Folklife in the Schools

Our southern neighbor Mexico has a colorful and rich heritage encompassing a great variety of traditions, musical styles, dances and folk arts. Ballet Folklórico Ollín brings Mexican culture to life in dance and song representing many different regions, cultures and historical periods of Mexico. Their offerings include re-creations of ancient Aztec dances, artful Spanish choreography and robust Mexican folk dances.

Directors Isaac and Cathy Shultz-Reyes have thirty years of experience as instructors and performers with nationally and internationally acclaimed professional dance troupes in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In 1982 they were awarded the prestigious Mexican National Dance award. Ballet Folklórico offers assembly programs for students of all grade levels on "Dances and Songs of Mexico".

CONTACT:
Cathy Shultz-Reyes
Phone: (360) 786-8567
Email: balletollin@hotmail.com
Website: http://paradisewest.com/folklorico2/

Specializing in Mexican dance and folk arts, Isaac was a soloist of the Deer Dance with the world-renowned Ballet Folklorico of Mexico at Bellas Artes. He has worked as an artist-in-residence since 1989 sharing the folk art and culture of his native Mexico with communities throughout the Pacific Northwest region.

Isaac offers a wide variety of creative experiences in visual art, dance, music and folklore in a school residency or workshop format. Hands-on projects can include making piñatas, papier-mache masks, colorful paper flowers and decorative banners, creating murals, and learning folk dances and songs. The residency culminates with a colorful Mexican fiesta.

CONTACT:
Cathy Shultz-Reyes
Phone: (360) 786-8567
Email: balletollin@hotmail.com
Website: http://paradisewest.com/folklorico2/

"Isaac Shultz-Reyes brings to the classroom exceptional strengths, talents, enthusiasm, energy and lots of experience. I observed him teach children during the regular school day and also a number of teachers. He clearly has highly developed skills as a teacher of adults and children."
Lynn Rouse, Spanish and Art Teacher
Lincoln High School, Tacoma

Programs include: Assemblies by Show Brazil!
Residencies by Eduardo Mendonça

Brazil, the largest country of South America, is home to one of the most dynamic African-based cultural communities in the Americas. Centered in the state of Bahia, Afro-Brazilian traditions have transformed Brazilian music and dance in many ways.

Show Brazil!, led by noted recording artist Eduardo Mendonça, presents an exciting and lively introduction to Brazil through its music and dance. The program features Brazilian traditional and popular songs and folkloric batuque drumming. Through the wide range of performance styles, students will appreciate Brazil as a complex multicultural society with a rich history.

Eduardo Mendonça, a former high school principal in Brazil, also offers workshops and residencies. Workshops are available for choirs, general music classes and social studies projects. Residencies for the entire school can include Brazilian food, costume making and creating your school's own Carnival!

ALSO AVAILABLE: Brazilian dance workshop supervised by Eduardo Mendonça and taught by Show Brazil!'s dancers. These workshops involve singing, rhythm, exercise and discipline of movement.

CONTACT:
Show Brazil Productions
Eduardo Mendonça
Phone: (425) 254-1616
Email: eduardo@showbrazil.com
Website: http://www.showbrazil.com

"Show Brazil was the best program we have had in years!'"
Jim Jamieson, Music Specialist
Lewis and Clark Elementary, Richland

"Thank you for all the teaching and energy. I have really enjoyed your enthusiasm and talent. The different instruments you play are amazing! The experience I have had will stay with me for the rest of my life. My favorite instrument was the Agogo bells. Brazil sounds like an awesome place to visit. "
Clayton Zimmerman, Sixth grade student
Chimacum Middle School

Correo Aéreo (Air Mail) brings to life the diverse cultures of Latin America with an amazing array of traditional instruments, vocals and storytelling. The award-winning duo performs traditional music of Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina and Peru.

Their pan-Latin repertoire invokes a heritage and history which combines traditions from Indigenous American, African and European peoples. A typical performance ranges from Mexican huapangos and sones to Venezuelan joropos and golpes, Argentinean chacareras and zambas and the music of Afro Peru with audience participation.

CONTACT:
Madeleine Sosin
Phone: (206) 730-3706
Email:  besos@correoaereo.com or Madeleinesosin@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.correoaereo.com

"Abel and Madeleine of Correo Aéreo are extremely gifted artistically with a range of performance skills that can appeal to any age of audience. Their music is of exceptional quality, and the variety of instruments that they have mastery over is incredible. Their blend of voices is a phenomenal match-at times they sound as one while at other times offering a rich and stimulating harmony. Correo Aéreo are those rare individuals that not only have a precious and gifted talent, but know how to communicate their art to audiences as inspiring teachers. We are looking forward to having Correo Aéreo be a part of our future programs."
Ginger Head and Marie Lord
Imagination Celebration