The Ministry of Culture celebrates “Obeliscos en Carnaval”

The Ministry of Culture celebrates “Obeliscos en Carnaval”
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 5, 2013

The carnival activities, which were sponsored by the Ministry of Culture andwere attended by hundreds of people, began with a bang on Friday night at the waterfrontof the Dominican capital, with the show “Obeliscos en Carnaval (Obelisks in Carnival).”

This activity took place between the two monuments and revolved around a theatrical choreography that represented “El Casorio de Los Obeliscos (The Marriage of the Obelisks).” …

This was the first of three days of carnival are scheduled to conclude on Sunday with the National Carnival Parade that will take place on the Avenida George Washington in the Dominican capital.

This activity took place between the two monuments and revolved around a theatrical choreography that represented “El Casorio de Los Obeliscos (The Marriage of the Obelisks).” It consisted of the marriage of the Male Obelisk and the Female Obelisk, which, in turn,were represented by the characters Robalagallinaand Califé.

The staging of the carnivalplayfollowed ascript by playwright Felix Germán, from an idea by Architect Gustavo Ubrí. The audience enjoyed the parade and the meeting of the Obelisks, which was represented by the characters.

The characters, which are iconic to the Dominican people, participated in the play and defined their roles. They were accompanied by the music that is their trademark.

Some 18 musicians, led by folklorist Edis Sánchez and guest percussionistsGuarionex Aquinoand Isidro Bobadilla,were on stageto add a special touch to the wedding of the historic monuments.

The staging of the play was also a training tool, because it explained the origin of each of the iconic characters of the Dominican carnival, such as the Devils, Alibabá, and the Female Devils, among others.

After the play, the waterfront was filled with music and joy because of the celebration of the Second National Festival of Alí-bandas, in which eleven troupes participated.

Banda Interbarrial opened the group presentations. The bandled the audience in the National Anthem, which was sung with all due respect.

During the event, street bandsperformed their best music combinations to the rhythm of drums and snare drums,to delight the audience.

Popular entertainer Domingo Bautista kept the audience relishing an evening full of dancing, shouting and overflowing joy.

Among the performing groups that represented the different neighborhoods the followings toodout: Los Abusadores del Mambo, de Los Mina, La Super Banda de Villa Mella, Viri Banda-La Revolución, de Capotillo, Banda Extrema de Los Ríos, Banda Sonora de Arroyo Hondo, Grupo Elite, de Villa Consuelo, La Vieja Escuela de Salcedo, El Yuatallón, de Sabana Perdida, The CR Band, de Cristo Rey, Villa Band de Villa Francisca and la Big Band de Villa María.

Popular entertainer Domingo Bautista kept the audience relishing an evening full of dancing, shouting and overflowing joy.

Each of the performing groups attracted the attention of the audience,whoenjoyed their presentations in the Plaza Juan Barón. The event was produced by MarcosKeppis and the jurywas integrated by Milagros Hernández (La Loba), President, and jurors Eddis Sánchez, Epifanio Hernández, Pedro Lake y Domingo VelásquezRamírez (Pichilo).