One BIllion Rising
Hundreds of women will get up to dance and shake their bodies at the Auditorio Benito Juarez on Saturday, October 18, 7 p.m. when the Fiestas de Octubre hosts a “One Billion Rising” event.
This global campaign to end violence against women and promote gender equality was started by playwright and activist Eve Ensler in 2012. Thousands of events, most involving dance as a form of protest, have been held worldwide since then.
The “billion” refers to the United Nations statistic that one in three women will be raped or beaten in their lifetime, or about one billion of the current world population. Says Ensler: “Dancing insists we take up space. It has no set direction but we go there together. It’s dangerous, joyous, sexual, holy, disruptive. It breaks the rules. It can happen anywhere at anytime with anyone and everyone. It’s free. No corporation can control it. It joins us and pushes us to go further. It’s contagious and it spreads quickly. It’s of the body. It’s transcendent.”
On its website, One Billion Rising promises to “continue to highlight the issues surrounding the social injustices inflicted on women, and to keep highlighting where these issues connect. We will continue to challenge institutions, governments, policies, laws – and make these systems, which are responsible for creating situations of poverty and violence, accountable.”
Saturday’s event is sponsored by the Jalisco Institute of Women. For more information visit www.onebillionrising.org.
Fiestas de Octubre
Among the many attractions at the Fiestas de Octubre fairgrounds this month is an exhibit showing models of the amazing inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci. Entry is free with the fair’s 30-peso ticket. The fiestas are open at the Auditorio Benito Juarez (Periferico and Alcalde) from 11 a.m. daily through November 2.
Beer Festival
A reminder that Guadalajara’s annual Festival de Cerveza (Beer Festival) takes place on Friday, October 17 through Sunday, October 19 in the esplanade outside the Estadio Omnilife (Periferico. and Av. Vallarta). Times: Friday, 2 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, noon to midnight; Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. Entry costs 100 pesos. Tickets available at the gate.
Bullfights
The premier October/November season of bullfights at the Plaza de Toros Nuevo Progreso in Guadalajara features four consecutive Sunday corridas, starting on October 19, 4:30 p.m. The first bullfight stars Juan Pablo Sánchez, Arturo Saldívar and Diego Silveti facing bulls from the Arroyo Zarco ranch. Subsequent matadors include Joselito Adame on October 26, Alfredo Ríos “El Conde,” Alejandro Talavante and Octavio García “El Payo” on November 2 and Fabián Barba, Daniel Luque and Sergio Flores on November 9.
While bullfighting is not for everyone, and many are violently opposed to the practice, it is a long-standing tradition in Mexico with many supporters.
Tickets for bullfights can be purchased at the door or previously at Ticketmaster. With shade 200-1,200 pesos; without shade 75-800 pesos.
The Plaza de Toros Nuevo Progreso is located at Montes Pirineos 1930, corner of Puerto Ensenada, one block from the Estadio Jalisco on Calzada Independencia in Colonia Independencia.
Orchids
The Agua Azul Park in downtown Guadalajara will house more than 400 species of orchids during the first Festival de la Orquidea, taking place from Thursday, October 16 through Sunday, October 19.
Everyone is welcome to come and view the orchids, which have been cultivated by several local groups. Entry to the Parque Agua Azul is five pesos. There is no extra charge to see the orchids. The park is also home to the only butterfly enclosure in the city.
Nick Vujijic
Australian motivational Christian speaker Nick Vujijic brings his unique personality to the Auditorio Telmex on Sunday, October 26, 8 p.m. Born in 1982 without arms and legs in Melbourne, Australia, he has traveled around the world, sharing his story with millions. An author, musician and actor, Vujijic moved in 2007 to southern California where he is the president of the international non-profit ministry Life Without Limbs.
His current tour of Mexico takes in several cities. This week, he set another first in his life: hosting a televised interview in Mexico City with entrepreneur Carlos Slim Jr., director of Grupo Carso, on the Uno TV network.
Although he is reported to be learning Spanish, Vujijic will speak in English with Spanish translation.
For more information see www.facebook.com/NickVujicic, where he has garnered 5.1 million “likes.” Tickets available from the Telmex box office or Ticketmaster.
Yoga, dance, circus
The Momo Festival from Friday, October 24 to Sunday, October 26 will offer 80 classes and workshops in dance, yoga and circus arts for all levels, from beginners to experienced practitioners.T
The festival, which includes a full compliment of ancillary activities and many food booths, takes place at the Centro de la Amistad Internacional, Eulogio Parra 2539 in Colonia Providencia.
Around 70 schools and local teachers will participate in Momo, including Urban Yoga Shala, Punto Yoga, Árbol del Yoga, Yoga Urbana, Budditaz Centro Holístico de Danza Shewi Galindo, Kavi Kaya, Tracy Baile Tribal, Hoolokunz Crew Breakdance and the Circo de Niños de San Pancho Cóndor Choclovich.
The festival will install three carpas (tents), that will be used for performances.
The festival also includes a photo contest, organized by well-known Guadalajara photographer Peggie Vallejo, for the best image taken during the three days of the event.
Entry costs 30 pesos for a three-day ticket, or 30 pesos for a single day ticket. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information go to www.facebook.com/MOMOFESTIVAL.
Robot elephant
Circuses are having to use their imaginations following recent legislation making animal acts a no-no in Guadalajara and Zapopan. One circus that opens on Thursday, October 23, 8:30 p.m. in front of the Auditorio Telmex has come up with a novel idea to draw back audiences – a “robot elephant.” Kids are invited to hang out and play soccer with the elephant, which is referred to by the circus as “The Cyborg Big Yorgi” and billed as “the first the planet.” The circus, which apparently hails from Brazil, calls itself Magic Spacial Cyber Circus and is set to runs for ten days – or as long as crowds turn up. The ticket office is open from 11 a.m. Prices as yet are unclear. Enter the circus from either the Periferico or Parras Arias.