The Grammy Award winning Mariachi Divas will headline the Día de los Muertos event on campus.
School of Social Ecology and Northgate González Market present free event
UCI’s School of Social Ecology hosts Día de los Muertos, presented by Northgate González Market. This free event, complete with live music, ceremony, dance, a virtual and physical altar, customary foods, face-painting and crafts, will immerse attendees in the rich Mexican tradition of honoring and remembering deceased loved ones.
“The School of Social Ecology has the most Latino students (46%) on campus and presenting our Día de los Muertos event is a way of honoring our Latino culture,” says Jon Gould, dean of the School. “It’s a beautiful tradition that helps us embrace our students, educate the community and honor our ancestors.”
When: Nov. 2, 2023, 4-8:30 p.m.
Where: Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive (bldg. 1, grid D5 on this campus map)
Schedule of Events:
4 p.m. — Danza Azteca Toyaacan
5 p.m. — Sunkist Elementary School Baile Folklorico, Orange Grove Elementary School Mariachi and Benito Juarez Elementary School Mariachi
5:30 p.m. — Yelka Gonzalez-Vargas
6 p.m. — Ballet Folklorico de UCI
7 p.m. — Mariachi Divas
Featured Artists:
- With a career spanning 24 years, the critically acclaimed all-female Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea specializes in providing professional mariachi music for live concerts, commercials, television and film recordings. A two-time Grammy Award winner, with eight Grammy nominations and three Latin Grammy nominations, the ensemble continues to expand the scope of mariachi music, delighting audiences from around the world.
- Danza Azteca Toyaacan, based in La Puente, performs an indigenous spiritual practice from Mexico that mixes prayer with dancing and singing. The group keeps alive the tradition by providing free lessons that can be passed down from generation to generation.
Yelka Gonzalez-Vargas, of San Diego, has been performing since she was 12. Today, the 21-year-old Cal State Fullerton student writes, records and produces music, including her recently released single “A.M.” In 2022, she auditioned for NBC's “The Voice,” where she sang a rendition of "No Me Queda Mas" on national television.
- Ballet Folklorico de UCI is a student-run organization that welcomes students, alumni and community members to participate and learn about a variety of different Mexican histories and traditions through dance and music. The dance troupe's goal is to create a safe space for individuals of all racial and geographic backgrounds to feel comfortable with freely expressing who they are, whether it be through dance & music or other creative means.
Altars: People who wish to remember those who have died are encouraged to contribute to a digital altar created to accompany the event.
A student-created physical altar will be the centerpiece of the event.
Presenting Sponsor: Northgate González Market
Event Sponsor: UCI Latinx Resource Center
Community Partners: UCI-OC Alliance, UCI MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán) and UCI Bilingual Teacher Student Association
Planning Committee:
- Mimi Ko Cruz, School of Social Ecology director of communications
- Tresa Hightower, School of Social Ecology development analyst
- Adelí Durón, UCI Latinx Resource Center director
- Victoria Rocha, UCI Latinx Resource Center program coordinator
- Angeles Honorato, Northgate González Market community and wellness coordinator
- Teresa Anaya, Northgate González Market director of sales, events and promotions
- Maria Cervantes, executive director of UCI-OC Alliance
- Manuel Gómez, UCI emeritus vice chancellor of student affairs
- John Gutierrez, Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce senior Vice President
- Genevieve Barrios Southgate, Bowers Museum director of community programs
- Philip Hernandez, UCI Criminology, Law & Society major
- Michelle Sanchez, UCI Criminology, Law & Society and Social Ecology major
- Brianna Duran, UCI Criminology, Law & Society; Education; and Gender & Sexuality Studies major
Parking: $4 per hour parking is available at the UCI Student Center Parking Structure, 112 Pereira Drive
Media Contact: Mimi Ko Cruz, 949-824-1278