On June 28th Concilio carried out their annual Hispanic Fiesta in collaboration with Wawa’s series of “Welcome to America” events at Love Park.
Concilio is an organization that has been established in Philadelphia since 1962. This organization is led by Latino leaders who are hoping to provide community and other means of support to the local Latino population.
Wawa’s Hispanic Fiesta featured organizations from across Philadelphia including PECO, sharing excess, NBC 10 Telemundo, local Latin food trucks, and many more. The festivals main showcases were the Hispanic Flag Parade, live performances carried out on the Goya sponsered stage by local talent like, and the Army Band preformance at the Delware River Waterfront. Those that took the stage were individuals who were more than pleased to represent Philly, groups like, Estilo Dance Company, Palante Dance, and Los Pueblitos Dance Team.
Performer Serene Salinas was invited to the stage by Philadelphia’s La Mega radio station. Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Salinas has been preforming in Philadelphia since 2018. She has recently added to her portfolio by acting in a new movie titled “Los Ramirez”. Her stage ethic began at the age of ten and she accredits it to her Cuban roots. “I love Philly. Everyone is welcoming of me and my music. This is a place full of art, and I have never felt badly about being Latin here.” says Salinas
The dance troupe Los Pueblitos took to the stage with their Salsa and Bomba dance performance, after only practicing and creating their routine for only three months. Each of their costumes were handmade and coordinated, perfectly fitted to each dancer. The efforts of this performance were attributed to choreographer, Juan Cruz or as his fellow dancers know him, LI.
LI has been dancing since 12 years old. His passion as an adult is reissuing dance centered in culture throughout Philadelphia. “Los Pueblitos is something new something fresh, something that deals with culture. It is something I wanted to share with the youth.” explained Cruz.
A professional dancer Cruz recruited, Edgardo Colon, spoke to LI’s ambition to create a safe space for the dancers at Los Pueblitos, and how his goal has always been to foster community in combination with culture. “They threw this incredible performance together in two to three months. LI found a space for us to dance and made it safe; he is truly incredible.”
Los Pueblitos preformed in the Puerto Rican Parade last year and won first place, and they plan to perform again this year at the PR parade taking place in North Philly, with three of their different groups in the parade. LI spoke to the performance Los Pueblitos’ showcased on June 28th, “It’s their effort, you can teach choreography to anyone they put that work in. I mean these dancers do it from the heart – they show themselves through my art”
Ritmos United Dance Company was also among the performers at the fiesta. Ritmos just turned one year old this summer, and their company serves the Philadelphia and Willow Grove area. With the company it was Melissa Arrendal’s first time preforming.
Arrendal felt that while it was exhausting preparing for this performance, the view from the stage was well worth her efforts. “Being with this troupe the community is like a new family I have never met, but they have been around all my life. My passion lies in dancing throughout my whole life it shows up through me by my love, my family, my culture, and everything.”
The afternoon session of the Hispanic Fiesta was wrapped with remarks from Mayor Cherelle Parker addressing the city on the importance of highlighting culture and how important it is to the foundations of Philadelphia.
“Welcome to America” 10th day of celebration continued into the night carrying on the theme of independence and freedom at the Independence Blue Cross River Rink where the U.S Army Band performed “Pershing’s Own” with a firework display afterward for the crowd in attendance.
Beginning on Juneteenth and through July 4th, Wawa’s “Welcome to America” series consisted of community builders like free admission to museums to the entertainment displayed on June 28th highlighting social service resources like Concilio in Philadelphia, uplifting Latino expression, and echoed appreciation for our troops.
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