El Camino Real International Heritage Center
Past Events at the Center -- Celebracion de Otono
Updated 22 November 2009 B
The Center's 4th Birthday Celebration
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The Center's 4th birthday was celebrated with Army re-enactors from Fort Selden, Gary Williams beginning the construction of an authentic careta (wagon) and the excellent performance of the Alamogordo Folklorico Dancers.
09ot001026.jpg 09ot001025.jpg 09ot001024.jpg
Volunteers from Fort Selden demonstrate the hardships of "life on the trail" . . . waiting for the coffee to brew!
Making a "trail camp," cooking, caring for the rifles and other frontier techniques were demonstrated to our visitors.
Black powder rifle demonstrations
and firing drills are still performed
per territorial military protocols.
Living History Demonstrations of "life along the Camino Real."
Click on photos to enlarge
09ot001023.jpg 09ot001022.jpg 09ot001021.jpg
Building a carreta
for the Center
Gary Williams, from the Friends of Coronado State Monument, began building a carreta (small cart-wagon) for the Center.
 
A log is shaped into a beam by Gary Williams.  All woodwork and shaping is done with period woodworking tools.
 
After the rough beam is formed, it is planed smooth by hand planes and scrapers -- all very time consuming tasks.
 
The Alamogordo Folklorico Dancers
09ot001020.jpg 09ot001019.jpg 09ot001018.jpg 09ot001017.jpg 09ot001016.jpg 09ot001015.jpg 09ot001014.jpg 09ot001013.jpg 09ot001012.jpg 09ot001011.jpg 09ot001010.jpg 09ot001009.jpg 09ot001008.jpg 09ot001007.jpg 09ot001006.jpg 09ot001005.jpg
Getting Ready for the performance
 
Parents help the student dancers with the final fit of the handmade costumes
 
Dancers in position for the first dance to begin
 
In spite of an ill-fitting
hat, this young dancer didn't miss a step!
 
Then . . . the music and dance began
 
This is the second visit to the Center by the Alamogordo Folklorico Dancers. These are student dancers, as young as 6 years old, taught by parents and teachers traditional folklorico dancing. These students are excellent performers. Their precision dancing and colorful home made costumes were quite a treat.
 
Thank you for entertaining us!
Carretas carried countless families along El Camino Real into New Mexico
 
Some of the dancers
 
The dancers performed numerous dances to various types of traditional folklorico music
-- including three costume changes!
Back to HOME page
 
Celebracion de Otono -- Autumn Celebration
is the birthday of the opening of
El Camino Real International Heritage Center (ECRIHC). 
This event was sponsored by the ECRIHC Foundation.
Back to PAST EVENTS page
 
09ot001001.jpg