Actor Lisa Morales gave me a heads up about Decolonizearte TEATRO, which presented a series of two short plays at the White House (2000, S Summerlin Ave, Orlando, FL) here in Orlando in honor of Hispanic Heritage month. She was  in both plays presented.

Descolonizarte TEATRO is a professional theater organization committed to promoting the Latin American experience, its culture and talent, through theatrical, literary, artistic and educational programming. Descolonizarte Teatro uses theater as a tool for decolonization, providing accessibility to performances and arts-based education for the Latin American community, including the under served and underprivileged. Descolonizarte TEATRO supports and showcases underrepresented Latin American talent, offers an opportunity to recognize the Latin American experience, and celebrates Latin American culture and its contributions in and outside the United States.

I was shocked at how tight parking was near the White House. It turned out that the plays were being presented on the same evening as a high school football game across the street. Loud drums an a brass band could be heard through the white house’s acoustic walls. The white house hall was packed, so I made my way to the highest balcony to distance myself from the mask less in the audience.

Director Nadia Garzon explained that the first production was shorter, but I couldn’t resist sketching the woman in her flowing red dress. She seemed to be talking about a book she was holding. Every word was in Spanish. I only picked out two words during the evening that I understood, Gracias, and muerte. The explanation she was offering I could not understand, but the dance I certainly could.

La Maestra (The School Teacher) explores the “legal” violence that plagues our countries. This was a more serious play. A man seemed imprisoned  and his daughter was under threat. The teacher was bear foot in a white dress. By the end she stood shrouded in a red shawl. Others on stage were shrouded in black shawls. Eventually the woman in white had her red shawl removed and it was replaced with a green shawl of hope and renewal.

Afterwards there was a discussion in the audience. A woman stood in the front row and talked about how her families lands had been stolen. People attempt to fight back but as long as people buy the lumber from the region, the rich will continue to suppress the poor. Nadia translated which I greatly appreciated.

Perhaps I didn’t understand every word, but I felt the culture which is being kept alive. After Pulse, families had to hope for news about loved ones who had been in the club. Doctors and police only spoke English so they couldn’t understand what was being announced. Now the rolls were reversed. Now I couldn’t understand a word, but I felt the current of sorrow that coursed under the presentation. I feel honored that I could sketch the moment.

The next presentation is Third “Encuentro” of Latinx Artists / Tercer Encuentro de Artistas Latinoamericanxs. This show will be on December 2, 2022 at the Timucua White House. Presented by Descolonizarte TEATRO. Tickets seem to be $5.