Two famous artists from the native peoples of the United States, Rhiannon Murphy and Patrick Willie, will have two presentations in Havana in the coming days during the celebration of Native American Heritage Month.
Sponsored by the United States Embassy and the Cuban Ministry of Culture, both concerts will be free. They are scheduled for November 26 and 28 at 7:00 p.m. at the Miramar Theater.
Únete a la celebración del Mes de la Herencia Indígena de los Estados Unidos en Cuba. Del 25 al 29 de noviembre llegarán a La Habana dos célebres artistas representantes de los pueblos originarios de los Estados Unidos: Patrick Willie y Rhiannon Murphy. Cumplirán un intenso… pic.twitter.com/GNlrEqxJNy
— Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Cuba (@USEmbCuba) November 21, 2023
Coming from the streets of Spanish Harlem, New York, Rhiannon Murphy is a Cherokee with Cuban roots whose multiple origins have shaped her as a talented figure.
As La Jiribilla pointed out, in addition to being a classically trained dancer, she is a traditional Native American, showing her deep connection to her roots. Thirty years of her career have made her a choreographer, singer, percussionist, yoga instructor and martial artist.
According to the media, Murphy has worked at prestigious institutions such as the Ballet Hispánico Dance School, the Dance Theatre of Harlem School and the Alvin Ailey School.
For his part, Patrick Willie, who has danced Powwow and Hoop all his life, is a Native American from the Orem Navajo tribe. He is a world champion hoop dancer and has participated in the Heard World Hoop competition, in which he has consistently finished in the top 10 over the past few years.
Additionally, Willie performs at schools and events and has worked for over a decade with the Native American Education Program.
In 1990, President George H.W. Bush passed a resolution designating the month of November as Native American Heritage Month.
Since then, the legacy of Native Americans and Alaska Natives, the first Americans, has been honored and their important contributions to history and culture celebrated.
In 2010, the existence of 561 tribes at the federal level in the United States was recognized. The most relevant are the Cherokee and Navajo tribes, according to the 2000 Census.
