Boxing Sensation Edgar Santana

Blast from the Past from ELE / On The Scene! En La Escena host, Dove, interviews and trains with Puerto Rican boxer, Edgar Santana. (This is an excerpt from our TV Pilot). Copyright © 2007 ELE Productions, LLC. Visit: www.enlaescena.com

La obra ‘Riqueño’ habla de la identidad puertorriqueña

La obra ‘Riqueño’ habla de la identidad puertorriqueña

Por Sandra Escallón

El próximo 26 de julio llega a Nuyorican Poets Cafe la obra Riqueño, un show que por medio de la poesía, la música y hasta bailes tradicionales, explora la identidad puertorriqueña a través de la historia. Hablamos con Paloma Sierra Hernández, libretista de la obra, y con la directora Zoe Clayton, quienes nos cuentan sobre la importancia de la historia y su relación con el tema de la identidad. Además, nos resaltan el grandioso trabajo en equipo que tuvieron, logrando traer a escena una obra que no se pueden perder. Para comprar los boletos hacer click aquí.  

S: ¿Cómo fue el proceso de creación de ‘Riqueño’?

P: El proceso comenzó como una inspiración en mi experiencia como alguien que nació y creció en Puerto Rico, y que llegó a los Estados Unidos para estudiar en la universidad. Entonces, es sobre esa experiencia de cómo se percibe la identidad puertorriqueña para aquellos que crecimos en la isla o aquellos que lo hicieron acá. Hay diferentes maneras de ver esa identidad boricua, e hice una investigación que costaba de leer clásicos de la literatura puertorriqueña, tanto de autores que escribieron desde la isla como aquellos que lo hicieron desde la diáspora. También entrevisté gente que fueron criadas fuera y dentro de la isla y que se consideraban puertorriqueñas.

S: Esta obra la presentas luego de un momento difícil debido a las consecuencias del huracán. ¿Cómo crees que ‘Riqueño’ puede inspirar a la comunidad de Nueva York a involucrarse más con la isla?  

P: Algo que yo noté con el huracán es que hubo una unión por parte de los que estaban en la isla y también de aquellos que estaban en la diáspora. No fue tanto cuestión de quién es más legítimo, pero nos vemos todos como puertorriqueños. Hubo un sentido de unidad que puede perderse a veces por esa idea de identidad. La obra nos muestra que todo es cuestión de ser puertorriqueño y querer ayudar a nuestra comunidad.  

S: La obra muestra diferentes expresiones artísticas, desde teatro hasta poesía. ¿Quienes participaron en tu equipo para lograr desarrollar cada una de estas expresiones?

P: Yo escribí el texto, la música fue realizada por el maestro Emanuel Franco Fraticelli, quien es un compositor puertorriqueño y ahora estudia en el conservatorio de Puerto Rico. En la dirección está Zoe Clayton, la diseñadora de vestuario y escenografía es Domitille Angoulvant, diseñadora de media es Sophie Chen, y nuestros actores.

*Palabras de Zoe Clayton:

S: ¿Cómo fue trabajar con todos en equipo?

Z: Todos fueron muy creativos y excelentes personas para trabajar. Tenemos un reparto muy diverso:  puertorriqueños de diferentes partes de la isla, también una actriz mexicana estadounidense, y otra de Colombia. Muchas veces nos reunimos para hablar de las diferentes culturas y el significado de ser hispano, especialmente en este país y a cierta edad. Y para mi, que no soy hispana, ha sido un lugar y ambiente increíble para discutir estos temas.

Fue un proceso muy creativo y donde todos colaboramos. Ha sido muy divertido.

S: ¿Qué esperas que la audiencia se lleve de la obra y de lo que significa ser inmigrante en Nueva York?

Z: Espero que esta obra sea una celebración de la identidad y la aceptación de cómo lo que somos puede cambiar con el tiempo, pero lo que nos identifica siempre estará ahí.

S: ¿Por qué es importante tener obras como estas en Nueva York?

Z: Soy la directora artística de Paint Theater y espero que crear con este show un mundo de celebración. La obra es importante ahora para aquellos que se preguntan qué significa ser estadounidense, porque tiene varios significados, y eso se ve en Nueva York. Es la ciudad perfecta para mostrarlo.

Join, tens of thousands of people for the Families Belong Together march

We have two sons. Sebastian is 3, Francisco just 5 months old. I cannot imagine the emotional trauma my boys would experience if they were to be separated from Vanessa and me. But that’s what's happening at our border—forced family separations, denial of due process, imprisonment of kids and parents. To be silent while this takes place in our country is to be an accomplice.

 

I'm headed to Washington, D.C., this Saturday, June 30, to join tens of thousands of people for the Families Belong Together march. It's one of more than 700 events around the country taking place where, together, we will raise our voices loud and clear and call for an end to family separations and the suspension of due process at the border.

 

Click here to find the event closest to you—and please, please, please invite five friends to join in as well, by forwarding this email to them and posting about this day of action on Facebook or Twitter. Grab your neighbors, your extended family, and everyone you see and bring them along on Saturday.

 

I am devastated by the news that keeps coming out. I'm heartbroken that this is being done by our government intentionally and in our name. This is a horrific strategy to terrorize families and criminalize immigrants, instigated by the same people who have ended protected status for people from countries wrecked by natural and political disasters. They have moved to ban Muslims from entering our country. They have said that domestic abuse isn't a reason to grant asylum. 

 

But even as we experience this heartache, I am also blown away by how we have come together at this moment. We are showing up to support these families by the thousands.  

 

Please RSVP to join me on Saturday in Washington, D.C., or to join the event closest to you—and then tell everyone you know to take part. We all need to be there so spread the word, post about this day of action on Facebook and tweet about it—and share this link: familiesbelongtogether.org, where 700+ events are listed. There's one virtually everywhere: in all 50 states, D.C., my beloved Puerto Rico, and more than 350 congressional districts! 

 

People of good conscience from across the country and across the political spectrum agree on this: Families belong together. We've got to make this clear to our government: Reunite families. Close family prison camps. And hold the abusers accountable.

 

On Saturday, I'll be speaking out. Will you join me?

 

Siempre,

 

—Lin-Manuel Miranda

Selena Quintanilla's Figure Launched at Madame Tussauds New York

Rodrigo Solo interview at LAMC Showcase

Triple G Feels At Home - Lemieux Seeks Redemption

Golovkin (L) and Lemieux) expect a all out brawl.

Andrew Rosario

For someone born and raised in Karaganda, Kazakhstan while training and living in Los Angeles, Gennady (Triple G) Golovkin feels right at home when he fights at Madison Square Garden. When he steps into the ring Saturday night against Canadian David Lemieux it will be the 4th time he has fought at the Worlds Most Famous Arena. The Mecca of Boxing. Golovkin takes his perfect record 33-0 (30KO’s) and 3 belts into the ring against Lemieux 34-2 (31KO’s) who, after winning his first 25 fights, lost his next 2. Since then, Lemieux is 9-0, winning the vacant IBF Middleweight World Title defeating Hassan N‘ Dam knocking him down four times.   

The results of Triple G’s fights have been very impressive. He has defended his title 14 consecutive times. Golovkin has a 91% knockout rate and his fights last a little more than 4 rounds. The last 20 fights saw only 2 opponents go more than 10 rounds. If it sounds like Lemieux has his hands full, well he does. Given all that, Golovkin did admit that the fight will be his toughest to date something he acknowledged. “He (Lemieux) is a champion. A very dangerous guy,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Lemieux was coasting and piling up victories with 12 of those 25 wins coming by knockout. His first loss came at the hands of tough Mexican Marco Antonio Rubio (Golovkin knocked out Rubio in 2 rounds) who stopped Lemieux in 7. Eight months later, looking to rebound, Lemieux  lost his WBC International Title in a 12 round unanimous decision against Joachim Alcine. He knew he had to regroup in order to become a contender again. “I had a bumpy road,” he began. “I did everything necessary and I’m proud of what i’ve done. It’s not by luck, it’s by hard work and determination and a lot of faith.”

When Golovkin steps into the ring for the 4th time Saturday night he expects the crowd to be on his side. Something that gives him a certain amount of comfort. “I love history. It is very important for me and for my team and for my career.” Meanwhile, Lemieux knows that in order to come out victorious, he has to put the losses behind him. “I have to be on the top of my game,” he said. “I’m at my best physical condition and best mental aspect I’ve ever been. I’m extremely ready for this fight.”

Porzingis Injury Opens Door For Others

Andrew Rosario 

One man’s misfortune, is another man’s opportunity someone once said. For a couple of New York Knicks who are looking to make the opening day roster, the pre-season injury to first round draft pick Kristaps Porzingis is giving them a chance to show head coach Derrick Fisher they have what it takes to make the cut. 

If the Knicks management and their fans had one concern after the announcement they drafted 7-3, 233lbs Porzingis from Latvia it was whether or not he would be able to handle the physical rigors of the 82 game NBA schedule. Zingis handled the summer league competition but that was against players with no NBA experience as well. Against team Bauru from Brazil, Zingis played 20+ minutes scoring 9 points. 2 nights later against Washington playing another 20 minutes, he registered just 7 points. Unfortunately, a nagging injury (strained left quad) has limited his practice time and he was not able to suit up against the Philadelphia 76ers this past Monday night. 

In his last year playing in Latvia, Porzingis didn’t miss any games due to injuries but he readily admits they did not play the same amount of games with the frequencies of games that are played here. “I didn’t miss a game last season and before maybe I missed 1 game” he said, sitting in his lockerroom. “It’s a little different because you only play once or twice a week.” Head coach Derrick Fisher said the team will bring him along slowly and rely on the medical staff to monitor his progress. "He strained his left quad similar to the quad injury he had in the summer in pre-draft, but just not as severe," Fisher said. "We're not nearly as concerned as we were at that time.” The next couple of days will determine if he suit up when the Boston Celtics come to the Garden Friday.     

With Zingis in street clothes, Derrick Williams, in his 4th year in the league and 3rd NBA team (Minnesota and Sacramento) scored 8 and 23 points respectfully against Bauru and Washington. In the first half aganist the 76ers, Williams hit 6 of his first 7 shots for 13 points finishing with 21 in the 94-88 victory. 

Kyle O’Quinn, a local product from Flushing Queens has returned home with hopes of making the roster. He spent the last 3 years in Orlando and averaged a paltry 5 ppg. O’Quinn scored 14 points in each of the first 2 games. 

In his second year with the team, Langston Galloway (11points) is hoping to make a bigger impact after being selected to the All-Rookie Second team. Galloway finished 3rd among rookies in scoring with 11.8 ppg.

There are only 12 roster spots available when the season begins. There are currently 19 players on the roster. The New York Knicks clearly have taken a chance drafting Kristaps Porzigis knowing he would be a work in progress. They’re hoping his progress isn’t slowed by more injuries. If he is, the other players will have to show they can make an impact on a team that won a franchise low 17 games last year.