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"Everybody in this world has a story. Everybody has a contribution. We
have to keep moving forward. I really believe that god is the one who
guides me and helps me to go forward. I just want to be a good example
to my community,
I want to speak for the arts."
Queen Vanessa |
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Mission Cultural
Center
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The Mission Cultural Center is very active in
planning and growing the Carnaval beyond offering dance and
percussion classes. Board member Isabel Barraza, (shown above
waving the time flag), executive director Jenny Rodriguez
and Queen Vanessa are all active
participants on the Carnaval Advisory Committee which meets
monthly and as needed for committee work. |
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For
the last 11 years she has been a well know instructor at the Mission
Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA)
where she is known as a dynamic fusion latin hiphop dance teacher.
Vanessa’s smiles more easily these days. “I'm open minded. I love all
men. No one yet has found me to love me and my nose and all. Have not
found love yet. I had a 8 year relationship that ended 5 years ago. The
breakup was hard on my spirit. Recently had closure and this has been
part of my rebirth as queen and now feel alive with no baggage. I feel
like I can really move forward with my life.” she says as the recently
crowned Queen beginning her reign as the 2005 Carnaval season builds.
She was born and raised in the Mission, mostly by her grandparents.
“My grandma Margarita has taught me a lot of traditional dance like cha
cha cha, mambo, and rumba. We would dance in circles. We did not call it
salsa till I got older. I dedicated my Queen performance to her because
she inspired me. What I'm doing is a dream of hers'.
"I want
to live my life, stop throwing this aura,
Let the people who want to love me, love me. “ |
Lola Baltan
as sung by Margarita |
She gave her life
to her kids and her husband and she has always pushed me in my dance
career.”
Vanessa recalls her grandmother also singing for her audience at the
restaurant; “Just watching her dance and sing. She sings this ranchero,
a song by Lola Baltan "I want to live my life, stop throwing this aura,
Let the people who want to love me, love me. “ Vanessa dedicated her
performance to her grandmother and again thanked her emotionally as she
addressed the large audience cheering her coronation.
Queen Vanessa began her career as a dancer at the early age of six,
dancing for patrons of her grandparent’s restaurant, Las Casulas
Restaurant at the top of the hill in Daly City. Her grandpa Jesus Mos,
originally from Guanajuto near Mexico City spent gave her a strong sense
of the spiritual nature of the Aztec dances he taught her.
After four years of dancing at the restaurant, Vanessa took some
gymnastics classes then completely stopped any sort of body work for
several years till she was fifteen years old and in high school. In the
eighties she did a lot of break dancing by virtue of hanging around the
26th and Army projects where the culture was a lot different with the
African American and Samoan girls than in the surrounding Mission
district.
A TEACHER
The last few years Vanessa has not performed as a dancer but rather
focused on her teaching, which she has been doing since 1994. She is
incredibly into being the best teacher she can be. Vanessa teaches at
George Moscone Elementary twice per week putting on a huge show in the
Spring with students who over the course of several years become
intermediate or better dancers. She is also developing a similar program
Sanchez Elementary. On Saturdays you can go her Rhythm and Motion class
in Glen Park. However, it is as an instructor at the Mission Cultural
Center where Vanessa does her best work.
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Ms Rebecca Weiser dance teacher,
Queen Vannessa and
Helen Echavarra student for 6 years. Costumes by Mario Chacon
(King of Carnaval 1994), who, with this success, must be
considered C'SF's most celebrated costume designer. |
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MISSION CULTURAL CENTER
for
Latino
Arts
Vanessa has been teaching at MCC since 1995 which is where her heart is
since it reflects so much of the aspirations of the Mission community
she closely identifies with.
”The center has connected me more with my indigenous side. It has
allowed me to find out who I am. My choreography finds a outlet there.
The kids can be so raw.” She takes their courage to want to express
themselves and attempts to channel the rebellious attitude into powerful
dance. ”Its courageous to want to dance; to show your heart; and show
your soul. I believe everyone can dance but when you take it to another
level its like WOW.” she reflects.
“So when I get these kids from 24th street its wonderful. That's why my
group is called Mixtizo, because its a little bit of everything. I 'll
start them on hip hop and then bring in the other elements. Its up to
them to take it to the level where they find out more about their roots
but I introduce a lot to them.” Queen Vanessa says.
It does not work for all but then some keep coming back years later.
Part of it is they identify with Vanessa’s non-traditional upbringing
where their parents are elsewhere than their home as well. It’s an
anchor for them that every Friday they can go to the center and know Ms.
Vanessa is going to be there and remember their names and encourage them
to take it to the next level.
A new day where I could forward with my life no matter what obstacles
are in my way. As you see from my movements from the video It was more
about a joy of being here in the moment with my community. I have lived
in the Mission all my life. I feel like I’m a product of Carnaval
because it saved my life. If may sound crazy but its true. Its helped
stay focused and given my an opportunity to teach. By teaching I am
giving kids another way to look at life. Because not all of us can be
good at academics. Some of us are able to articulate best when we talk
and express ourselves with our body. The arts have helped me as a girl
to channel into something I love.
MENTORS & INSPIRATIONS
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Its a blessing, when I started to dance in Carnaval back in '94 with
Betho from there I met Rhoda and Low. I just really connected with
Rhonda. She is a mentor for me. Something in her eyes made a connection
that I have not gotten with too many others.
Alvaro Thukhili was my other important teacher, We connected because he
has this energy that he creates that just so harmonious.
There’s also the people who inspired her to compete to be the Queen. In
2002 she had a student, Maria Santiago who competed and got her really
involved. This was the year it was held on the dancer’s stage at ODC
which is still remembered as one of the great competitions of all time.
[more]
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Our royal lady and worshipful goddess of the season has also worked on occasion with modern dance and Rhythm and Motion
instructor Roger Dillahunty who was King with Milanda Moore in 1997.
Their grace and presense as natural regal nature inspiration Roger and
he was a King. Former Queen Milanda is now the force behind the Baby
Brigade and their decorated strollers |
THE COMPETITION
Her students began suggesting she try out for Carnaval Queen in 2001,
but she did not feel ready. She said to herself “ If I stop eating bread
and discipline myself I will do it.” This year she finally felt like
personal issues in her life were settled that she wanted a new
challenge.
"Carnaval is a big deal for me. I feel like I am a product. It has same
me from the bad spirits of loneliness and boredom. I believe I would be
in trouble without Carnaval. I teach my students they too have a choice.
They will discover this. It is not something I teach by talk but by my
movements. I want to inspire people and I want people to know my story.
"Everybody in this world has a story. Everybody has a contribution. We
have to keep moving forward. I really believe that god is the one who
guides me and helps me to go forward. I just want to be a good example
to my community,
I want to speak for the arts.
"The first thing cut is always the arts but I really believe Carnaval
could be so big.
There are kids that can't afford a costume. I used to buy the costumes
but it has been so hard the last few years..
"I teach Salsa is like family its tradition but I teach it the way it was
taught to me. I haven't really thought about taking it to the next
level. My following is not ready for it. Teaching it a little and enough
to get it under their armor.
"When I got to Patio Espanola, it felt like a made it to another
special
day of REBIRTH.
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"Paulo treats me like I am his Queen.
I really feel very positive about him."
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King Paulo Silva has been in the USA from Brazil for 4 years. He came
when he was just 20.
Paulo Silva, a Goiania, Brazil native, has made his home in the
Bay Area a few years ago. He is a member of the Oakland-based
dance group, Aquarela Brazilian Dance Ensemble, and also
performs with Kiddorama. |
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"Sporting a deep orange long skirt jarabe tapatío style costume,
Aztec style earrings and crowned with long orange feathers, the
new queen, Vanessa, grew up and still lives in the Mission
District. She is the founder and choreographer of the Mixtiso
Latin Hip-Hop Group. She describes her dance style as a mix of
“cumbia, ranchera, salsa, hip-hop, samba and reggeaton.” She has
studied ballet and modern dance. " |
Carnaval San Francisco
elects
2005 Royalty
By Pedro Tuyub, Apr 27, 2005
On the evening of March 26, El Patio Español was full of happy
faces. The enthusiastic crowd was a mixed of languages and
nationalities and colorful costumes. It was at its best a little
taste of what this year’s carnaval will offer. Every beat sound
stopped the buzzing. We all were waiting for the big moment:
Carnaval San Francisco 2005 King and Queen Competition. |
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Queen of Carnaval 2001,
Elizabeth Sobrantes, she who was born in Mexico. As a Chicana Queen
Vanessa found her victory inspiring. Click her pic to see one
competitor she was up against who won the following year or
visit the Queen Elizabeth
page |
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Rhonda Low co-director of Mara
Reggae |
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