South Bay-Based Nuestras Raíces to Present the Music and Dance of Mexico

The music and movement of Mexico will fill El Camino College’s Marsee Auditorium at 7 p.m. May 13 with a special performance by the celebrated South Bay-based Nuestras Raíces.

The lively music and dance concert “Noche Mexicana 2023” will showcase a variety of song and dance styles and is presented by the Nuestras Raíces Cultural Arts Center, Compañía Nuestras Raíces and the El Camino College Center for the Arts, with guest performances by Conjunto Hueyapan de la Familia Herrera, Mariachi Cielito Lindo, Maderas Que Cantan, and Banda Azpericueta.

Nuestras Raíces is a nonprofit group that serves about 150 students, their families, and their communities by providing accessible dance classes and academic mentoring at their studio in Gardena. The organization’s main artistic goal is to arrive at a better understanding of Mexico’s beautiful complexity and to share their progress with audiences.

“We also aim to showcase the contributions the Mexican American community makes daily to the cultural tapestry of our home: the United States of America,” said Argelia Andrade, director of Nuestras Raíces and a Spanish professor at El Camino College. “The notion that Mexican music and dance started with ‘mestizaje’ is often misinformed. Mexico had a vibrant Indigenous music and dance tradition before any contact with Europe. And the contributions of African peoples and other minoritized communities are often hidden but should be explored.”

The Nuestras Raíces Academic Program includes three main components: an annual academic conference, college-entrance workshops, and a scholarship program. This past fall, the conference was scheduled at El Camino and a series of workshops helped high school students and community college students with the college application and financial aid application process. In addition, scholarships are awarded each year to high school seniors to help them cover college costs.

The El Camino Community College District encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the Center for the Arts as soon as possible, but no later than seven days prior to the event.

Tickets are $15-$35 and may be purchased at www.centerforthearts.org using the online ticketing system. El Camino students can receive a free ticket with a valid college ID. Campus parking is free for this performance; no permit required. El Camino College is located at 16007 Crenshaw Boulevard, Torrance