Archive for October 31, 2012

Lower Sacramento Road Underpass to Open Tomorrow After Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Stockton, CA —Members of the public are invited to join the City of Stockton in celebrating the opening of the underpass on Lower Sacramento Road at Whistler Way/Grider Way. Stockton Mayor Ann Johnston and Councilmember Elbert Holman; Steve Dial, Deputy Executive Director/Chief Finance Officer, San Joaquin Council of Governments; San Joaquin County Supervisor Ken Vogel; and other local dignitaries will be present to join in the celebration.

Opening ceremonies will be held tomorrow, Thursday, November 1, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. on the south side of the underpass at Whistler Way/Grider Way. Immediately following the ceremony, Lower Sacramento Road will be open to vehicular traffic.

The new railroad bridge crossing and underpass has been designed to accommodate the ultimate width of Lower Sacramento Road according to the City’s General Plan. The new underpass improves safety to vehicles traveling on Lower Sacramento Road and allows emergency responders and other vehicles to cross under the railroad tracks unimpeded.

Project partners include area residents and businesses, San Joaquin Council of Governments, San Joaquin County, California Department of Transportation, California Transportation Commission, and Union Pacific Railroad. RGW Construction, Inc. is the contractor. Construction management is being provided by the City of Stockton and PSOMAS.

The project was designed by Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. and includes public art elements by Vicki Scuri, VS SiteWorks.

The Lower Sacramento Road underpass is part of the $50 million North Stockton Railroad Grade Separations Project which also includes two overcrossings: Eight Mile Road/Union Pacific Railroad (West) Bridge Overcrossing and Eight Mile Road/Union Pacific (East) Bridge Overcrossing. The Project is funded by Measure K (the voter-approved, half-cent sales tax), California Proposition 1B bonds, State-Local Partnership Program, and the Union Pacific Railroad. City of Stockton General Funds have not been used in constructing this project.

Annual Holiday Ballet Folklorico “Posada Navideña”; Set for December 2 at Modesto’s Gallo Center for the Ar ts

Sacramento, CA – Continuing in a grand tradition,Compañía Mazatlán Bellas Artes de Sacramento announces the annual holiday, “Posada Navideña” set for Sunday, December 2 at The Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, CA.

Compañía Mazatlán Bellas Artes de Sacramento presents a festival of vibrant sound and shimmering colors in this special Mexican Christmas production. Featuring 30 dancers and live musicians, this south-of-the-border celebration includes a traditional Christmas processional (posada), Mexican holiday songs (villancicos), a visit from the Three Wise Men, a festive piñata scene and a vibrant holiday finale performed in the spirit of a true fiesta. In addition

to its seasonal flavor, “Posada Navideña” provides a whirlwind tour of Mexico’s many distinct cultural regions, from Veracruz to

Guerrero to Jalisco, all with live musical accompaniment. And, a brand new piece, "Yucatan- Fiesta del pueblo!," choreographed by CMBA guest artist

David Lopez-Mancilla, will debut this holiday season.

Watch a short preview of the Posada here:

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Gallo Center for the Arts

Mary Stuart Rogers Theater

1000 I Street
Modesto, CA 95354

3 pm

$10-$40

Tickets available now : www.galloarts.org

CMBA HISTORY:

In the beginning in 1994, founder and Executive Director Yolanda Colosio, began teaching traditional folk dances of Mexico to about 20 students. She brought fabrics, buttons and decorative notions back from her homeland trips and custom-created all (and still does) the many regional costumes by hand.

Her students’ small group performances quickly found an audience. They became regulars at regional fairs and holiday celebrations. The school attracted more students, exceptional ones, and so a professional dance company was born. In 1998, a youngenergeticprofessional dancer/ choreographer, Steven Valencia, was brought in as Artistic Director.The name changed to Instituto Mazatlán Bellas Artes for the school and Compañía Mazatlán Bellas Artesfor the professional company. Along with the growing acclaim, were performances at prestigious venues, bigger audiences.

Since 2000, CMBA has toured throughout California and the southwest as well as in China and Mexico, winning national and international competitions.

In the spring, they will be traveling to perform at the 2013 International Folk Festival in Tennessee. The faculty have impressive performance backgroundsand have danced with many of the most prestigious companies in the Mexico, including Ballet Folklórico de Mexico, La Universidad de Guadalajara,

La Universidad de Colima, Instituto National de Bellas Artes (Campeche), and the Sacramento Ballet.

"Instituto Mazatlán Bellas Artes de Sacramento has long been established in our region and around California as one of the most authentic and committed of Mexican folkloric dance companies," said Mondavi Center Executive Director Don Roth of their 2008 performance there.

Cultural affirmation through folklórico is an important notion for Valencia, one of ten Californians to receive The 2011 Maestro Award from The Latino Arts Network of California. The Latino Arts Network (LAN) partnered with the California Arts Council to "identify and honor individuals who are masters of cultural practice who have demonstrated a commitment to community-based work and who have distinguished themselves as Masters in their field."

In late 2011, the sister school to the professional company, Instituto Mazatlán Bellas Artes, realized a dream with the opening of a brand new dance center “Studio 4300”at 4300 Stockton Blvd in Sacramento where they champion “A New Space to Dance. A New Space to Teach. Open to All Forms of Dance & Performing Arts.” The School of Dance educates students interested in Mexican folklore, teaches the fundamentals of dance, and trains students to become performing artists, offerings classes for all ages and levels from all different backgrounds. IMBA’s attention to developing social responsibility within the community is visible in its ongoing scholarship program.