Dance for a Dollar is a dance theatre project
co-created by Daniel Jáquez and Mariana Carreño-King with much assistance from
several composers, choreographers and performers.
co-created by Daniel Jáquez and Mariana Carreño-King with much assistance from
several composers, choreographers and performers.
The story came
together from various personal interviews and onsite visits to a variety of
businesses that during the day were Mexican restaurants and at night became
dance halls. The places visited resided in New York City, particularly the
boroughs of Queens and The Bronx.
together from various personal interviews and onsite visits to a variety of
businesses that during the day were Mexican restaurants and at night became
dance halls. The places visited resided in New York City, particularly the
boroughs of Queens and The Bronx.
 |
| Left to right Maria de los Angeles Sanchez Soultaire, Veronika Nuñez and Nelda Reyes |
Daniel Jáquez, artistic director
of a Mexican folkloric group in New York City at the time, was interested in
what the Mexican community was doing with their traditions and their music and
went off to observe any kind of dancing he could find among the Mexican
communities. He was careful to observe
patterns and rituals to discover how they connected back to Mexico. What caught his eye was the emergence of
places where women -waitresses would dance a short dance with a client for a
modest tip in between taking their order and serving the food. As the night
grew older, these places transformed into dance halls reminiscent of the
taxi-dance-halls of the 20’s and 30’s.
The project brings the life and experiences of a group
of Latina dancers in New York onto the stage. The women in the play make extra
money by accompanying men on the dance floor in a Queens restaurant turned
dance hall called Las Palmas. There are several regular customers and a
majority of the men are Mexican and working class who are looking for a home
away from home. They’re searching for a venue to relax and be treated with
respect after long days of what is usually hard manual labor. Most of the
characters in the play are immigrants who have left their families in order to
come to the United States and try to provide for them. The New York Mexican
community has been increasing rapidly in the last 15 years and their immigrant
stories are gaining importance. Dance for a Dollar is a one day snapshot of one
place and attempts to shed some light on some of the challenges and journeys
that Mexican immigrants face while trying to adapt to life in New York.
of Latina dancers in New York onto the stage. The women in the play make extra
money by accompanying men on the dance floor in a Queens restaurant turned
dance hall called Las Palmas. There are several regular customers and a
majority of the men are Mexican and working class who are looking for a home
away from home. They’re searching for a venue to relax and be treated with
respect after long days of what is usually hard manual labor. Most of the
characters in the play are immigrants who have left their families in order to
come to the United States and try to provide for them. The New York Mexican
community has been increasing rapidly in the last 15 years and their immigrant
stories are gaining importance. Dance for a Dollar is a one day snapshot of one
place and attempts to shed some light on some of the challenges and journeys
that Mexican immigrants face while trying to adapt to life in New York.
Dance for a Dollar onstage May 2 – 25, 2013. For tickets and information www.milagro.org / 503-236-7253
Sources:
* One Journey Chronicles: Dance for a Dollar ~ http://www.onejourneychronicles.com/2011/11/02/dance-for-a-dollar/
* Taxi Dancer ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxi_dancer
* Dance for a dollar Study Guide by Emily
Seynaeve
Seynaeve