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Our hats off to Jenny Polanco. The celebration to open the photo exhibit “Cuerpos en Carnaval” last Saturday the 5th of April was a spectacular combination of art, culture and good times.
First and foremost the photographic exhibit is outstanding, without a doubt the best photo exhibit we’ve seen in Altos de Chavón since Jenny Polanco herself hosted “Buscando Esencia” by Jenny Polanco & Emiliano Larizza back in August 2012.
The photography by Sandra Garip, Mary Rosa Jiménez, Amanda Tatiana Forteza and Angelita Casals, captures priceless moments of Dominican carnival celebrations so well, it is as if the spirit, the very essence of the Carnaval Dominicano is bursting forth from the image. And I am not exaggerating. If you didn’t get the chance to join us for the opening cocktail on Saturday evening, the exhibit will be up until April 30th.
However infinitely enhancing the ambiance of the evening were the ‘atables’, a tradition Dominican music group, who later in the evening got everyone dancing along to their energetic rhythms. “This is very special, it is an honor to have them here,” Jenny Polanco told Casa de Campo Living. “This type of music is dying out, people are not learning it anymore,” she added before she continued dancing.
Although it is difficult to describe ‘atables’, as this type of music is unique to the Dominican Republic, it is the Dominican music that most closely reflects a traditional African rhythm. It is a type of ceremonial music brought to the Dominican Republic by the slaves from Africa. On this occasion it was an excuse for the community to get together and dance!
The following collection of photos was taken at the opening of the “Cuerpos en Carnaval” photo exhibit by Sandra Garip, Mary Rosa Jiménez, Amanda Tatiana Forteza and Angelita Casals at the Jenny Polanco Project in Altos de Chavón, Casa de Campo:
