Go enjoy Noche de las Estrellas
by Gabrielle Fimbres on Apr. 17, 2007, under Family, Local
Ballet Folklorico de la Sierra from Sierra Middle School performs at <em>Noche de las Estrellas</em> at Sunnyside High School last April.
Young mariachis and folklorico dancers will showcase their talents this weekend at the 16th annual Noche de las Estrellas.
The two-day celebration at Sunnyside High School, 1725 E. Bilby Road, culminates with the Mariachi Concert Extravaganza from 6-10:30 p.m. Saturday. Noche de las Estrellas – or Night of the Stars – annually kicks off the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, held next week.
About 30 student mariachi and folklorico dance groups from Tucson, Nogales and Mexico will perform at the concert.
“It really is a very special event because it involves all the different schools in Tucson,” said Johnny Contreras, director of Mariachi Aztlan de Pueblo at Pueblo High Magnet School.
“We’ve been there since the inception of the thing 16 years ago,” he said. “It’s a great event because everyone has their 15 minutes to sing on stage.”
He said as many as 800 youngsters from first- through 12th-grade perform. “The kids look forward to it all year,” he said.
Kicking off this year’s festivities Friday is the Reina y Rey de las Estrellas pageant, with the crowning of the king and queen.
Saturday’s activities include “La Cultura – Cura!” Art Show, the Diablo Azul Car Show Competition and the Plaza Garibaldi Fair, followed by the concert. Food and refreshments will be available for sale.
Among the youngest mariachis performing Saturday will be members of Mariachi Aguilita from Davis Bilingual Magnet School, 500 W. St. Mary’s Road.
Children as young as 6 will perform at the festival, said Alfredo Valenzuela, who has directed the mariachi program at Davis for 16 years.
“I am fortunate to work with such talented kids,” Valenzuela said. “It really inspires me to go to work every day.”
He said the children look forward to showing off their talents.
“They just love it,” he said. “They have their trajes (suits) and sombreros (hats) and they love to perform.”
For Valenzuela, mariachi is more than just about performing. He believes the children learn valuable skills.
“There is a lot of reading in music, and it is the best way to learn to read,” he said. “And they love it.”
Backstage, Marisol Unger, 16, primps before La Reina y Rey de las Estrellas pageant last year at Sunnyside's Noche de Las Estrellas.
Members of Sunnyside High School's Mariachi Los Diablitos perform at the 2006 Noche de las Estrellas.
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IF YOU GO
What: The 16th annual Noche de las Estrellas
When: 6-9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, with Mariachi Concert Extravaganza from 6-10:30 p.m.
Where: Sunnyside High School, 1725 E. Bilby Road
Price: $5 in advance, $8 at the door
Info: 545-5338
