In search of world peace
Puerto Rico hosts Call for Peace performance
by Diane Everson, The Edgerton Reporter
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(Top to bottom) A view of San Juan; (l-r) JJ Madera, Chancellor
Ram Lamba, Diane Everson, Jessica Gaspar, and Dawn
Shegonee; Art Shegonee and Nick Hockings at Catalogue
Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center; Morel Shegonee at
CTICC.
This past April, Madison, Wisconsin's Call for Peace
Drum and Dance Company were the guests of the
University of Puerto Rico (U-PR) and U-PR at Cayey in
honor of their Peace Week by invitation of Chancellor Ram
Lamba, Prof. Jessica Gaspar, Pres. Antonio Garcia Padilla
(who presides over 11 campuses), and the Puerto Rico
Convention Bureau. For almost two decades, Dawn Lindoff
Shegonee has been dedicated to the mission and
message of Call for Peace, leading the performance
throughout the U.S. and around the world, whcih has
included Germany, Russia, Egypt, and Italy. Puerto Rico
has been just one stop of many in her journey of peace.
Angel Rodriguez, an artist in Puerto Rico, created a
poster (right) that captured the essence that Call for Peace
is interconnected. The Spanish words around the globe
mean, "From all nations, they Come Dancing."
Jessica Gaspar, a U-PR professor of theater, dance and
the humanities, a graduate of UW-Madison, and a Call for
Peace Puerto Rican dancer, had this to say about the
performance in her country: "[Call for Peace] has allowed
me to know a diversity of cultures and people; secondly, it
has been a vital tool to activate a consciousness about the
power of transformation through dance and music; and
thirdly, because of the necessity of peace in our world.
When I started dancing for Call for Peace, my country was
fighting for the peace in Vieques, PR. The U.S. Marines
were bombarding the island of Vieques. Call for Peace
allowed me to dedicate the performance to the people who
were fighting for peace in my country. This experience of
dancing allowed me a space to inform people of what was
happening in Vieques and to tell them the importance of
peace. For me now to be a part of bringing this magnificent
performance and message of peace to my country makes
me very happy."
(Above) Natalia
Armacanqui Hildner
performs the Indian
dance, kathak; (left)
Call for Peace Drum &
Dance Company with
their hosts, Chancellor
Ram Lamba, Jessica
Gaspar, and Pres.
Antonio G. Padilla