The Mexican ensemble Los Utrera will perform its traditional mix of ethnic influences and rhythmic dance in two performances in the Athens area today.
Los Utrera is the first group to visit the area as part of a two-year partnership between Stuart's Opera House, in Nelsonville, and Arts Midwest World Fest, a program that brings international performers to selected Midwest communities.
Nelsonville is one of 11 other communities involved with the program, which is part of Arts Midwest, a regional nonprofit art organization that serves nine states, including Ohio, said Ken Carlson, program director for Arts Midwest World Fest.
Over the next two years, Nelsonville will host three more ensembles from Israel, Mongolia and Canada during weeklong residencies, Carlson said. Arts Midwest covers the bulk of the funding for the residencies, he said, which includes artist fees and travel costs.
Arts Midwest will spend an estimated $800,000 to $900,000 for all nine member states during the two-year cycle, Carlson said. Participating communities are responsible for rallying local support for the remainder of costs, which include lodging and technical equipment, he said.
Local sponsors are the Ohio Arts Council, the Athens County Library, the Ohio University Performing Arts Series and the Nelsonville-York City School District, Koscho said.
Los Utrera arrived in Nelsonville Sunday and will complete a one-week residency in the area, which includes two performances in the Athens area, said Brian Koscho, the AmeriCorps volunteer for Stuart's Opera House.
During the week, the ensemble visited Nelsonville-York Elementary School to lead interactive workshops for children in grades K-5, Koscho said. Nelsonville-York Junior High and High School students will attend a performance at Stuart's Opera House on Friday, he said.
The seven-member group comes from Veracruz, Mexico, and draws most of its influences from the son jarocho tradition, a blend of Spanish, African and indigenous elements, according to the Arts Midwest World Fest educational materials. All of the group's instruments are handcrafted by one of the group members.
Dancing drives many of the songs, which are mostly performed on a wooden platform traditional to the genre, Koscho said. The dancing is meant to be a percussion instrument first and foremost
he said.
Los Utrera will perform this afternoon at the Athens Public Library and this evening at ARTS/West, 132 W. State St., Koscho said.
I think the goal is to spread cultural awareness in the Midwest especially in these rural communities these small towns
he said.
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Partnership brings international performers to Athens County
