BY LIZ MENDEZ
What happens when culture meets pop meets couture? A
HighBall style celebration of Dia de los Muertos, featuring GIANT skeletons, catrina faces, and Latin American DJ
sensation, DJ Cale, who will be hosting The Grim Reaper’s Dance Party, which will
have a blend of music including tribal, reggaeton, hip hop, mambo, reggae
salsa, and Latin dance.
Calveras de azucar
or sugar skulls are a way for families to celebrate their ancestors. These
brightly decorated sugar creations are far from morbid. Connie De Jong, who is
working to make these for HighBall said, “Decorating the sweetest skull with
flowers and candies helps families to take the sting out of their loss and
remember the joy that they brought to their lives.” De Jong also mentioned the
giant skeleton puppets that will be making their debut at HighBall’s Grim
Reaper’s Dance Party.
De Jong noted, “There are hundreds of people adding their
perspectives, creativity, and joy to the Sugar Skulls y Esqueletos experience
at HighBall, and the elements will be pervasive throughout the event.”
Connie De Jong along with Global Gallery are partnering with
groups like Latino Arts for Humanity, Amaya Productions, and within Ohio State,
the Center for Latin American Studies, the Multicultural Center, Arts and
Humanities Scholars, the Department of Fashion and Retail Studies, the
Department of Art Education, and Department of Design.
“I think people will be inspired by the range of offerings
and will find moments to be awed, to laugh, and to generally dabble in a Dia de
los Muertos experience like never before,” said De Jong.
With all these groups involved and so many elements to
experience, it’s sure to be a blast. So don’t forget your dancing zapatos and get ready to party, HighBall
style.
