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Show Spanish Dance Group Entertain The Throughout Community by Laura Briggs "If anybody asks me again. I'm going to say, 'I'm a Black American doing Spanish dances and don't bug me about it. love tortillas, too.' " Victor Price poured more hot sauce on his tortillas, with one hand and with the other, he gave his sombrero a twirl onto a nearby unoccupied chair at the La Morena cafe, where the group was being treated to a dinner. The hat didn't fit comfortably atop his Afro hairstyle, though it had been trimmed prior to the I evening's performance. We thought that Victor might never make the grade as a Spanish folk dancer," laughed director of the Hacienda Group, Virginia Marrufo. "Perserverance paid off, however," she continued, "and now, Victor truly deserves star billing in our dancers troupe of twenty-on- e now only it's twenty and one-hal- f that Joey broke his leg." If enthusiasm, faith and caring is the formula to assure -- success, the Hacienda Group can't miss. It's hard to say who puts the most into the group, Virginia, the "boss," as she swirls about in her red dance costume, helping each of her students perfect Latin dance routines; her students, ranging in age from 13, to 24, who dream of a government sponsored study-dancin- tour of Mexico; or g production of South American, or Gumbia dances, stated her words tumbling on Virginia, top of one another, so full of dreams and plans for her troupe. Ms. Marrufo stated her initial inspiration came from her parents, who have sung, danced and entertained in their home as far back as she can remember. Her father, who is 69, still loves to dance and her mother's specialty is singing. The Marrufos hate to let a weekend go by without hosting friends. Though Virginia self-taugh- and encouraged by costumes for the Vera Cruzano, beautiful flamenco dances we wish to study and perform. Each costume has 1 6 yards of material in the skirt, and is elegantly styled, compete with a dainty lace fan, which the girls employ to intrigue the male partners, who are dazzling in their white suits. tight-fitte- d We will also be studying and planning a audience at Guadalupe Center where the dance group performed as a " thank you " to Miller for raising $1,000 for the organization. I I could. I danced at the Guadalupe Center and at the Utah State Fair and participated in dance tours in places like Michigan and Wisconsin. I taught a group at the YWCA in Salt Lake City. While I was there, I was State Planning Board. Ms. Parmerle has continued to be a friend," said Virginia Marrufo. "She even managed to get us a tape recorder. Horace Sorenson of Southeast Furniture has discounts, too." Virginia states that, after she and six of her former students from the YWCA decided to try to form a group, Father Gerald Merrill offered them the use of the Hacienda Center at 129 North 5th West. The group still practices there on Tuesdays and Fridays. "Other friends I'm proud to mention," continued Virginia," dance Rivera. American Indian, part Spanish artist. "I always tried to learn from everyone," Virginia remembers. I questioned and watched anyone who would demonstrate different dances for me. traveled to Mexico and went all about watching and learning the dances. "Then, I performed whenver the Hacienda performance of Group, which performed the folk dances from Mexico, the Ballet Folklorico, at Guadalupe Center on Saturday, October 28. to purchase elaborate Virginia Marrufo, director of the Hacienda Group introduced Secretary of State, Clyde Miller to she thought there was no one so beautiful as this graceful, part helped us with favors and bugged Mr. Miller to death," smiled Ms. Marrufo, "until he managed to solicit these funds from some groups of people who are interested in what our dance group is trying to do. The money will be used, in part, Romero, Elsa Elizondo, Victor Price, Jenny Salazar, Ralph Salazar, Pat Gallego, Michael Salazar, Fred Reyes, Debbie Salazar, Susie Chacon, Lydia Santiago, Steve Rivera and Chris dancer. Virginia recalls recent I Group are: Cindy Salazar, Richard Romero, Leonard family Florence was who Garcia, friend, a professional flamenco and folk Virginia Parmerle, who is with the "I think us," concluded Ms. Marrufo. Members of the Hacienda a have managed to outdo one another with "a little help here and there." Probably the most a -- she was influenced t, encouraged and helped by special guests at and for senior citizens anywhere people might enjoy is those friends of the group who overwhelming surprise, so far, was gift of $1,000, presented by Clyde Miller, Utah Secretary of State. Miller and his wife were perform in hospitals, rest homes are Filbert Salazar of the Guadalupe Center and Willie Price, director of the Youth Council." Soon, another friend of mine, Ricardo Merino, a former dancing and singing partner, will be returning from a Job Corps Though their names are similiar, few of the dancers are related to one another. Ethnic teaching position in Peru. He plans to assist with our group and A m erican-- we will be including singing and the playing of instruments into our repertoire. We want to backgrounds include, l ndian, Chicano, troupe, according to Marrufo, as well as a descriptive nickname. Fred Reyes, who comes in from Murray to practice and perform,, Ms. is known as "the politician," and Black. because he is a big man in his Each dancer has a speical personality he contributes to the school, active in school offices. Lydia is the hairdresser. Elsa is Spanish, Puerto-Rica- n the beautiful model. Steve Rivera is the comedian of the group. all like to tease back and They forth, states Virginia, but they are more and more interested in learning the heritages of the dances, many of which relate directly with their own family histories. |