Hosting Utica’s local 179th Dominican Republic Independence Day Celebration !
One of the joys of my Afro-Latina identify is being able to share and learn more of my Dominican Heritage. On February 26, The Mohawk Valley Latino Association and Utica’s Dominican Cultural Association organized more than 150 Locals at Utica’s 8th Annual Dominican Independence Day Celebration. We shared in amazing food, historical orations and fun facts of our Dominican history followed by rounds of merengue and bachata with a final live performance and audience judged competition.
Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic and was inscribed as an intangiable cultural heritage of humanity in 2016. Dancing merenge en mi faldón, (my traditional skirt) and my long box braids is an embodiment of my identity as a first-generation Afro-Latina. Through my bilingual hosting, and dancing I am able to honor the cultural heritage of my ancestors as I educate and help communities recognize the culturally African, Spanish, Indigenous, Caribbean, French, and Haitian influences and roots of our beautiful culture.