CROOKSTON, Minn. – Students in kindergarten through adulthood will have an opportunity to learn Mexican folk dancing techniques during a series of one-hour dance sessions at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The dance sessions are part of the fourth annual “Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo” taking place on Saturday, April 21, 2012, and will be taught by dancers from Los Alegres Bailadores, a professional dance troupe from St. Paul, Minn. Students must be pre-registered by Wed., April 18, and the sessions, which are free, will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. All dance sessions take place in Lysaker Gymnasium in the Sports Center on the Crookston campus.
The dance sessions will include age appropriate folk dance steps and begin at 2 p.m. for students in grades kindergarten through second grade; followed at 3 p.m. for students in third through sixth grades; and concluding with a session at 4 p.m. for students in grades seven through adult. Each session will begin promptly at the designated time in order to accommodate all interested students. Both boys and girls are encouraged to participate.
For more information or to pre-register for a session, contact Anna Corona at 218-521-0245; Rosa Quiroz at 218-289-7479, or Rae French at 218-281-8339.
Becky Cusick serves as the director as well as a dance instructor for Los Alegres. The dance troupe’s mission is to genuinely bring and preserve Mexican culture through the art of dance for all sorts of occasions and education. For more information, visit http://losalegresbailadores.com
The goal of the Cinco de Mayo celebration at the U of M, Crookston is to promote learning, understanding, and appreciation for the Mexican culture through traditional Mexican entertainment, crafts, and cuisine. Other activities during “Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo” are available online.
The event is sponsored in part by a grant from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, which serves the seven counties located in the northwest corner of the state. The Arts Council receives funding from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment from the Minnesota State Legislature.
Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor’s degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology. With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree. “Small Campus. Big Degree.” To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.
