Hola from Rancho Campeche! The students are just winding down now as I write this at 11pm in the evening, after a full day of music, dance, and sweat! In the morning after a delicious breakfast of sweet oatmeal, eggs and papaya, we had an academic seminar on culture that energized the glimpers here into thinking about what the day would uncover in terms of learning about Dominican culture. Our first visit came with Ariel, a young and inspirational dance teacher from San Cristobal. With our youth ambassadors from Yaguate, we learned a hip-hop dance to a tune by Chris Brown (Five Hours), and then we changed the tune (no pun intended) and learned the basic moves of una bachata and a merengue, two dances common to the island (along with a song by Romeo Santo). Moving on to the afternoon, we went to a small town near the rancho called Sainagua to a foundation called Centro Solnaciente dedicated to promoting African music. Here we learned to play the atabales, a traditional drum from West Africa in addition to practicing some dance moves. We also learned a little about the history of African culture in the Dominican Republic and how the slave population in the time of the Spanish colonization worked to preserve facets of their culture through religious syncretism. (Google it, I had to!) By the end of the two hours, we were all dancing and had all learned the basics of drumming. A few students even joined the band members there and were able to play with them. All and all, it was a high energy day filled with lots of laughs, sweat, and fun! Music is heard here from 6 am in the morning until the wee hours of the night and now we understand a bit better about different types of music on the island and just how important it is to Dominican life.
2023 Trips
- JA1A-BAY: Jarabacoa 6-2-2023
- RB1A-BAY: Riobamba 6-5-2023
- T1A-BAY: Turrialba 6-6-2023
- JA2A-BAY: Jarabacoa 6-7-2023
- C1A-CHI: Constanza 6-9-2023
- RB2A-CHI: Riobamba 6-12-2023
- T2A-BAY: Turrialba 6-12-2023
- RB3A-BAY: Riobamba 6-15-2023
- O1A-CHI: Orosi 6-16-2023
- JA1B-BAY: Jarabacoa 6-20-2023
- RB1B-LA: Riobamba 6-23-2023
- T1B-BAY: Turrialba 6-26-2023
- JA2B-CHI: Jarabacoa 6-26-2023
- C1B-WM: Constanza 6-28-2023
- RB2B-BAY: Riobamba 6-30-2023
- O1B2-NYC: Orosi 6-30-2023
- RB3B-NYC: Riobamba 7-6-2023
- T2B2-BAY: Turrialba 7-7-2023
- JA1C-BAY: Jarabacoa 7-10-2023
- RB1C-CHI: Riobamba 7-12-2023
- T1C-LA: Turrialba 7-14-2023
- JA2C-BAY: Jarabacoa 7-14-2023
- C1C-BAY: Constanza 7-17-2023
- RB2C-BAY: Riobamba 7-19-2023
- T2C-CHI: Turrialba 7-20-2023
- RB3C-NYC: Riobamba 7-25-2023
- T1D2-WM: Turrialba 7-26-2023
- JA1D-LA: Jarabacoa 7-28-2023
- RB1D-BAY: Riobamba 7-31-2023
- T2D2-BAY: Turrialba 8-1-2023
- JA2D-NYC: Jarabacoa 8-2-2023
- C1D-CHI: Constanza 8-4-2023
- RB2D-WM: Riobamba 8-7-2023
- T1E1-NYC: Turrialba 8-10-2023
- JA1E-NYC: Jarabacoa 8-10-2023
Previous Trips
- 2022 Trips
- 2019 Trips
1146 posts - 2018 Trips
772 posts - 2017 Trips
880 posts - 2016 Trips
940 posts - 2015 Trips
977 posts - 2014 Trips
625 posts - 2013 Trips
578 posts
Hey Jensen! I hope you’re having a great time and taking advantage of this amazing opportunity to learn and grow. I can’t wait to see those dance moves when you get back!! Sending you lots of Spartan love from summer school! 🙂
Great post! You got me dancing in my chair just reading about your wonderful day. Give lots of hugs to everyone from us! We love reading your blogs.
Hola Isa
HEY SABRINA
I remember I loved culture day so much that’s when I got my nickname smiling sinner … haha (; it sounds like you’re learning a ton !! Cheer practice isn’t the same without you 🙁 jenny was calling attendance and said your name I got so sad 🙁 but im happy to know you’re filling yourself w/ knowledge and embarking on this amazing journey that’s just beginning ! Take care, love you lots
Babybird
Sabrina
Sounds like everyone is having so much fun, I can’t wait to see these new moves. I bet you’re having the time your life and learning so much. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures.
Love,
Momma
Sabrinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa,
Dance day…OH MY, I can just picture you out there before they even ask for volunteers, that RICAN blood shinning through. PICTURES….PICTURES ANYONE!!!!! I know we want pictures 🙂 A full day of dance and music sounds absolutly wonderful, I’m sure it was a great time for all.
Love,
PoP PoP