Hey There

Why did the artist cross the road?  To get to the other…

“Hey There” is a presentation of street dances inspired by the Sister Cities International program that “recognizes, celebrates, and magnifies the catalytic power of people-to-people interaction through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation—one individual, one community at a time.”  The 2019 Sister Cities International Conference will be hosted in Houston July 16 –  20, 2019, at the Marriott Marquis.  Inspired by SCI’s mission, Dance Houston presents a duet and a trio to be held outside of the Marriot Marquis during the Sister Cities International 2019 Conference at Avenida Houston, Discovery Green, and nearby sidewalks.  It will occur around 7:30 p.m. after the Mayor Silvester Turner’s reception at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

The performance is reminiscent of street tango tourists see in Buenos Aires, one that makes you wonder, why don’t we have this in Houston?  B-boy soloist Jeffrey Louis dances to a bandoneon (Argentinian accordion.)  The other is tango dancers Susana Collins and Gonzalo Andre dancing to Korean kayagum musician Myoung Soon Ryoo of the Korean Culture Learning Center.  As you hear the tango music or see the tango dancing, and contrast them with what you are hearing or seeing, you’ll get a sense of the answer to your question.  Houston’s artists are striving for something new, something we feel we are in a unique position to do given our city’s unparalleled diversity.  This something beckons us and we are answering its call.  “Hey There” is a small cry from the dance community who yearns for opportunities to collaborate across cultures in this ever-evolving, cosmopolitan culture.

This performance is supported in part by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. Many thanks to Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Houston Arts Alliance!

 This event occurred on July 18, 2020, at Avenida de las Americas.