The acclaimed Mariachi Divas will headline at this year's Día de los Muertos at UC Irvine. Photos by Karen Tapia
Second annual event pays tribute to deceased loved ones
UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology hosts the second annual UC Irvine Día de los Muertos Monday, Nov. 4. The 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.”
In June, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education bestowed a prestigious Grand Gold award to the school for its inaugural celebration, which was held on Nov. 2, 2023; earlier this month it also won the organization’s Best of District VII Award. More than 1,000 attended the well-received event, which featured dance, musical performances, a student-created altar and a lively concert by the two-time Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Divas.
When: Nov. 4, 2024, 4-8 p.m.
Where: Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive
Parking: $4 per hour parking is available at the UCI Student Center Parking Structure, 112 Pereira Drive. Or, guests can pre-purchase an all-day parking pass for $10.
Schedule of Events:
- 4 p.m. — Mariachi and ballet folklorico from Anaheim elementary schools
- 4:30 p.m. — Tlacopan Aztec dance group
- 5 p.m. — History of Día de los Muertos by Manuel Gomez, UCI emeritus vice chancellor for student affairs
- 5:30 p.m. — Ballet Folklorico de UCI and Mariachi Orgullo de UCI
- 6 p.m. — Claudia de la Cruz flamenco
- 6:30 p.m. — Dancing with DJ Bryan Suarez
- 7 p.m. — Mariachi Divas
Altars: A student-created altar will be the centerpiece of the event. Those who wish to remember loved ones who have died are encouraged to contribute to the digital altar created to accompany the event.
Featured Artists:
With a career spanning 25 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, the ensemble continues to expand the scope of mariachi music, delighting audiences around the world.
Tlacopan is an Aztec dance troupe based in Orange County. It is composed primarily of family members across three generations. They focus on traditional dances and the art of “flor y canto” (flower and song), which highlights the importance of oral history and the interconnectedness of music, dance and storytelling in Aztec culture. Through their teachings and performances, they aim to inspire the next generation to embrace and celebrate their cultural identity.
Claudia de la Cruz is celebrating her 25th anniversary performing flamenco. Her flamenco institute is based in Santa Ana. She believes that dance is not only a physical activity, but also an art form that allows individuals to express themselves in unique and creative ways. She teaches students of all ages and levels, helping them unleash their passion for dance and develop their skills.
Ballet Folklorico de UCI and Mariachi Orgullo de UCI are student-run organizations that welcome 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 and mariachi’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.
Sponsors: Northgate González Market and the UC Irvine Office of Inclusive Excellence, University Advancement & Alumni Relations, Latinx Resource Center, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, School of Education, School of Medicine, School of Social Sciences, Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences, Graduate Division, Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching & Learning, Samueli School of Engineering, School of Physical Science, School of Humanities, School of Law, Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Partners: UCI-OC Alliance, MEChA (Movimiento Estudialtil Chicanx de Aztlan), Bilingual Teacher Student Assn. and Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art.
Planning Committee: Co-chairs Mimi Ko Cruz, School of Social Ecology director of communications; adelí durón, UCI Latinx Resource Center director; and Tresa Hightower, School of Social Ecology development analyst. Members: Stacy Skwarlo, School of Social Ecology executive director of development; Dyonne M. Bergeron, UCI Office of Inclusive Excellence vice chancellor; Samuel Henry Bersola, School of Education’s executive director of strategic initiatives; Victoria Rocha, UCI Latinx Resource Center program coordinator; Michelle Brouwer, Irvine Barclay Theatre director of programming; Maria Cervantes, executive director of UCI-OC Alliance; Manuel Gómez, UCI emeritus vice chancellor for student affairs; John Gutierrez, Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce senior vice president; Genevieve Barrios Southgate, Bowers Museum director of community programs; Matthew L. Huffman, UCI professor of sociology; Allison Mabbott, UCI University Advancement director of special events and protocol; Elsa Bugarini Yocca, UCI Alumni Association & Relations manager; Mandi Gonzales, Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art assistant director of marketing and communications; and Bianca Isabella DiVerde, sociology and Chicano/Latino studies major and MEChA Co-Chair.
Media Contact: Mimi Ko Cruz, 949-824-1278, mkcruz@uci.edu