ProjectMASA #1 Opening Night
Second Saturday October 8th, 2005 @ Gallista Gallery SATX

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Welcome to the web documentation of the premier night of ProjectMASA#1. There was approximately 200 people that came to Gallista Gallery throughout the evening for the opening reception. I would like to thank all the artists that participated and showed up that evening. Your availability to the audience was greatly appreciated. A special thanks to Cynthia Spielman and her mother Josie, whom volunteered for opening night and made sure that the foodservices ran smoothly. I would also like to thank the artists that came in from out of town for the evening. We officially inaugurated the exhibit with the ritual blessing of the four corners of the universe at 7:00pm. El Groupo de Danzantes Teocali performed a wonderful rendition of this ancient Aztec prayer in full authentic costume. The group is local and its director Emmanuel (originally from Mexico City )has been perfoming for over 25 years.

When the Spaniards witnessed these rituals for the first time they had no better word to describe them other than dancing. But the dances pay homage to nature (and the four elements of earth, wind, fire, and water)they also serve to teach more than just history. They are a means to connect the dancers to the root of their being and to the essence of life itself - one that is grounded in nature and respect for all living beings. These rituals are being kept alive and well by many gropos de danzantes that that perfom in Mexico and in the U.S. as well. We are lucky to have El Gropo de Danzantes Teocali available in this area that can perform these amazingly rich ritual for people to witness, enjoy, and partake in. After cleansing the air with the smoke of burnt copal, the dancers began the dance. We have video footage that will be loaded up eventually for all to access, but if you ever get a chance to witness this dance live anywhere, you should make it a point to do so. El Gropo de Danzantes Teocali has come to perform at Gallista Gallery on ocassion, for the Dia de los Muertos celebrations and a few other one person exhibits and group exhibits. They have always been incorporated into any major art exhibit that I have organized because I feel that it is very important to keep these ancient traditions alive. The more awareness is developed, the more people will incorporate into their knowledge base an image of the depth of our ancient culture.

At the end of their performance the dancers invited people from the crowd to participate in the Friendship Dance. People present, both young and old, stepped into the circle of this festive demonstration. The dance began as a group of new found friends participating in a celebration of unity. They followed the simple choreography as demonstrated in dance by Emmanuel(lead dancer) and slowly turned into an serpentine of one friend following another. As the drumming and singing by the lead drummer became louder and faster, Emmanuel picked up the pace, then brought the entire group to a halt to laughter and aplause. It was truly a magnificent moment to witness, people from the crowd that were total stangers brought together by the Aztec Danzantes dedicating the opening night.

All that were present were truly at the edge of their seats( quite literally too, since it was standing room only) while the dancers and the newfound friends performed. Events like this are good examples of what art can do in a community and how people that are total strangers can come together in an event such as this one. This group of dancers comes in to perform at Gallista Gallery at variouse times of the year, depending on the exhibit subject and the curator of the exhibit. They have performed for our Dia de los Muertos exhibit, and our Virgen de Guadalupe exhibit as well. The value of introducing this to a public that has never before witnessed such performances is priceless and impacting in so many ways.

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