Thousands of people attended the 15th annual National Cinco
de Mayo Festival at the Washington Monument, enjoying a
full day of music, dance, food, horses and workshops for
children.
"This was the biggest and best Cinco de Mayo Festival
we've ever had," said Maru Montero, founder of the
Maru Montero Dance Company and organizer of the Festival.
"This is a day when all of us get together to share
the richness of Latino culture in the United States. As
we say, 'On Cinco de Mayo, everybody is Latino!'"
The show on the massive main stage began at noon with a
stirring performance by Mariachi Los Amigos
and dancers from the Maru Montero Dance Company.
Dancers wearing traditional Mexican costumes swirled and
stomped their feet to the music, and in one dance, the men
clanged razor-sharp machetes in a mock battle for the attention
of a lovely woman.
In the Children's Pavilion, across the
grounds of the National Mall, dozens of volunteers taught
youngsters to make piñatas, weave strands of colored
yarn into decorative braids, and decorate beautiful fans.
Others played La Loteria, Mexican bingo, and won free multi-colored
hats and t-shirts as prizes.
In a Festival first, authentic Mexican cowboys, called
charros, dressed in their finest Western costumes and giant
sombreros rode beautiful horses in a corral near the base
of the Washington Monument. At the sound of guitars and
trumpets of the mariachis, the horses pranced and kick in
time with the music, appearing to "dance" to the
Mexican folk music. The youngest Mexican cowboys, from the
Asociacion de Charros de Virginia, gave
pony rides to Festival guests.
For the next act on the main stage, the band Tikal
played salsa and Santana while dancers from Saoco
Distrito Casinero performed rueda, a type of
lively Latin round dancing that originated in Cuba.
The masters of ceremonies, stars of the TV show "Nuestro
Barrio," told the crowd that the Cinco
de Mayo Festival is a celebration of all things Latino,
not just Mexican culture.
"This is a chance for Latinos to celebrate our culture
but also to give back something to everyone in the United
States," said Nuestro Barrio star Viktor Hernandez.
"We are part of this country and proud of it, no matter
where we came from or where our parents came from."
Philosopher/recording artist and DC Latino Cristopolis,
the inventor of "Thinking Hip Hop," rapped with
his band in English and Spanish about becoming a more aware
person and attracting abundance into our lives.
It was back to the ranches and open spaces of Northern
Mexico with Los Tornados del Norte, whose
lively ranchera and nortena sounds accompanied the Maru
Montero Dance Company.
The crowd at the main stage was transported to Argentina
with the sounds of QuinTango,
a quintet of two violins, cello, bass and piano dedicated
to playing the haunting and evocative sounds of tango. QuinTango
was joined on stage by Carina Lozano and
her partner. In keeping with the diversity of performers,
young Rubi Howard made her singing debut
on the big stage.
Other performers included the Panamanian folk dancers from
Gufolpawa
and Mirada Flamenca. Strolling through
the crowd, and bestowing hugs and kisses, were animated
stars Maya
and Miguel.
Cubano Oscar Rousseaux and the Alafia singers and
dancers, dressed in flowing white costumes, performed
traditional and compelling Cuban music.
Closing the Festival, was the fabulous Enrique
Araujo and the Zeniza
All Stars salsa band and the Saoco dancers.
Throughout the day, children filled the workshop tent to
make crafts and learn about Latino culture. They also learned
about science from the bilingual exhibits by Celebra
la Ciencia and the Smithsonian.
