From My
Balcony
The University makes culture
By Nacho Cadena Owner of La Petite France
Guadalajara, Jalisco 7 th of February, 2005, eight thirty pm. Rivers of people were walking hastily, almost running on both sidewalks of the great avenue 16 th of September. The face of everybody, men, women, young people, many young people and children, the faces were denouncing expectation, desire, joy, but also tension, distress, urgency. It was cold and everybody was wearing elegant coats, leather jackets, thick sweaters with turtle necks and jeans, there was really everyone present from the slim blond with straight hair and bright highlights elegantly dressed up in black to the young guy dressed a bit according to the custom of the hippies in San Francisco during the 70s. And yes, everybody was running in the same direction and everyone's movements and nervousness was denouncing that they were in a hurry to find the same objective
In the center of the street two long lines of cars, orderly enough, moved slowly forward without pausing, moving in the direction of a sign that said "valet parking". It was possible to foretell that those on foot and those by car were looking for the same place.
Those rivers of people and cars loaded with people were some of the more than 30 000 people who had bought a ticket to enter the new Diana Theater in Guadalajara and to enjoy the enormous show THE LORD OF THE DANCE. What an impression to enter into a cultural area of such a quality, even though we were so many, the rows could not be felt. Those that received the tickets (like those in New York ), the informers, the usherettes, the ushers, everybody knew their job. At the entrance, in the lobby, at a sensible distance was the man who made the opening of this magnificent cultural area possible. It was the same man who designed the Mexican Film Festival nineteen years ago and eight years ago he also passed it on to Puerto Vallarta, the same man who created the FIL, the International Book Fair and put it right there with an international label and trademark. From there, safe and, as I said, at a sensible distance he made sure that the performance of the 'dream" was correct. There he was, Raul Padilla.
The show was unbeatable. Music, dance, special effects, lighting, sound, everything was first quality; the theater was modern, functional, operational, well designed. The rows of armchairs in impeccable stalls, tiers, galleries and boxes, ready to accommodate more than 2500 spectators, desirous to enjoy a show put on stage in the principal cities of the world and now in Guadalajara with the same success. Upon the end of the show it is easy to explain why more than 50 million people have attended the different settings where the show is presented.
My 10 year old companion, my granddaughter, tells me "My hands hurt from applauding". Together with 2499 other spectators she applauded with rave the performance of the exceptional group of dancers. I must confess that I still have the image of theses dancers in my mind and hopefully it won't erase too soon, slim girls, tall, covered with small skirts that took unimaginable forms while the dancers moved from one side to the other. Recorded in my memory are also the stamina of the boys, the strength, the elegance and the incredible skill to tap dance and to keep the rhythm. For sure I will keep the angelical figures for a longer time, these creatures of the feminine sex that went from one side of the stage to the other, almost suspended in the air.
UNIVERSITY AND CULTURE
The University does it very well with its support of the cultural events in its different manifestations. The University does it well, investing in culture, in well chosen events that contribute to the community of students and the community of citizens the benefits of feeding the spirit, of enriching the appreciation of beauty, of cultivating the profound gifts that only human beings enjoy. It is good that these theaters are built, these cultural centers, these places where the talent of the artists is exhibited and this talent is appreciated by the spectators. Cultural formation is the only way to have pupils and later professionals amongst the students with an integral, complete formation where leagues and unions are established between technique and science with the abilities of men and women in search of being, of happiness, of inner delight, of enjoying sensibility and the integral personal experience of intelligence and knowledge. Cultural values are way above and can neither be replaced by money, nor success, fame or power.
It is the university, which by natural calling, due to its universal character promotes in the community through culture, generations of talented men and women with the ability to admire art and artists who would not have a reason of being without conscious and prepared spectators.
Artists and spectators form a circle of culture and this needs space and promoters, worthy, wide, accessible spaces, and promoters who know, who select, who dare and who operate efficiently. This is the case of what I experienced last Monday night.
IN VALLARTA
What happened to the project of the cultural center that was proposed by the University for the land of the Salado estuary? We really need it a lot. I keep the question open so that it may be answered by the person who has the answer in his hand or better yet who has the political will to achieve it.
TOYS FOR TOTS
They meet early to have breakfast. A year ago they made a plan to distribute toys amongst the kids of Vallarta, those of the poor suburb schools, of the small villages, those kids of little possibilities of having a nice toy to enjoy, but above all to have a toy to feel like a child, a child who plays with balls, with small cars, with dolls, like all the kids of the civilized world. They worked throughout a whole year to achieve the plan, this means that they followed an action plan, they collected money, they organized events to come up with funds, they made personal contributions, than they bought toys and on the 6 th of January this year they inflated balls, many balloons, and organized distribution groups, trucks and pick-ups, some of them dressed up as the 3 Wise Men and started their mission of pulling up smiles on he faces of these precious pre-school and elementary school creatures upon giving them toys as presents.
Yesterday they met in order to review results, to analyze their project, to reestablish actions and also to thank the participants. How well they operated, I hope all institutions would work the same.
The great majority of them make up a part of the community of foreign residents in Vallarta, and sometimes they are more local than the locals themselves. They are good people, with a desire to become a part of the community, they are the same ones that some days ago welcomed a ship of the US Navy filled with medicine, with healing material and wheel chairs; the same ones that paint the schools in their suburbs. They are members of an organization which is called Navy League.
Until nex time...
Nacho Cadena - Owner of La Petite France
E-mail: nachocadena@lapetitefrance.com.mx
* From My Balcony
is an independent column of Mr. Ignacio
[Nacho] Cadena, owner of La
Petite France Restaurant
in Puerto Vallarta and source of this information.
To contact Mr. Ignacio Cadena please email
to: lapetitefrance@prodigy.net.mx
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