Bronx Rising! Parranda con Paranda: French Connection

The Parranda con Paranda is our annual Puerto Rican & Garifuna Holiday Celebration. This year we look at European, specifically French-influenced genres, in the Caribbean, such as "la danza" from Puerto Rico and the "quadrille" as practiced among Garifuna communities. In the Garifuna community in Belize it is called the "Grand Ball," where women and men dress up in European attire and come out to dance to the accompaniment of music. Our program begins with dance performances followed by traditional drum-based music from both communities. Musicians include Nelson Matthew Gonzalez, James Lovell, Bobby Sanabria, and Jorge Vazquez. Garifuna quadrille choreography by Mariano Martinez.