The United Mexican American Â鶹ÒùÔº group at the University of Colorado at Boulder will present a free public concert and Chicano film screening to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
Chicano actor-singers Daniel and Emiliano Valdez of Teatro Campesino will perform a free concert April 29 in CU's Old Main Chapel at 7 p.m. Their music is a fusion of Chicano soul, Latino jazz and traditional Mexicano-influenced farmworker corridos. A reception will follow the concert.
Performer Daniel Valdez has produced or acted in "La Bamba," "El Corrido," "Zoot Suit," "Selena the Musical" and a number of other films involving Mexican Americans. He also sang opposite Linda Ronstadt in her stage production "Canciones de mi Padre" before launching his own performing career with his Chicano album, "Mestizo."
The UMAS celebration continues on April 30 at 5 p.m. in CU-Boulder's Old Main Chapel, with Chicano producer-directors Anahuac and Kinan Valdez of Teatro Campesino and Chicanos on the Run Productions. They will present two of their short films, "Ballad of a Soldier" and "Little Louie." Following the screenings, the directors will discuss the art of Chicano filmmaking.
"Little Louie" is about the directors' father, Luis Valdez, who in 1965 organized California farmworkers into El Teatro Campesino, or "The Farmworkers Theater." More than three decades later, El Teatro Campesino is renowned as a professional theater-arts organization and is credited with developing Teatro Chicano, an original style of agitprop theater.
Teresa Estrada, UMAS chair and a CU-Boulder senior in business management, is pleased that the student group was able to bring the noted Chicano performers to CU-Boulder. "We're really excited to have the whole group of artists, because they are icons in our community," she said.
"Cinco De Mayo celebrates the notion of winning against all odds, and the work of Teatro Campesino is about the trials and tribulations that Mexican Americans have to deal with," Estrada said.
"I feel it is really important to the United Mexican American Â鶹ÒùÔº group that we have the opportunity to bring these talented and wonderful performers to CU-Boulder," said Jared Maestas, a junior journalism major and member of UMAS.
Formed in 1968, UMAS was one of the first organizations for students of color on the CU campus.
"'Lost to our land, education is our stand,' is the UMAS motto," UMAS public relations officer Victor Hernandez said. "With that in mind, our members take action in the community, and hopefully we can help create opportunities for other students." Hernandez is a senior business management major.
UMAS offers mentoring and tutoring for Mexican American students, as well as special events on campus.Ìý
For more information on the Cinco de Mayo events, contact Estrada or Hernandez at (303) 492-5667 or go to the Web site at the following address:Ìý .