there is a dance festival that brings dancers to share their regional dances at La Guelaguetza This festival has become an international sensation with residents and tourists traveling to attend and enjoy the spectacle of colorful costumes and music from each of the regions The festival connects indigenous traditions from the Mixtec and Zapotec communities with the Catholic faith that was introduced by the Spanish and preserves indigenous deities We are fortunate that here in our region we have many residents who practice this Mexican tradition and have formed Grupo Folclórico Poughkeepsie a local Mexican dance troupe with a mission to “preserve Mexican culture; teach and pass on Mexican culture to children of Mexican parents and others interested in learning; and to create a bridge of encounter with members of the Hudson Valley community through the medium of authentic Oaxacan dance music and flavors.” La Guelaguetza receives support from many in the community to ensure the cultural traditions are shared This will be the seventh year that Grupo Folclórico presents La Guelaguetza at Waryas Park in Poughkeepsie The word “guelaguetza” originates from the Zapotec language meaning to “participate cooperatively,” or give a gift that holds no obligation other than reciprocity As each regional dance group finishes its dance representing something memorable from each group’s region to the audience don’t miss the exciting procession of the dancers to the stage This provides festival attendees with a glimpse of the authentic dance costumes all dancers wear for the day and the other characters that will dance and perform onstage a young girl is chosen to represent Centeotl Lucia Elizabeth Coache will represent her family with ties to Zaachila Spectators to this year’s Guelaguetza will see dances costumes and music from the eight regions of the state: Central Valley Dances onstage include the “Jarabe Mixteco,” from the region of the Mixteca and “Torrito Serano,” a dance that includes a dancer acting as a bull inspired by bullfights La Guelaguetza finale is the Danza de la Pluma a ritual enactment of the battles between the indigenous people and the Spanish conquerors from Cuilapan de Guerrero The headdresses worn for this dance are more than 4 feet tall and made of fantastically colored feathers Along with the dance festival performing onstage throughout the day visitors can enjoy traditional Mexican food including tastes from the Oaxacan region from local food vendors artists will offer Mexico handicrafts and local community nonprofit organizations will be on hand with information Linda Marston-Reid is the president of Arts Mid-Hudson The column appears every other week in Enjoy Contact her at 845-454-3222 or lmr@artsmidhudson.org What: Grupo Folclórico presents La Guelaguetza Information: Event is held rain or shine; free parking available at the Poughkeepsie train station Visit the group’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pokguelaguetza You’ve seen Truss bags in the hands of every in-the-know editor and stylish vacationer They’re those woven plastic totes that look like something you just happened to pick up on a trip that you actually still want to wear once you arrive back home—and Founders Gillian Tozer and Elise Durbecq were inspired to launch the label when they found similar bags during a holiday in Oaxaca the charmingly artistic and food-centric Mexican city that needs to be on the top of your bucket list The designers partnered with local craftspeople to create bags that are ideal for toting both your laptop and towel But the best part of their job is how much time they get to spend in Oaxaca and its environs—like they did a few weeks ago (Elise actually lives there all year 'round) we swear we’re going to stow away in Gillian's tote bag and go with her Click through the photos for the best place to get a margarita and their secret getaway a short 30-minute flight from Oaxaca A moderate magnitude 4.0 earthquake hit 66 km (41 mi) away from Chilpancingo, Estado de Guerrero,  Mexico 2025 at 10.08 pm local time (America/Mexico City GMT -6) The quake had a shallow depth of 63 km (39 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter Zihuatanejo de Azueta has a very high level of seismic activity Based on data from the past 25 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900 there are about 235 quakes on average per year in or near Zihuatanejo de Azueta Zihuatanejo de Azueta has had at least 12 quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900 which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently probably on average approximately every 10 to 15 years Zihuatanejo de Azueta has about 232 quakes of magnitude 3 or higher per year (Mag 4+: 53 quakes per year) The quake had a very shallow depth of 4 km (2.5 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so) Zihuatanejo de Azueta was shaken by 3 quakes of magnitude 4.0 or above 2025 at 2.13 pm local time (America/Mexico City GMT -6) The depth of the quake is unknown.The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so) Petatlan has a very high level of seismic activity there are about 416 quakes on average per year in or near Petatlan Petatlan has had at least 7 quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900 probably on average approximately every 15 to 20 years The quake had a very shallow depth of 28 km (18 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so) Petatlan was shaken by 2 quakes of magnitude 4.0 or above 2025 at around 4.00 am local time (GMT -7) Details of the quake (if it is one) are so far preliminary until confirmed by a seismic agency but the event was reported by the Raspberry Shake Citizen Seismic network and is likely to be confirmed by other agencies soon.