_{https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history/}

_[2]_{https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mardi-gras}

_{[3] https://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-mardi-gras}

_{[4] https://www.history.com/news/from-king-cake-to-zulu-coconuts-the-history-of-6-mardi-gras-traditions}

_{[5] https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history/traditions/flashing}

The Sharon – Canela y Limón

By Rachel Whittington

On February 11, 2022

In The Sharon Performing Arts Center

Germán López (performing at The Sharon March 3rd, 2022) shines on the world stage as one of the most brilliant and prolific “timple” virtuosos.

What is a timple?

The timple, a type of a small guitar, is the most emblematic musical instrument of the Canary Islands – a Spanish outpost off the western coast of North Africa.

The parts of the timple are – from the bottom – the case (the lower bridge, soundboard and soundhole), the neck (the fingerboard and frets) and the pegbox (the soundboard and pegs). Five strings run from the bridge up the neck to the pegbox. The woods most commonly used in the manufacture of the timple are white spruce and pine for the front of the case (tabla de armonía), black mulberry and sandalwood for the back, ebony for the splint and orange for the ornaments and the rosette. Dromedary (animal bones) were commonly used in the early days to make the pegs, but nowadays they have been replaced by synthetic materials.

Although its origin is unclear, it is very similar to other diminutive guitars including the Portuguese cavaquinho, the Hawaiian ukulele, the Venezuelan cuatro and the Bolivian charango. One major difference between a timple and these others is the hump! The back of the timple is rounded in order to create more resonance and volume. Because of this, in the Canaries, the timple has the nickname “Camellito Sonoro” meaning the Sonorous Camel!

The island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands) is regarded as the birthplace of the timple. The most important timple maker was Simón Morales Tavío, who began its systematic manufacture in the first half of the 20th century.

For the full video visit our main site 🎶

Germán López is joined on stage by acoustic guitar maestro Antonio Toledo, from Cádiz in southwestern Spain, for an unforgettable concert of dexterous music making. The duo released their album Canela y Limón in 2016.

A balm for the body, “Canela y Limón” often refers to cinnamon and lemon tea that is popular in Spanish culture. Likewise, this acoustic concert will surely be a balm for the soul.

But which one of them is “cinnamon,” and which one of them is the “lemon”? Only time will tell – or maybe the audience will!

See Germán López and Antonio Toledo at The Sharon, March 3rd, 7pm!