The annual networking dinner featured the honorable Barbara McMorrow, member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Monmouth County, as the keynote speaker as well as entertainment performed by talented Latino American folkloric dancers and dancing to the sounds of Grupo Caribe.
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| Hon John D'Amico Member of MC Board of Chosen Freeholders, Ms. Kim Guadagno, MC Sheriff, Louis Rodriguez, Executive Director Latino Chamber, Hon Barbara McMorrow Member of MC Board of Chosen Freeholders and Ana Little, Mayor of Highlands Township |
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Keynote speaker was Barbara J. McMorrow Member of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Her theme was the Strategic Plan developed for the County. The photograph at the right shows Hon Barbara McMorrow explaining the benefits to Monmouth County of the future implementation of the Strategic Plan.
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| Barbara explaining the Stragic Plan to Gloria Fernandez, member of the Latino Chamber |
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| Ballet Xochiplli Performing Concheros Aztec Dance |
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The event feature talented Latino Dancers from the Ballet Folklore Xochipilli. The group performed splendidly the Concheros Aztec dance which is a type of military dance that took everyone back centuries before the Spanish conquistadores arrived in Mexico. The dance reflects rituals performed in cities filled with vegetation, pyramids, and outlines of carved faces on rocks. A time when the sun, moon and stars provided the spiritual guidance to the Aztecan. Their customs included exotic feathers, animal skins and jewelry. Their foot work was very agile, fast and difficult to learn.
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| The Link Newspaper October 2 - 8, 2008 |
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The Ballet Xochipilli also performed dances from the Mexican State of Sinaloa which is located on the coasts of Pacific Ocean. The Sinaloa dances were created during the last decades of the last century, at the beginnings of the Colonial period. The autochthonous dances of the region were originally danced to the tune of music derived from wind instruments called the tambora along with tap dancing to the Pascola rhythm.
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Last but not least the Ballet performed "sones" dances from the Mexican State of Jalisco which is considered the land of tequila, mariachi and the charro. The Jalisco dances are referred to as "sones" which are typical dances performed throughout the coasts of the State of Jalisco. These dances were developed slowly during the colonial times. In the XIX century, the Spanish and the indigenous Mexicans began to mix their races and, consequently, the dances that you are about to enjoy originated from a fusion of Spanish and Jalisco's regional music. The female costume is also based on the turn-of-the-century fashions as interpreted by common people. Originally one couple at a time danced Jalisco sones. Today modern choreography requires multiple couples with synchronized movement to dance these sones. Jalisco's folklore is practically the trademark of Mexico throughout the world and it is no coincidence that Jalisco is generally included in all Mexican folklore representations.
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| Ana Little, Mayor of Highlands, Louis Rodriguez, Executive Director, Jessica and German Valencia Chamber Members |
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| Virgilio Lozano (Ecuadorian) Director Latinos Market, Catalina Mendoza (Chilean) and Ana Claudia (Brazilian) Chamber Members |
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Members, spouses and friends participated in the discussion of businesses opportunities while enjoying the evening cocktail hour, dinner and the Latino entertainment.
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All photographs were taken by German Valencia of Gerval Corp. Telephone 732 859 1220
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