Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of New York

Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of New York Tomรกs ร vila Providence, RI April 2017

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Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NY TomĂĄs Ă vila Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NY was founded in February 2009, in New York City with eight members, and named to honor the legacy of a brave Garifuna men who fought fearlessly against the European influence in defense of our territories in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and received a positive and overwhelming reception from our Garifuna community, specially form the youth, who embraced out traditions as they find a connection to our Garifuna culture. With the mission to preserve the Garifuna Cultural Heritage and raise awareness about the Cultural Heritage, and eager to learn our, language, our history, and our multiple task dances. The founders understood the importance that intangible cultural heritage is not the cultural manifestation itself but rather the wealth of knowledge and skills that is transmitted through it from one generation to the next.

This task becomes even more difficult in urban settings such as New York City, where Cultural assimilation, a process of consistent integration whereby members of an ethno-cultural group are "absorbed" into an established larger community, has resulted in the erosion of the Garifuna Culture among the Youth, which affects their sense of identity and self-esteem. However, Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NY has 3

managed to attract many first-generation Garifuna-American young people as members, introducing them to Garifunaduaü (Garifunaness), the practice and maintenance of the customs, rites, and beliefs that promote identity.

Presently Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of New York has 20 active members and is manage

by Mr. Felix Gamboa, Director, Baeza Guity, Assistant Director, Geovany Alvarez, Artistic Director, Justa Gil (AKAChona), Artistic Director, who according to Felix are thrown all together for one purpose, to represent, bring visibility and awareness of the Garifuna culture in New York, and soon thought out the world. The mission of the Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NY is “To raise awareness about Garifuna Cultural Heritage by showcasing and conducting workshops on the Garifuna Culture, with an educational experience that involves drumming, singing and dancing.”

Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NY revitalizes the Garifuna culture by expressing pride and strength within the Garifuna-American Heritage, teaching the youth and adults how to keep our Garifuna culture alive throughout generations in New York City and throughout the world.

The founder Mr. Felix Gamboa; who serves as director/administrator, born in community of Santa Rosa de Aguan, Honduras migrated to the United States at the tender age of sixteen for a piece of the "American Dream", never disconnected himself from his culture and traditions, for which he has a passion and pride and good fortune to have inherited this rich culture.

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According to Felix, from the music to the food, it is a priceless gift and blessing that he doesn't want to lose, and therefore, is committed to encourage and educate the youth and adults to preserve the Garifuna traditions.

Shortly after his arrival to New York, he joined the Wanichigu Dance Company the premier Garifuna Cultural group in New York City during the 80s and 90s, becoming its lead dancer and singer.

Felix has contributed to the safeguarding of the Garifuna Culture by contributing to the development of an inventory of Garifuna art forms (such as songs, music, dances, and related customs etc.), as demonstrated by the Garifuna International band's CD "Arufudein Wanichigu" (Let's Show off our Culture), He recently released his first solo album “Le Only Only�. In addition, he has promoted Garifuna traditions such as the Garifuna Christmas Paranda in New York City with a view to confronting the erosion of the Garifuna culture in the heart of modern day communities. During the 2014 Abrazo Garifuna in New York City, an event celebrating the contributions of Garifuna Americans, in celebration of Garifuna American Heritage Month, Felix was recognized with Citizen Citations by members of the New York State Senate, New York State Assembly, and New York City Council for promoting the safeguarding of the Garifuna Heritage.

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Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NY has contributed to the preservation of the Garifuna Cultural Heritage in New York City and continues to transmit their wealth of knowledge and skills of Garifuna intangible cultural heritage to the next generation, most recently in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where they were invited as special guests by The Garifuna Heritage Foundation, to showcase their exquisite brand of the traditional Garifuna dances that escaped generations of Vincentians, with the exile of its indigenous peoples – Garifuna from its shores way back in 1797as part of their 4th international Garifuna Festival. While Saint Vincent, the Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NYC perfumed at the Peace Memorial Hall, toured the Windward and Leeward sides of the island, making several stops along the way. Additionally, guest performances at the Garifuna Marketplace and Heritage Village at Heritage Square and Old Public Library yard respectively; the Schools Garifuna Folk Festival at the Victoria Park; the National Heroes Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Obelisk at Dorsetshire Hill, and to Greiggs, to participate in their National Heroes Day celebrations.

They produced the theatrical production “Garifuna Dilemma in the USA” that centers on the death of the beloved Garifuna person and the conflict that evolves as relatives argue over where to bury the body in the United States, or should the body be buried in Honduras, where the character was born. This conflict serves as a hook to pin a two-hour expression and exploration of Garifuna culture through Drama, Comedy, Music, and Dance. The drama presentation also includes a tribute to pioneering Garifuna Dance Company, “Wanichigu” Dance Company. Founded and directed by Manuela Sabio, a bilingual 6

secondary education teacher of the New York City Board of Education in 1988 by Manuela Sabio, with the mission “to maintain the Garifuna culture outside of the Garifuna communities by teaching the young people dance, language, religion, Garinagu spirituality and most important, tradition.” The Dance Company was formally incorporated in April 1993, and garnered acclaim through performances at established venues such Lincoln Center and Symphony Space in the 1990s, representing Garifunaduaü (“Garifunaness” in the Garifuna Language) in cities such as Boston, and was a starting company to many of the Chief Joseph Chatyer’s members.

Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NY has also performed in some renowned institution such as the 11th Annual Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Festival is Boston’s biggest block party a free, annual, outdoor public concert that has delighted hundreds of thousands of music lovers over the years with its host of jazz, Latin, blues, funk, and groove performances, along with KidsJam, an instrument petting zoo, and an array of food vendors. Each year, the festival is the place to be in Boston on the last Saturday of September as the community comes together in a bond forged in the joy of great live music.

The festival offers world-class music on three stages, phenomenal food and drink, arts, crafts, and unique gifts. The Lincoln Center Out of Doors, one of the country’s longestrunning outdoor summer festivals, Heritage Sunday at Lincoln Center Out of Doors, curated by the Center for Traditional Music and Dance (CTMD), has celebrated the diverse performance traditions found throughout New York City. This year, CTMD celebrates the Bronx and dance from West African, AfricanAmerican, and Latino sources, each with distinct expressions but interconnected through the present-day community’s shared 7

culture and traditions, Presented in collaboration with the Center for Traditional Music and Dance and the Center for Art, Tradition and Cultural Heritage to name a few.

Consequently, the Company has earned a reputation of being one of the most acclaimed ambassadors of Garifuna culture, as they continue to promote the uniqueness of the Garifuna-American cultural experience, and has been the winner of Best Garifuna Cultural Group in the 2016 and 2017 Garifuna Music Awards as a testament of its valuable cultural asset in the Garifuna community. The contribution this folkloric ballet has made to the preservation of the Garifuna Cultural Heritage in New York City is invaluable.

Reference Lincoln Center Out of Doors Opens July 20 for Three Weeks of Free Concerts and Events http://www.aboutlincolncenter.org/pressroom/release/966?category_id=7 Joe’s Retirement Blog http://joesretirementblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/11thannual-berklee-beantown-jazz.html The Vincentian, Garifuna Folkloric Ballet To Preform Here; http://thevincentian.com/garifuna-folkloric-ballet-to-perform-here-p128011.htm DiscoverSVG.com; Garifuna Folkloric Ballet To Preform http://discoversvg.com/index.php/es/home/latest-news/1066-garifunafolkloric-ballet-to-perform-here

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Garifuna Folkloric Dance Company Explores, “Garifuna Dilemma In The USA” in Theatrical Musical Play on Broadway for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Saturday, October 8th 2016 http://beinggarifuna.com/2016/10/08/garifuna-folkloricdance-company-explores-garifuna-dilemma-in-the-usa-in-theatrical-musicalplay-on-broadway-for-one-night-only-on-saturday-october-8th-2016, October 8, 2016 Chief Joseph Chatoyer Folkloric Ballet of New York Performing at the 2017 Garifuna Music Award http://us8.campaignarchive1.com/?u=6f8e18acc708dd4ae00adf5bb&id=1cb4b3c578

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Lincoln Center Out of Doors Opens July 20 for Three Weeks of Free Concerts and Events Lincoln Center Out Of Doors Press Contact: Marian Skokan 212.875.5386; mskokan@lincolncenter.org

LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS OPENS JULY 20 FOR THREE WEEKS OF FREE CONCERTS AND EVENTS (July 7, 2016) — Lincoln Center Out of Doors, one of the country’s longest-running outdoor summer festivals, will open its 46th season of free performances on Wednesday, July 20 at 7:30 pm with multi-faceted artist Patti Smith in an evening of words and music, joined by longtime musical collaborators Lenny Kaye and Tony Shanahan.

The first week of Out of Doors continues on Thursday, July 21 with a rare New York performance.

SUNDAY, JULY 24 1:00 pm - Hearst Plaza Heritage Sunday Global Beat of The Bronx: From Breakbeats featuring Bambara Drum and Dance Ensemble Bombazo Dance Company Chief Joseph Chatoyer Dance Company Full Circle Souljahs

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For 18 summers, Heritage Sunday at Lincoln Center Out of Doors, curated by the Center for Traditional Music and Dance (CTMD), has celebrated the diverse performance traditions found throughout New York City. This year, CTMD celebrates the Bronx and dance from West African, African-American, and Latino sources, each with distinct expressions but interconnected through the present-day community’s shared 41

culture and traditions.

Bambara Drum and Dance Ensemble celebrates the culture and traditions of West Africa and their varied expressions today; Bombazo Dance Company fuses Afro-Puerto Rican, Afro-Caribbean, and traditional folkloric elements drawn from the history of Americans and Latinos with classical, contemporary, and social dance styles; Chief Joseph Chatoyer Dance Company, a drumming, singing, and dance group, showcases the culture of the Garifuna, Caribbean descendants of West and Central Africans and Native Americans; Full Circle Souljahs, rooted in street performance and started by hip-hop dancers Kwikstep and Rokafella, has grown to include beatboxers, MCs, and dancers of diverse backgrounds and styles. Its performances come with a message that hip-hop is a culture and an ever?evolving vehicle for social change.

Presented in collaboration with the Center for Traditional Music and Dance and the Center for Art, Tradition and Cultural Heritage.

Bambara Drum and Dance Ensemble, Bombazo Dance Company and Full Circle Souljahs are made possible in part by The Harkness Foundation for Dance.

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