National Folklore Day Celebrated to the Sounds of Zarandunga and Carnival

National Folklore Day Celebrated to the Sounds of Zarandunga and Carnival
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 2/17/2013

With a special dedication to folklorist Dagoberto Tejeda, as well as recognition of eleven other participants and promotors of Dominican folklore, National Folklore Day got underway in coordination with the Directorate of Neighborhood Folklore and support from the National Office of Folklore, both of which are under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture.

This interesting cultural activity, which disseminates and encourages Dominican traditions in its various manifestations, was held on February 10 as a result of Executive Decree number 173-01, from 2001.

This interesting cultural activity, which disseminates and encourages Dominican traditions in its various manifestations, was held on February 10 as a result of Executive Decree number 173-01, from 2001.

The activities were enthusiastically received by constant and enthusiastic applause for the young artists of the Popular Dance Theater Foundation, the Institute for Development of Arts and Education.

National Folklore Day was held at the Narciso González Cultural Center where the artistic presentations performed to a packed house of people who were treated to a performance that opened with a colorful carnival parade.

José Cuello, director of Neighborhood Folklore, explained that the recognition of DagobertoTejedacame about as a result of his invaluable contributions and dedication to the preservation, awareness and dissemination of Dominican traditions and culture though his research of folklore.

Throughout the activity, Edis Sánchez, National Director of Folklore, recognized PetronilaCatalino as “The Reverend” of folklore, a special recognition for her contribution to traditional culture of Villa Mella.

Other folklore activists who were honored for their support and dissemination of traditional culture included Luis Javier Magua, director of the Town Hall of the National District; Maritza Reyes, Director of the Dominican Traditional Folklore Ballet group; Marcos Antonio Liriano, Director of theTraditional Folklore Ballet of Santiago and Jaime Sánchez, Director of the House of Culture of La Vega.

Others who received recognition were KeniaGarcía, Director of the Folklore Ballet of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo; Oscar Batista, Director of the Folklore Ballet of the Ministry of Tourism; Francisco Medina, president of the Organizing Committee of the Folklore Festivals; Antonia Alcántara, Director of Ballet atPedro HenríquezUreña National University; Reyes Moore, Director of the Folklore Ballet of the University Central of the East and BenedictoÁngeles, musical director of the Sangre Mulata Folklore Ballet.


Folklorist DagobertoTejeda with PetronilaCatalino, Luis Javier Magua, Marcos Antonio Liriano, Jaime Sánchez, KeniaGarcía, Oscar Batista, Franciso Medina, Antonia Alcántara, Reyes Moore,BenedictoÁngeles, José Cuello, Sergia Rodríguez, Edis Sánchez and Luis de los Santos, Director of the Narciso González Cultural Center..


PetronilaCatalino, “The Reverend” speaking in honor of Duarte.


“Hay Paloma” play being performed by the Popular Dance Theater.

A moment of a carnival dance performance.