THE LATINA BOOK CLUB

       Catherine Mayo was born in El Paso, raised in Northern California, educated in Chicago and has lived in Washington DC and Mexico City for many years. Many people think she is Chicana, but she is actually of Scotch-Irish-English heritage, with a smidgen of German. Catherine speaks Spanish and has translated many Mexican poets and writers under the name of C.M. Mayo. She also published, Tameme , a bilingual literary journal (www.tameme.org), now a chapbook publisher.           “Over and over,” says Catherine, “I have found such a generosity of spirit in this [Latino Literary] community, and so many superb writers and poets, and now so many friends, I cannot help but feel a part of it.”           Mayo’s THE LAST PRINCE OF THE MEXICAN EMPIRE was selected as one of the best books of 2009 by Library Journal . And her novel SKY OVER EL NIDO, won the Flannery O'Conn...

Inspired by Reyna Grande's book, DANCING WITH BUTTERFLIES -- about four women in a Mexican folkloric dance troupe --, some of the members of New York's Latina bookclub went to see the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Arianna Hernandez on February 24, 2010. It was wonderful!   In the audience were dignataries and politicians -- Mexican and American.  There were also lots of families with children.  I felt like a kid myself.  In Reyna's book, she talks about a dress with 10-yards of fabric.  I saw that.  She talks about the dancing couple forming a bow with their steps, I saw that. It was the book, the dances come to life.  It was a great blend of both the literary and the real worlds.  So for anyone who has read or is reading Reyna's book, do try to see a Ballet Folklorico live.  You will be entranced.  Here are some pictures from the Ballet Folklorico.  Enjoy---maria

If you've read DANCING WITH BUTTERFLIES by Reyna Grande, you know that the story revolves around four women who dance/work for a Ballet Folklorico company.  Reyna does such a good job in protraying the dances and the costumes that a reader can almost see them. Well, we don't have to guess at the dances any longer.  The Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amelia Hernandez is coming to New York for the night of Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 8:00PM at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street). Tickets are $50, and can be ordered via TicketMaster. Here's the link: http://www.ticketmaster.com/search?tm_link=tm_homeA_header_search&q=Ballet+Folklorico+De+Mexico&search.x=51&search.y=14 I am trying to organize a group for dinner (Mexican, of course!) and the Ballet Folklorico on February 24.  If you are interested, please email me at ferrerm@aol.com . Hope to see you there.   Viva Ballet Folklorico!