January 22, 2024 3:20 a.m.
Roseburg Public Library will host a Mexican cultural program with demonstrations including rope tricks and folkloric dancing on Thursday, February 1st at 6:30 p.m.
A City release said Comunidad y Herencia Cultural Director Antonio Huerta will speak about the history and tradition of Charreria. It is a 500-year-old practice of horsemanship and roping that was adopted as Mexico’s official national sport in 1933. Herta will discuss colonial Spaniard’s outfits as they set foot in the Americas, how Indigenous people mastered domestication of the growing horse population in the 1500s, how the tradition was taken back to Spain in the 1600s, and how the outfits became associated with mariachi bands.
Following the presentation, there will be a rope trick demonstration, a folkloric ballet performance and a Q and A session. The program will conclude at 8:30 p.m.
The release said the event complements an eight-panel exhibition on display at the library through February 1st. The banners introduce Charreria, then highlight biographical information about Charros – Mexican horsemen, and Escaramuzas – Mexican horsewomen, from different parts of Oregon.
Communidad y Herencia Cultural is an Oregon nonprofit, based in Springfield, that is committed to serving the Latinx community through education, artistic outreach and fostering community spirit. Learn more about the organization at www.nonchecultural.com
The program will be held at Roseburg Public Library on Northeast Diamond Lake Boulevard. Call 492-7050 for more information.