Chicago Latino Dance Festival: Sept. 30th @ Global Peace Picnic

Since its founding in 1982, the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago has strived to showcase the splendors of Mexican art and culture in diverse, thrilling, and inspiring folkloric dance works. Periods represented include the pre-Columbian period, the Spanish Colonial period, the struggle for Mexico’s Independence and the Mexican Revolution of 1910. This complex history also involves numerous other international cultural influences, which merged with the indigenous/Spanish.

Directed and choreographed by Edilson Lima, Samba1 Brazilian Dance Group has for over 20 years brought happiness and fun to every special event with the most gorgeous and talented dancers in Chicago. They have performed in museums, schools, city festivals, and private parties. They enjoy sharing their passion and commitment to Brazilian culture.

The Center of Peruvian Arts connects audiences and students to the Indigenous cultures of Peru through performances, educational programming, and participatory workshops. Through these practices, the organization is committed to promoting Indigenous Peruvian knowledge and wisdom and cultivating skills in collaboration, coexistence, and social awareness. Serving the Chicagoland area, the Center of Peruvian Arts strengthens the community’s identity to its Indigenous Peruvian counterparts.

The leading interpreters of Andean folk music, SolAndino was founded in 2015 by a quartet of musicians from Peru, Argentina and the United States: Pedro Verástegui, Jr., Pedro Verástegui, Sr., Alberto Otarola and Huguito Gutiérrez. They have performed at Millennium Park in Chicago and the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, among other important venues.

Product of La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón, Bomberxs D’Cora is a collective of Bomba practitioners committed to the preservation of Bomba. Bomba is Puerto Rico's oldest surviving music and dance forms established by the island's African descendants. La Escuelita Bombera De Corazón was founded in 2009 by Ivelisse Diaz.

Tamboula, a professional Afro-Haitian dance company, provides intercultural experiences for people throughout the United States and beyond. In addition to traditional Haitian dances such as Yanvalou, Kongo, Nago, Ibo, Dahomey and Mayi, the company incorporates contemporary jazz and ballet techniques in its repertoire. Drawing largely from sacred traditions, Tamboula’s lively presentations unmask stereotypes while entertaining audiences and keeping the magic alive.

Formed in 2010, the Laruni Hati Garifuna Dance Group Of Chicago consists of drummers, singers, and dancers who specialize in several cultural dances: Hunguhungu (usually danced at opening of the performance), punta (most popular), chumba (almost like salsa), and a combination (mixture of hunguhungu and punta). Laruni Hati performers also plan and perform at the annual Garifuna Settlement Day Celebration which celebrates in Chicago the arrival of the Garinagu people to the shores of Belize, Central America on November 19, 1802.