Latin@ Culture Show at the University of Michigan: April 2010

University of Michigan Latinos

10^th Annual Latin@ Culture Show Choreographers and Directors

Name: Brittany Chulis

Year: Senior
Major: Political Science (Pre-Law)
Performance History/Bio: Performance History/Bio: Brittany has been dancing, singing and acting since the 3rd grade. She has been in various dance recitals and competitions, choir performances, and theater performances. She has tried to continue performing throughout college and the Latin@ Culture Show has provided her with the perfect opportunity to do so. In the 2009 Latin@ Culture Show she directed, and played the lead role of Anita in, the "America" scene from West Side Story. This year she will direct a scene from the the musical Zoot Suit.

Name: Marlene Padron

Year: Freshmen

Major(s): Psychology with minors in Crime & Justice and French.

Performance History/Bio: Marlene was born in Holland Michigan and lived there until this past Fall. She started dancing when she was a freshman in high school in order to get in touch with her Mexican roots. In addition to dancing she loves to play soccer and volleyball. This is her first year choreographing a traditional Mexican Folkloric piece for the Latin@ Culture Show.

Name: Francesca Nieves

Year: Junior

Major(s): Fine Arts and Sociology

Performance History/Bio: Francesca is a Dance Major at the University of Michigan and President of the Dance Student Assembly. This will be her 2nd year choreographing for the Latin@ Culture Show, this year setting a Cha-Cha piece. Prior to attending the University of Michigan Francesca Nieves performed professionally with Ballet Hispanico of New York as well as works choreographed by Leslie Brown, Alexander Magno, Sandra Rivera, and Pedro Ruiz. In 2007 she graduated from NYC Lab School for Collaborative Studies.

Name: Jessica Perez

Year: Graduating Senior

Major(s): Anthropology and Pre-med

Performance History/Bio: During her years here she has been very active in the Latino community, especially with the ALMA (Assisting Latinos to Maximize Achievement) Program. While she has been surrounded with music and dancing all her life, she discovered the diverse world of Latin dancing when she arrived in Ann Arbor five years ago. She hasn’t stopped dancing since. “Dancing allows others to see the passion held in my heart.” Jessica believes that the essence of our culture resonates especially through dance. She hopes that she is able to spread the pasión, amor, y sabor that she has found in dancing to many others. Viva!

Name: Jeffrey Anthony Cabral

Year: Junior

Major(s):Psychology, Economics Major

Performance History/Bio: Jeffery has performed as a member of the LCS show for the last two years. However, prior to attending the University of Michigan, he competed in Junior Latin Ballroom competitions in a competing salsa team throughout his high school. He also performed and choreographed a bachata/merengue routine in last year’s Greek week: Dancing with the Greeks. Finally, Jeffrey has also choreographed numerous dance routines for beauty pageants, sweet fifteens, etc. This year, Jeffrey worked alongside Jessica Perez with choreographing our Salsa/Bachata mix performance.

Name: Alexandra Tracy

Year: Senior

Major(s): Political Science, French & Francaphone Studies

Performance History: Hawaiian & Jazz Dance of Saltillo MX, Lake Orion Varsity Cheerleading, Latin@ Culture Show 2008- Salsa/Merengue/Solo, Fashion Show, and will be a part of this year’s Cha-cha and Novela scenes.

Alexandra thanks her family for teaching her how to dance al estilo Colombiano before she knew how to walk

Latin@ Culture Show at the University of Michigan

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

APRIL 16th OVEOUS MAXIMUS!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Meet Our Choreographers and Directors!