The Guadalajara Reporter

Curtain going down on Music Society?

The Music Appreciation Society (MAS) has held open community meetings to garner more support and even brought in new volunteers but President Kathleen Phelps believes the 25-year-old iconic Lakeside organization may still be forced to close.

Generally by this time of the year, about 65 tickets for the coming season have been sold, Phelps says. This year MAS has sold just 16.  

ASA stages 30th judged show

Eighty-one artists, members of the Ajijic Society of the Arts (ASA), entered and exhibited 200 pieces of artwork into the 30th Annual Judged Show on March 16 at the Ajijic Cultural Center. It was a stunning show featuring high quality work created by talented Lakeside folks. The categories and winners are listed below.

Harps put zing in Chapala music fest

The rousing strains of traditional Mexican music will raise the rafters at Chapala’s Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo (CCGG) during the Encuentro de Arpas, Salterios y Mas (Festival of Harps, Psalteries and Other Acoustic Instruments) scheduled for Tuesday, June 18, from 2 p.m.

Cultural activities at Ajijic Malecon

Sabado #1, the first in a series of Saturday cultural activities to be held once a month at Ajijic’s waterfront Malecon, will take place on March 16.

A homage to ‘chanson francaise’

Le Femmes de Serge, a quartet of young performers that is gaining steady popularity in Guadalajara, pays homage to “chanson francaise,” the genre of music popularized in the 1940s and 50s in France, at El Piano Rojo (Morelos 14, Ajijic) on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8.

Sunday dancing at Chapala plaza

Get on your feet and move to a Latin beat. Chapala’s office of culture is sponsoring Noches de Danzón, an on-going program of dance events held on Sunday evening at the central plaza, starting at 7 p.m.

Youth orchestra to make debut

The newly formed Orquesta Filarmonica Infantil de la Ribera de Chapala (Lakeside Philharmonic Youth Orchestra) will make its debut on Saturday, May 18, 7 p.m. on the Ajijic plaza. The ensemble, operating under the umbrella of Golden Strings of Lake Chapala, is made up of interested and talented kids from the Lake Chapala area aged between 8 and 18. Directing the orchestra is youthful (21 years old) Daniel Medeles.

Animula puts poetry in motion

Poetry, dance, music and theater will be woven together in the debut performance of Animula to be staged Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m., on the outdoor terrace of Chapala’s Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo (CCGG).

El Piano Rojo presents Chi Chi Rones

Female impersonator Chi Chi Rones begins an indefinite run on Sundays with “The Chi Chi Rones Show,” beginning May 12 at El Piano Rojo in Ajijic.  

Audiences will remember Chi Chi Rones, who played numerous times at El Piano Rojo this past winter season, with her shows “The Burro and Churro Tour” and “Aye! Chihuahua!”  

From Carnegie Hall to El Piano Rojo: Tony nominee Sharon McNight

The Los Angeles Times calls Sharon McNight “one of the great wonders of the musical stage.” My two cents worth? This sarcastic strutting diva’s  “Songs to Offend Almost Everyone,” is one of the funniest, most entertaining shows I’ve ever seen.

Escaramuza encore to aid equine therapy program

Fearless female equestrians will make an encore appearance at Ajijic’s Lienzo Charro bullring, Saturday, May 11 for the Feria de Escaramuza team riding tournament. The competition starts at noon, complemented by a Mexican-style food fair set up on the grounds.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, escaramuza tournaments involve drill teams made up of eight riders who mount sidesaddle while performing dramatic high-speed routines set to a backdrop of traditional Mexican music. Each team appears in distinctive coordinated outfits, opting for either the full-skirted Revolution era Adelita style costume or the lady’s version of the tailored charro suit.

Film festival heads to Ajijic

Chapala Mayor Joaquin Huerta (L) presents Jan Troell with a watercolor by Efren Gonzalez after the March 5 screening of the Swedish filmmaker’s 2007 documentary “Tune,” held at the Auditorio de la Ribera.

Ajijic welcomes new adornments

Ajijic’s waterfront park has been embellished by the installation of a towering stone fountain and statue of Buddah donated to the town by private sponsors. The fountain will be dedicated to the memory of Julia Ramos, Neill James, Juanita Reed and Zara Alexeyewa in gratitude for their contributions to the community.

LLT going light & funny for spring

Just in time for something light in the hot weather, Lakeside Little Theatre (LLT) will open the slick but farcical comedy “Not Now Darling” on Saturday, March 23.

Chapala to stage dance festival

Chapala will celebrate International Dance Day with a lively festival scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 6:30 p.m., at La Vela plaza, located at the west end of the waterfront Malecon. Admission is free to the public.

Film school coming soon to Lakeside

The highlight of the presentation of four films screened at Lakeside this week as part of the Guadalajara Film Festival’s DocumentArte program was the surprise news of plans to open a local film school in the near future.

Posada Axixic to host crafts show

Posada Axixic will host a three-day exhibition showcasing arts and crafts produced in the lakeshore region, running Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5.

Latin diva and stand up comic at Red Piano

With an incredibly powerful vocal range, wide-ranging repertoire, dynamic stage presence and great sense of humor, the fabulous Kim Kuzma always puts on one amazing show!

Evening of music at historic hacienda

The ex-Hacienda de Huejotitan will be the setting for a concert by the Chapala Orchestra on Saturday, April 13, 7 p.m.

Funds needed to complete master sculptor donation

Local sculptor Miguel Miramontes, one of Mexico’s foremost artists,  has offered one of his recent works to the Ajijic Cultural Center.