Bio
Cornbread and Tortillas is a folk opera---in other words, a storied journey of music and dance which explores the common ground between a variety of cultures, including Appalachian and Southern Cultures and various Latinx Cultures. In this multi-disciplinary, bilingual (English and Spanish) theatrical performance, musicians, dancers, and storytellers from throughout the Americas come together to share their songs and stories of family, identity, work, play, love, heritage, sense of place, and spirit. The music they share is original and traditional, and touches on important issues like racism, economic justice, the importance of learning from community elders and environmental preservation, while also presenting a rich body of traditional songs, sounds and instruments.
Since 2016, they have performed for hundreds of people at community centers, universities, libraries, theaters, and festivals across the region.
Their rich stage production features a diverse variety of instruments including banjo, fiddle, mandolin, Andean flutes, charango, congas, cajon, and more, as well as mountain-style flatfooting and percussive folkloric dances from many parts of Mexico. Weaving it all together is a narrative consisting of monologues and dialogues that illuminate the stories told by the songs and dances, informed by the experiences and backgrounds of the performers, which include Appalachia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Greece, Ecuador, and Mexico.
Audience members of every cultural background are able to relate to and recognize themselves in the shared stories of food, family, and community presented in the show, and the way that these traditions can bring us together personally and collectively.
Above all, this performance is a celebration of our shared humanity which seeks to foster understanding, compassion, and community.