Juan Guzman
UNK Office of Multicultural Affairs director, 308.865.8127
A performance of “Frida- Behind the Mirror” will conclude the annual Hispanic Heritage Month dinner and dance on Friday, Oct. 23, at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 6 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room of the Nebraskan Student Union. No reservations are required. The event is sponsored jointly by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Hispanic Students Association.
“Frida- Behind the Mirror” is a modern dance performance created and directed by UNK graduate Joao de Brito. Brito, a native of Brazil, began his career in modern dance as an actor and choreographer in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree from Piaui, Brazil. In 2002, he earned a master of science in education degree from UNK, and was a graduate assistant in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Office of International Student Services. Brito and the performers reside in Omaha.
The performance is a story of Frida Kahlo, a well-known Mexican artist. The film, “Frida,” won six Academy Awards in 2002 with actors Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina.
“The time frame of ‘Frida-Behind the Mirror’ is August of 1953 through her last moments in July 1954 with her beloved Diego Rivera in the blue house, where Frida had the best and worst moments of her life,” Brito said. “Her remarkable reputation cuts across the definitions of Mexican surrealist and modern artist persona through many art symbols, dance, theater and poetry.” Kahlo was also well-known for her struggles with her lover Diego Rivera and her association with important figures, such as Andre Breton, who hailed her as the daughter of surrealism; the statesman Leon Trotsky; actress Dolores del Rio; and singer Chavela Vargas.
“In this performance, you will see and feel what she felt in her life and art, and await the deep meaning of her final diary entry, ‘I await joyful my departure and hope never to come back,’” Brito said.
