CHOLITA

CHOLITA comes to the Parr Center Theater at Central Piedmont Community College on Saturday, October 17, at 7 PM. It's an original theatrical dance production by Salas Art Agency in collaboration with PEX Dance Company, and the title is also the name of the show.

There's no dialogue in this one. The story is told entirely through dance, more than 80 handcrafted costume pieces, and a mix of traditional and contemporary Peruvian music. It follows a young Peruvian girl who leaves her homeland and finds herself in a new world, with her childhood memories coming back to life through movement. The piece draws on the traditions, music, and cultural expressions of Peru's coast, the Andes, the Amazon, and the Altiplano, so you'll see a good bit of the country's different regions on one stage.

Behind it are Mauricio Salas and Angela Castillo, who created and directed the production. They say it grew out of their own experience of raising children between two cultures. Sophia Román takes the lead, supported by a cast of 25 performers. The choreography comes from Kiara Gatica, Antonio Vilchez, and Andrea Chuiman, and the visual identity was done by Peruvian artist Elliot Tupac. The whole thing runs 100 minutes with a 20-minute intermission, and it's recommended for ages 6 and up.

It's a long show, so keep that in mind if you're bringing kids. The performance is at the Parr Center Theater at CPCC in Charlotte, starting at 7 PM on Saturday, October 17.