Comparsas become virtual as a greeting to the traditional San Sebastián Street Festivities

Already the theatrical collective Water, sun and serenity In their workshop in Santurce, they are finalizing the three new large heads that will be part of what will be their comparsas in honor of the traditional. San Sebastián street parties, which this time because of the pandemic They won’t be able to be massively celebrated as usual.

However, from different San Juan spaces, the theater company – which has filled this party with art, music and color for over two decades – will carry out their comparisons in what they have called “Virtual greeting to the San Sebastián Street Parties 2021” to broadcast them live tomorrow, and on January 30 and 31 through their Facebook and YouTube so that thousands of people can enjoy it.

Three great executives of Puerto Rican culture will be honored with the creation of the great heads of the musician Héctor “Atabal” Rodríguez and the anthropologist and historian Ramon Lopez, who passed away last year, as well as the artist, teacher, writer and political expression, Elizam Escobar, who passed away a week ago.

“With the new great heads, we would like to acknowledge Ramón López for his contributions as a philosopher, historian and in-depth connoisseur of Plena and popular Puerto Rican traditions. In the same way, we are honored to pay tribute to Héctor Rodríguez, master of the drum and the Plena, a wonderful friend and son of the Trastalleres neighborhood, where our workshop is located today, ”he said. Pedro Adorno, Director and Co-founder of Agua, Sol y Sereno.

On the other hand, the also professor and sculptor emphasized the long relationship with Elizam Escobar that began with the campaign for the release of political prisoners. “We were able to collaborate on several projects and we had the opportunity to present our piece” Umbral del Lienzo “to him at the 2016 Campechada. Both Ramón, Héctor and Elizam always saw the Caribbean identity or their own. the root of ours is as a way to jump into the creative freedom of the contemporary artist, not as a boundary, but as a place from which to expand, ”he said.

Stilt walkers, large heads and various pleneros are headed by Héctor “Tito” Matos and the group La Maquina Insular, from different communities. On Saturday, January 23 at 3:30 PM, there will be a tribute to Elizam Escobar, whose company will be showing several pieces by the late artist.

Also, on Saturday January 30 at 5 p.m., the group will depart from another place in San Juan as a tribute to Héctor Atabal Rodríguez and the musician’s son will participate, Caymmi Rodríguez and the Atabal group.

Finally, Sunday, January 31 at 3 p.m. is the day when the group Agua, Sol y Sereno will pay tribute to Ramón López, which will be attended by some members of his family, as well as the participation of the singer and his great friend, Emanuel Santana. Some tapestries made by the late anthropologist and artist will occupy the area from which it takes place.

According to Adorno, that element of surprise and that the population does not know where their comparisons come from, as if they go back to the beginning of the group 25 years ago, when they appeared in different communities, neighborhoods and activities, and today they did not enjoy the spread by social networks.

“It reminds me a lot at the beginning, I am very excited. In the beginning you do things and you have to keep doing them to move that more face-to-face energy from eye to eye contact and see people up close. Now that there has been so much distance that it has to be done outside at a distance necessary to avoid contamination, we will do it close enough because that neighborhood or community where we will feel, it’s outside, it’s happening there. That does not replace anything, but at the same time enables thousands of people who this year will wish to celebrate, participate and enjoy the San Sebastián Street Festivals from their home “, he concluded.