IN RESIDENCE: JUNE 8 - 28, 2023
ABOUT THE PROJECT +
TEXAS SALSA CONGRESS:
Texas Salsa Congress has spent more than a decade helping create partnerships and establishing events in Houston and its surrounding communities that are open to the public and designed specifically to highlight both local and world-renowned dancers, performers, musicians, and DJs. The Texas Salsa Congress curates a variety of music and dance events throughout Houston for all ages.
Summer of Salsa y Más by the Texas Salsa Congress will combine dance, music, and performances that will pay tribute to Houston’s Salsa dance and music community. During the residency, the TSC will create programs such as Salsa at Sunset, an outdoor live music concert, Sip & Salsa, and Six Degrees of Salsa Separation. In addition, the TSC will be offering salsa lessons, performances and more throughout its June events.
The focus and goal will be to collaborate with multiple artists, vendors, and organizations to bring some spice and heat to the Summer of Houston. Featured artists include Calle Swing, Amy Malkan, Lupe Mendez, DJ DLUX, and several of the dancers and performance groups from Houston, Texas.
RESIDENCY EVENTS:
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
RUBY RIVERA
Ruby Rivera was born of Puerto Rican and Guatemalan descent and raised in Houston’s Northside. Ruby Rivera was the first in her family to graduate from a four-year university, The University of Texas at Austin. Ruby has always had a personal commitment to increasing student enrollment at colleges and universities across the United States. Currently, Ruby Rivera has a career in college access and creates initiatives for students and families across Houston. These initiatives include special programming for first-generation students, immigrants, and students interested in a career in the arts.
Her passion for creating art access for the community via the arts fueled her to founding the Texas Salsa Congress. As part of the Texas Salsa Congress Ruby has curated events across Houston to bring Salsa and the Arts to students and families and creates revenue for artists from Houston, Texas, and around the globe.
Ruby was bestowed with a city proclamation declaring August 4th “Salsa Appreciation Day”. The TSC also received a city Proclamation declaring March 14th “Texas Salsa Congress Day” for Houston, Texas. In 2022 Stages & Sin Muros awarded Ruby the Puente Prize for her contribution to the LatinX Arts community. Also in 2022, Ruby Rivera completed a year-long National fellowship “Latinos for Education”
ABOUT THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM:
Powered by Fresh Arts, the Space Taking Artist Residency is an opportunity for traditionally underrepresented local artists to experiment and “takeover” a public space in new and innovative ways. For 2023, three projects were provided a space for one month, marketing & project support, and a stipend to see their ideas.
PROGRAM SPONSORS:
The Space Taking Artist Residency is funded in part by a grant from Texas Commission on the Arts, the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment, and Brown Foundation. A special thank you to MECA – Multicultural Education & Counseling through the Arts – for supporting and creating space.
