Realidades; El Baquine De Angelitos Negros; "Mourning for a Little Black Angel"

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This record is featured in “Empoderamiento latino mediante la radiodifusión pública.” This record is featured in “Latino Empowerment through Public Broadcasting.”
Series
Realidades
Episode
El Baquine De Angelitos Negros
Episode
"Mourning for a Little Black Angel"
Producing Organization
WNET (Television station : New York, N.Y.)
Contributing Organization
Library of Congress (Washington, District of Columbia)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip-354d53d0fb7
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Description
Episode Description
*From Dance in America: “This program is the first all-Latino dance production to be done exclusively for national television.” An original salsa-ballet, music, poetry, folklore combine in a tragic love story. This program is a subtle commentary on the racism inherent in depicting only white angels. Popular musician Willie Colon wrote an original musical score, based on Baquine, a singing and dancing ceremony that used to be the customary form of mourning the passing of a black child in Puerto Rico. 27m. Co-produced Lou De Lemos and Livia Perez (affiliated with Latino TV Broadcasting Service), Filmed in NYC. “...Directed with understanding by Mike Cuesta, lovingly choreographed by Juan Anduze (director of ballet at Skidmore College) and danced with dignity and passion by Brunilda Ruiz and Hector Mercado....It details in the international langauge of movement, the death of a small boy, his mother’s grief, the wake (full of Latin dancing) that is held to insure his going directly to heaven as a little black angel, and his mother’s finding comfort and hope in the affection of a man she loves. The opening sequences with Ruiz dancing first alone and then with Mercado in a church, are charged with emotion and are more balletic than most of the rest of the program, which includes a rousing street dance the colorfully underlines the pride and the joy inherent in Latin American movements, as does the wake sequence in a quieter way...The theme, though tragic, is never depressing and often joyous...which demand a great deal of acting as well as dancing. The exceptionally interesting music is available on Fania records and tapes.”
Description
This episode of Realidades is a performance of El Baquine De Angelitos Negros, a performance of ballet set to salsa music. The performance fuses the art of Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Cuba in the form of a baquine.
Broadcast Date
1977-04-09
Created Date
1977-04-05
Asset type
Episode
Genres
Documentary
Topics
Dance
Media type
Moving Image
Duration
00:29:10.316
Credits
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Choreographer: Anduze, Juan
Composer: Colon, Willie
Director: Cuesta, Mike
Host: Cintron, Humberto
Performer: Ruiz, Brunilda
Performer: Mercado, Hector
Producer: De Lemos, Louis
Producer: Perez, Livia
Producing Organization: WNET (Television station : New York, N.Y.)
AAPB Contributor Holdings
Library of Congress
Identifier: cpb-aacip-bdb8e33b638 (Filename)
Format: Film
Thirteen WNET
Identifier: cpb-aacip-a4659f8cb5c (Filename)
Format: Film
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Citations
Chicago: “Realidades; El Baquine De Angelitos Negros; "Mourning for a Little Black Angel",” 1977-04-09, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed April 24, 2024, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-354d53d0fb7.
MLA: “Realidades; El Baquine De Angelitos Negros; "Mourning for a Little Black Angel".” 1977-04-09. Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. April 24, 2024. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-354d53d0fb7>.
APA: Realidades; El Baquine De Angelitos Negros; "Mourning for a Little Black Angel". Boston, MA: Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-354d53d0fb7