En route to the final event
The group resumed rehearsals in summer 2025 to prepare the final dance work to tbe presented at El Bastión, september 18-20, 2025. Hom[e]age (Homenaje) was an intensive creative process in which eight participants between the ages of 62 and 87, along with veteran dancers Jesús “Pito” Miranda and Ana Sánchez Colberg, developed an original dance-theater piece that interweaves personal experiences with movement, music, and narrative. The project also included a unique musical composition process led by Gabriel Rivera Vázquez, incorporating rhythms of bolero, bomba, salsa, merengue, and guaguancó, used as artistic vehicles to heal, share, and celebrate this generation's vital contribution to contemporary Puerto Rico. The composition paid tribute to Mayagüez native Estela Arán Ditler and San Germeño native Emilio Toro, whose dance compositions were reconstructed from family memories and reimagined with digital tools.
The performers are Mildred Marín, Taty Carrero, Mayra Toro, Carmen N. Ortíz, and Manuel Ramírez from San Germán; Carmen Velasco from Arecibo; and Jesús Miranda along with Ana Sánchez Colberg from San Juan. Raúl Rodríguez Robles from Luquillo also contributes to the musical portion.
The direction and choreography are by Ana Sánchez Colberg, the original composition by Gabriel Rivera Vázquez, the digital art by Milton Cordero, the graphic design by Joel Cardona, and the costumes and set design by Ana Sánchez Colberg.
Hom[e]age has been possible with primary sponsorship from Insignia Living/Medholdings, the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), the Doris Duke Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation.
The September presentation is a co-production with ACirc and the El Bastión Cultural Center.
Sharing with such wonderful and talented people is definitely an enriching experience that elevates my ability to be a good human being.
The story of my hands is the story of the people of my homeland who regain their self-esteem by being able to smile again. It gives me great satisfaction to see those faces reflecting gratitude when they look in the mirror. That moment is priceless.
Manuel Ramírez
Participating in the creative process of this piece rebalances my energy and gives me great satisfaction. I truly feel fulfilled when we are together.
“The story of my hips” shows our determination to act or stop in different situations. They also reflect our joy as children of the Caribbean, full of rhythm, color, passion, and movement. They also reflect that inner space where we produce and keep our sons and daughters, who will later experience the joy, passion, and commitment of living freely in our land.
Taty Carrero
The story of my face is the story of women survivors of gender-based violence, who look to the future with the hope of a world where we can all live in peace. Meeting my fellow artists from Proyecto HOMENAJE again several months after we performed in San Germán was truly exciting. The experience of polishing the piece as a collaborative effort, skillfully directed by Ana and with Gabo's masterful participation, made me feel very comfortable. I have high expectations for the presentation in San Juan. Mildred Marín
This final stage of Hom[e]age has been made possible with the generous suport from Insignial Senior Living.