Chicago Takes 10 — is a new virtual series sponsored by the Walder Foundation featuring performing artists from across the city including musicians, dancemakers and performers. The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance was selected as one of 10 non-profit performing arts organizations to curate a collection of work for the series.
We are grateful to be in partnership with these artists who will share their artistic expression with many new audiences. The Walder Foundation provides PRAA with the opportunity to assist local artists who have been economically affected by the devastation that COVID-19 has bought upon Chicago’s artistic community.
Participating Artists/Ensembles
Director/Performer: Ivelisse "Bombera de Corazón" Diaz
Organization: La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón.
About: La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón was established in November 2009 by Ivelisse “Bombera de Corazón” Diaz. Quickly approaching 11 years of teaching and investing in the surrounding Humboldt Park and Greater Chicagoland community and historic Chicago-based Puerto Ricans, La Escuelita continues to teach and protect the fundamental elements of the Afro-Puerto Rican genre of bomba. With basic, intermediate, and advanced courses in percussion and in dancing, La Escuelita has ignited and fanned the passion of cultural preservation, resistance, and empowerment to hundreds of students. La Escuelita also has a Song and History class educating students on the bomberx community that created space for organizations like La Escuelita to exist, while challenging students to be active defenders and contributors within the bomberx community. La Escuelita thrives on innovation while protecting the integrity of tradition, so much so that in the midst of COVID-19, La Escuelita was one of the first schools to adjust and bring bomba elders from Puerto Rico via Zoom to mentor current students so that they can stay as connected and as close to the genre as possible during a socially distant era. La Escuelita started in Chicago, but post-COVID 19 it has been prompted to expand from Chicago, to being accountable to not only the larger Puerto Rican diaspora in the States and more globally but also to bomberxs on the island.
Dancer: Amanda Saucedo
Organization: Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater
About: Amanda Saucedo, of Mexican-Ukrainine descent, is a native of Chicago. She is a Company Dancer and Resident Teaching Artist at Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater. Amanda started her dance training with a Mexican Folkloric group in her youth. She continued on with Spanish dance, along with studying Ballet and Modern at Northeastern Illinois University. Amanda has performed internationally as well as nationally alongside local Chicago festivals and arts organizations. She continues to partake in collaborative work in hopes to inspire and share her art with others.
Saxophone/Composer/Arranger: Roy McGrath
About: Roy McGrath is a Chicago based tenor saxophonist, composer and bandleader. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and educated in Boston, New Orleans and Chicago, Roy brings to bear these diverse influences in his playing and composing. In addition to leading and recording with his own jazz ensembles, he is a member of several others and an in-demand player in the city’s jazz, funk, Latin jazz and salsa scenes. He has led international tours to Mexico, Singapore, Korea and China. As a composer and arranger, Roy is firmly in the jazz tradition, but his Latin American heritage is an ever-present mind set, leading to wholly original works that are a true expression of who he is. His plans for 2017 include recording and releasing a new album of original compositions, Remembranzas, and leading two special big band tribute projects honoring legendary Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernández and Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra.
Rapper Artist: Jerry Sanabria
About: My name is Jerry Sanabria. I’m a rapper/artist born and raised in the southside of Chicago. I’ve been writing music since I was 16 years old. It all started with an open mic at my high-school and it has since become my favorite outlet to be able to express myself. From there, the studio has become one of my favorite places in the world and I’ve worked on over 50 songs since then. If you listen to my music, it’s apparent I like to go by the name “Flyboy” inspired by the character Flyboy by Chicago artist, Hebru Brantley. Flyboy is a kid trying to be his own hero and make a name for himself, which is what I’m hoping to do through my music. I hope the audience is able to connect with me on some level, as my songs portray my life experiences through different stages in my life living as a kid in Chicago. Some of the best things to come out of my passion for music is the opportunity to perform at several known open mics and how it has allowed me to work with other up and coming artists to collaborate on making music.