JARANA & ZAPATEADO DANCE CLASSES

Taught by Lolis García

Jarana and zapateado classes will resume in the fall. Please check back in early September for the schedule. 

FOR JARANA CLASS

Students will learn, the following:

- basics of strumming
- get familiar with chords

FOR THE ZAPATEADO CLASS, Students will learn the following

- The basics of dance for Son Jarocho
- Guidelines of dancing in fandangos
- Basic knowledge of recognizing sones and what roles the dancers take in each son  

FOR THE ZAPATEADO CLASS, Students should bring the following

Those who would like to learn the part traditionally danced by women, should bring shoes that have a short square heel (no rubber heels), comfortable clothes to dance in, handkerchief or rebozos, and a long skirt, if possible.  

Those who would like to learn the part traditionally danced by men, should bring comfortable clothes to dance in and dress shoes or boots that have a short heel.

Son Jarocho

Son Jarocho is dance and musical tradition that originated in Southern Veracruz, México. The Tradition is still played and passed on through generations in that region and is found throughout the Mexican Diaspora. The Tradition has African, Spanish, Caribbean, Arabic, and Indigenous influences. Depending on the region, Son Jarocho can vary in how it’s presented, including the use of different instrumentation, dance, and song. It is played in a communal setting where people gather around a wooden platform called a tarima. Musicians form a semi-circle, play music, and dance for hours, even days. The music is comprised of melodic, harmonic, and percussive instruments. The music is mostly improvised and expresses what flows from the heart.  

LOLIS GARCÍA

Lolis García is the Assistant Director of the East Bay Center's resident arts company, Son de la Tierra. Under the mentorship of Artemio Posadas, Lolis has been studying Mexican Son for over twenty years, and has mastered a number of string and percussion instruments in a variety of Son traditions including Huasteco, Jarocho, Tixtleco, and Mariachero.  She has also learned Son Jarocho with several Master musicians and dancers from Mexico such as: Laura Rebolloso, Ramón Gutiérrez, Patricio Hidalgo, Andrés Flores, Carolina Flores, Amairani Flores, Joel Castellanos, Gilberto Guitérrez, Rubí Oseguera, Chely Oseguera, and Liche Oseguera.  She has performed at festivals in the U.S and Mexico and has taught dance workshops in the Huasteca region.  Lolis teaches extensively with Son de la Tierra and through the East Bay Center at many different schools in the East Bay.