Viva Tejana Dance Company | Courtesy photo
The Día de los Muertos Celebration at Hemisfair in San Antonio, Texas, will be a poignant and festive occasion this year, as the late iconic Tejano TV show host Johnny Canales is honored during the event’s grand procession. Viva Tejana Dance Company, led by director Sophia Salgado, will pay tribute to Canales, celebrating his immense contributions to Tejano and regional Mexican music.
“The organizers of the procession reached out to me,” Salgado shared with Tejano Nation. “They sent me an email and asked if we would be interested in representing and honoring Johnny Canales. The event organizers saw us in a parade and thought we would be a perfect fit to showcase our culture because we’re Tejanas, and Johnny Canales was definitely the iconic TV show for Tejano music and regional Mexican music. With the blessing of Johnny’s family, they asked if we could represent and honor him, and they said yes. When they reached out to us, I was speechless. He’s such a huge part of my life when it comes to music and entertainment.”
Viva Tejana Dance Company will perform as part of the procession on both days, Saturday night on October 26th at 7 p.m. and a Sunday procession on October 27th at 3 p.m.
“The procession is supposed to honor him, but it’s also about his life and what he did. It’s somber but also celebratory,” said Salgado.
The performance will include snippets of Canales’ signature “You got it, take it away” catch phrase and music that includes the intro to his “Johnny Canales” show, which he wrote, mixed it with a Michael Salgado rendition of “Te Vas Angel Mio,” to create a somber yet celebratory procession.
The Procession will feature community groups, dancers, puppets, mobile altars, performance groups, people-powered floats, schools and other groups paying tribute to those we have lost.
Salgado added, “It’s just such an honor for me to have been asked because I like to think that if he was still alive, if I would have asked to be on the show, he would have said yes, because he was the kind of person that showcased famous people and the not so famous people. He just loved everything that had to do with our cultura.”
Dia de los Muertos at Hemisfair 2024
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Muertos Fest, established in 2013, is held annually in downtown San Antonio at Hemisfair. It boasts the largest open altar exhibition and contest in the region and is recognized as the largest and most well-known Day of the Dead Festival in Texas and the U.S. The festival honors and remembers loved ones who have passed away while fostering cultural awareness, understanding, and appreciation. Named as one of the 10 Great Day of the Dead Celebrations in the world by USA Today, and as one of the “7 Best Fall Festivals in the United States” by National Geographic magazine, Muertos Fest was also named the second-best Día de los Muertos Celebration in the country by Tripping.com. Recently featured in the Season 12 premiere episode of The Food Channel’s Carnival Eats, Muertos Fest continues to captivate audiences with its rich cultural offerings.
Viva Tejana Dance Company is dedicated to preserving and promoting Tejano culture through dance. Under the direction of Sophia Salgado, the company performs at various cultural events, showcasing the vibrant and dynamic traditions of Tejano music and dance. Their participation in the Día de los Muertos Celebration at Hemisfair is a testament to their commitment to honoring and celebrating the legacy of influential figures like Johnny Canales.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit MuertosFest.com and follow @MuertosFest on social media for updates.
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