PROJECT DESCRIPTION
New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) Funded Project 2017
Dancing Elotes served elotes from a traditional bike cart used on the streets in Mexico, as a literal and conceptual vehicle for cross-cultural culinary, dance, and sculptural experiences. At public workshops at the farmers market, participants learned La Danza del Permiso (to request permission from mother earth to work the soil) and used the husks and cobs from the elotes to create a large-scale sculpture of traditional Latino dancers. Culminating was the installation of the sculpture and performance of the dance in observance of the Day of the Dead, Dancing Elotes that honored the lives of the young victims of street violence.
The project also participated in other community events, including the Walk for peace, the Zumix Block Party, the Eastie Pride festival at Piers Park, the Neighborhood Of Affordable Housing (NOAH) youth project Salsa night, BuildBPS Open House Showcases Future of Boston Public Schools, The day of the Dead celebration, the Mexican Independence Anniversary among others
Wednesdays 2016 by the numbers
Number of Adults we served: 1,830
Number of Older Adults (65 & up): 251
Number of Youth (18 & Under): 563
Audience Total 2,644
MY ROLE
Photographer & Communications Assistant
I worked as the official photographer for the project - documenting the highs and the lows of the multi-layered project throughout the four month period during a weekly basis, and any other special events in which “ Dancing Elotes” attended. Photographs were used for social media, press releases, and any other media related inquiries. Additionally, I ran the Dancing Elotes Blog. It was a weekly blog published on the Veronica Robles Cultural Center website that included photographs, interviews, and details from “Dancing Elotes” at the Farmer’s Market on each specific week. I mentored and guided the youth that participated in the project in running social media posts via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
