ALMA dancers help celebrate Day of the Dead
Released: October 30, 2006
El Dia de los Muertos or The Day of the Dead is a celebration among the Hispanic culture that celebrates the lives of the deceased. This is a time for families to remember their past loved one and commemorate them by having parades, fireworks, music and rituals.
To help in the celebration of the dead, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater ALMA Dancers will perform three ritual dances at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the Center of the Arts atrium. In between each performance, poems and narratives will be read to commemorate the dead. Pan de muerto or bread of the dead - a type of sweet bread - chocolate and punch will be served.
"In the celebration of the Day of the Dead, we hope to convey a deep appreciation of how rituals, ceremonies and traditions are important to the culture," Director of Latino Student Programs Nelie Olivencia said. "It helps define and communicate from generation to generation what is Mexican. That is why this day has been revived within the Chicano/Latino community."
The idea of death has always been an open subject in Hispanic culture, unlike in American culture. Though death is categorized as a day of mourning for most people, on November 1 the Hispanic culture takes this time to celebrate the dead and to show the dead that they have not been forgotten.
For more information on the Day of the Dead event, contact Olivencia at (262) 472-1913 or olivencn@uww.edu.- Chad Guild,guildca16@uww.edu
