The choreographer Ana Maria Alvarez is a Cuban-American who began dancing at the age of five. She trained Ballet until her teen years when she got hooked on Dunham Technique, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Haitian. Alvarez received her B.A in Dance and Politics from Orbelin College thereafter moving to Brooklyn, NY becoming a Dance Specialist at The Center for Family Life’s Community Arts Project. After teaching several years, she moved to Los Angeles to attain her MFA in Choreography from UCLA, during which she worked in collaboration with teachers and researchers to create a dance program. This was the foundation for CONTRA-TIEMPO’s education program, which has partnered up with schools throughout Southern California to integrate dance into the education curriculum. Alavarez guest lectures in colleges and universities in California and during the summer teaches at UCLA’s Department of World Arts and Cultures.

For more information visit:

http://www.anamariaalvarez.com/

Alma Flor Ada was born in Cam­agüey, Cuba where she enjoyed the nature that surrounded her. Her love for poetry, storytelling and teaching derives from her family, as her mother sang to her, grandmother recited poetry as well as traditional folktales, her  father made up stories for her bedtime and uncle was good at making stories so real and vivid. She has written over 200 books for children and is an award-winning author. Ada has a Ph.D in Spanish Literature and has revolutionized the way traditional folklore and nursery rhymes across Latin America are told. She offers great multicultural perspective in her poetry, picture books and novels for all children. At the 5^th Annual Mixed Roots Festival Ada will share her recently new illustrated children’s book “I Love Saturdays y domingos” about a young girl who is lucky to enjoys having a deep rich cultural heritage with Mexican-American and European descent grandparents.

For more information:

http://almaflorada.com/