VLACC celebrates Latin American Heritage Month with Latin Expressions series, October 5 to 26

Headlined by Polaris Music Prize–winning Colombian Canadian artist Lido Pimienta, program spans film, visual arts, dance, literary, and music events

SPONSORED POST BY Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre

Lido Pimienta.

The Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre celebrates Latin American Heritage Month in October with the third annual Latin Expressions, a series of film, music, visual art, dance, and literary events, from October 5 to 26.

Latin Expressions highlights the most innovative, creative, and influential artists of the Latin American community in Canada. The main event of the series is a concert by 2017 Polaris Music Prize winner Lido Pimienta at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on October 13. The Toronto-based Colombian artist was on Barack Obama’s Best of 2020 playlist, and also performed a Tiny Desk concert the same year.

In the film genre, Brazilian director Walter Salles’s new work I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui), a premiere in partnership with VIFF, screens on October 5 at the Vancouver Playhouse; and Re:Location Season 2 shows on October 10, a short-documentary series about five Vancouver-based Latin American artists directed by Yoel Ortega and Javier Aparisi.

I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui).

A studio showing of dance work Nepantla: Magia Ancestral takes place on October 6; dance artists Salome Nieto and Julio Medina take audiences on a magical journey through the world of Mexican folkloric dance. Another performance, the unforgettable Social Tango by celebrated choreographer Augustina Videla, runs from October 24 to 26 in partnership with DanceHouse.

Sing, Don’t Cry, an exhibition visit with artist Angie Quintanilla Coates guided by Miret Rodriguez, happens on October 17 in partnership with Curated Tastes, at THIS Gallery (268 Keefer Street). Inspired by the anthem "Cielito Lindo”, this showcase explores the persistent optimism of Mexican life through bold geometric forms and vivid colours. You can register for free tickets here.

Plus, there’s Self-Portrait of Translation: George McWhirter in Conversation on October 24 in partnership with Vancouver Writers Fest, a discussion with Vancouver’s first Poet Laureate about his English translation of 2024 Griffin Poetry Prize–winning Spanish novel Self-Portrait in the Zone of Silence by Mexican novelist, activist, and journalist Homero Aridjis.

Nearly half the Latin Expressions events are free or have sliding-scale tickets, including interactive discussions and Q&As which promote engagement between performers and audiences while deepening intercultural understanding.

More information on Latin Expressions is at VLACC.

Post sponsored by Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre.