Summer at Milagro

Cuentos y Teatro ~ A Summer Theatre Arts Camp in Spanish!

What do you get when you cross the joy of jumping up and acting with diving into a cultural Spanish language summer camp?  ¡Cuentos y Teatro!
           
Cuentos y Teatro is Miracle Theatre Group’s summer camp program for children, ages 8 to 12 years old, who speak Spanish or who share an interest in learning the language, art and culture of Latin America.  Led by Ecuadorian performing artist Omar Vargas and artistic director Olga Sanchez, participants will explore Latin American folktales, build masks, learn performance skills and share a final presentation for their families and friends at the Milagro Theatre.  
           
Each year we’re struck by how much can be accomplished in two weeks.  Through interactive games, and cultural activities, boys and girls learn about art that represents Latino culture.  But perhaps the most important development is the building of communication skills that enable children to express themselves in whatever language they wish.
             
Cuentos y Teatro meets from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. from Monday through Friday, July 19th through the 30th, at El Centro Milagro (525 S.E. Stark Street).  The cost is $150 per child.  For more information and a registration form, please call Gabriela Portuguez at 503-236-7253, ext. 115 or via email to gabriela@milagro.org.

¡Danza Hip-Hop! ~ A Bilingual Urban Dance Class for Teens!

Looking for some new moves for the dance floor?  Gabriela Portuguez has choreographed and danced hip-hop (as well as Latin, African, Jazz, ballet and tap) in Los Angeles, Seattle, Tempe, Arizona and Zurich, Switzerland, and now she’s at Milagro in Portland!

This bilingual dance class will integrate street moves from East and West coast styles, mixed in with some Latin footwork.  Gabriela will not only teach individual moves, techniques and combinations, she’ll also introduce choreography to create a final presentation at the end of the two-week session.  Geared for high school students, this class will be totally fun!

Danza Hip-Hop meets from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday, July 19th through the 30th, at El Centro Milagro (525 S.E. Stark Street).  The cost is $125 per student.  For more information and a registration form, please call Gabriela Portuguez at 503-236-7253, ext. 115 or via email to gabriela@milagro.org.

Taller de Actuación ~  Character Creation and Scene Study for Actors in Spanish!

When you go to the theatre, do you think, “I could do that”?  Artistic Director Olga Sanchez is a professional actor with over 25 years of experience, and has performed in New York City, London, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and Seattle, in theatre, films, radio and video.  Because of her love of Latino theatre, one of her chief passions is to support the artistic development of Spanish-speaking actors in Portland.

This Spanish-language acting class will first focus on the creation of characters for the stage, through physical and vocal training.  Students will also practice in scenes from contemporary theatre, to develop skills of dramatic interpretation.  Olga will interview participants before the first class to craft a unique curriculum based on the students’ experience and prior training.

¡Taller de Actuación!  will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. from on Thursdays, July 22nd through the August 12th, at El Centro Milagro (525 S.E. Stark Street).  The cost is $150 per student.  For more information and a registration form, please call Gabriela Portuguez at 503-236-7253, ext. 115 or via email to gabriela@milagro.org.

For more information about any of these programs, including scholarship opportunities and registration forms, please contact Outreach Coordinator Gabriela Portuguez at 503-236-7253, ext. 115 or gabriela@milagro.org. Limited space; download our flier and registration form and register today!

Omar Vargas is originally from Ecuador, where he managed both his own arts company, Al Mimo Tiempo, as well as performed with several regional theatre groups. He toured his one-man show, Sobreviviendo, throughout Latin America, Mexico and the U.S.  Locally; he has shared his talents as an actor and a mime with the Miracle Theatre Group in 14 productions, the tri-county Library Arts-in-Education program and the Regional Arts and Culture Council.  As well as performing in the Teatro Milagro touring shows since 2001, Omar has been an artist-educator for PUENTES (Bridges), the Teatro Milagro bilingual literacy program in residence at schools where the company tours.  In 2005 he joined the Miracle staff as Community Liaison and now he is the Coordinator of Education and Outreach strengthening relationships with the Latino community and its educational, social service and media organizations.

Gabriela Portuguez began dancing publicly at the age of five, winning third place in a Los Angeles, CA competition  She has performed, taught, and choreographed hip hop, Latin Jazz, jazz, musical theatre, modern, ballet, tap, African, and modern urban dance styles in Seattle, Portland, Arizona, Los Angeles and abroad.  While she was based in LA, she specialized in Hip-Hop, Urban & Latin Freestyle Techniques and performed in numerous movies (including "Souls of America" and "Woodruff 8 Fingers of Death"), music videos for Latin Froz and DMK Productions, TV productions, and live performances at the LADF Showcase, USC Performing Arts, LA Carnival Showcases, WNBA Hip Hop and more.  Her 2 year-internship as choreographer assistant under Sky Hoffman provided her additional training in urban hip hop dance. During her internship, she worked with choreographers of OC Tremaine Conventions, BLOC agency Auditions, Arena 225 in Zurich, Switzerland, Los Angeles Millennium Dance Complex, Los Angeles Edge Dance, LA Zeal Studios, and Arizona State University Dance Program. As a teacher and choreographer, she decided to start her dance program for urban Los Angeles children called MusicalityDance for the Catholic School Archdiocese in California.  She recently relocated to Portland where she has worked with AFL League, the Portland Trailblazers Organization, and Nike Productions.
She continues to focus her time teaching dance with Teatro Milagro dance workshops in theatre and creative dance, and enjoys sharing her craft with up and coming dancers in the Portland area, most recently working with the Moveo Dance Company.

Olga Sanchez is the Artistic Director of Miracle MainStage and Community Artes. Most recently, she directed Canta y no llores, Miracle’s Día de los muertos production. Last season she directed The Shrunken Head of Pancho Villa and served as dramaturge for El Último, Dañel Malán’s bilingual eco-drama which toured the country in 2009. Favorite directorial projects for Miracle Theatre Group include: García Lorca’s Bodas de sangre (in the original Spanish), Nilo Cruz’s Lorca in a Green Dress (Drammy Award, Outstanding Direction), Dañel Malan’s Frida, Un Retablo, and the world premieres of Joann Farías’ The Road To Xibalbá, Rubén Sierra’s When The Blues Chase Up A Rabbit and Quiara Alegría Hudes’ The Adventures Of Barrio Grrrl!. She is a founding member of Los Porteños writers group, and was most recently published in Portland Family Magazine. Olga is the creator of Posada Milagro, a community-based holiday program, Milagro at SEIS, an intensive arts residency at the Spanish English International School, and Cuentos y Teatro Miracle’s Spanish-language children’s acting camp. This summer she will be offering a Spanish-language acting class, Taller de Actuación, at El Centro Milagro. She holds a BA in Theatre from Hunter College, CUNY, and a Masters in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College NW, with specialization in Bicultural Development. (May 2010)