The Arts Council of Princeton invites the entire community to attend its second Open House on Saturday, May 3, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., for an afternoon of free performances and activities, featuring Princeton University’s Ballet Folklórico and a Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) festival.
The staff and faculty of the Arts Council welcome the opportunity to demonstrate the range of visual, performing and literacy arts that the organization offers throughout the year.
Children are also invited to create their own unique yarn painting in keeping with Cinco de Mayo. This artform is traditionally created by the Huichol (pronounced wee-coal) Indians of Mexico. The designs of the yarn drawings are based on natural subjects such as animals, plants, and seasons, but they are not realistic in color or form. The Huichol use the yarn drawings as the pages of their history, the explanation of the world they live in, and the forces governing their lives.
The centerpiece of the Open House is the presentation by Ballet Folklórico de Princeton, a dance troupe composed of Princeton University students who are dedicated to developing ties with the Princeton Latino community and increasing cultural awareness by sharing traditional Mexican dance and music. The group will perform traditional folk dances throughout the afternoon and will elaborate through music and discussion on the historical and cultural setting of Cinco de Mayo.
El Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory by nationalist Mexican forces over imperialist French and collaborating Mexican forces on May 5, 1862, at Puebla. This Mexican victory over French colonization was also an important victory for the war-torn United States, as Napoleon III of France was pro-Confederacy.
The Open House and Cinco de Mayo festival will take place at the Arts Council, Paul Robeson Building, 102 Witherspoon St. in downtown Princeton.
For more information, call the Arts Council at (609) 924-8777 or visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org.

