Nereyda Rodríguez

Nereyda Rodríguez
Born(1931-08-16)16 August 1931
Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
Died1 October 2011(2011-10-01) (aged 80)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
OccupationsFolklorist, dancer and educator
Children1
HonoursKnight of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella

Nereyda Rodríguez (16 August 1931 – 1 October 2011) was a Dominican folklorist, dancer and educator. She was co-founder and director of the Dominican Folkloric Ballet, originally called "Ballet Negro and Ballet Blanco," and co-founder of the Popular Dancing Theater.

Biography

Rodríguez was born on 16 August 1931 in the neighbourhood of Pueblo Nuevo in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.[1][2] She was of mixed heritage and "mulatto" ethnicity.[3]

Rodríguez studied at the Dominican Voice School (formerly known as La Voz del Yuna) and achieved a Certificate of Proficiency as a dancer on 17 May 1955,[4] signed by Trujillo Molina and Antonio Elpi (director of the school).[3] She had a career dancing on stage and for national television[2] and promoted Dominican rhythms and traditions in her performances.[5]

Rodríguez founded the Teatro Popular Danzante (Popular Dancing Theater) with Jaime Lucero, Magalis Rodríguez de Abreu and José Contreras.[6] Alongside Fradique Lizardo, she was also co-founder and director of the Dominican Folkloric Ballet, originally called "Ballet Negro and Ballet Blanco."[1] She formed the first acrobatic dance couple in the country with Mirope Arvelo.[1] After retiring from the stage, she taught dance through a foundation associated with the Teatro Popular Danzante.[2]

Rodríguez died from an internal hemorrhage on 1 October 2011 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, aged 80.[2][3][6][7] Her death was announced by the president of the Dominican Federation of Art and Culture, Julio Quezada.[8] She was survived by her daughter, Cenia Rodríguez.[8]

Honours

Rodríguez was also dubbed a "Dominican Cultural Treasure" by the Dominican government on the inaugural National Folklore Day in February 2006.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Knight, Franklin W.; Gates Jr., Henry Louis, eds. (2016). "Rodríguez, Nereyda (1932–2011), Dominican dancer, folklorist, cultural ambassador, and teacher". Dictionary of Caribbean and Afro–Latin American Biography. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199935802. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e Tiburcio, Gabriel Alberto Hernández (1 October 2022). "Hoy en la historia. Muere Nereyda Rodríguez". Hoy Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d "Falleció Nereyda la pareja de Mirito". El Nacional (in Spanish). 1 October 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Acreditarán a 39 folcloristas dominicanos en el marco del Día Nacional del Folclore". DiarioHispaniola (in Spanish). 9 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  5. ^ Fundación Prensa Civil Quisqueyana (13 August 2012). Nereyda Rodríguez Reportaje en Jornada Extra. Retrieved 12 February 2026 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ a b c "Nereyda Rodríguez, founder of the Teatro Popular Danzante". Ojala (in Spanish). 1 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b Tejada, Pachico (2 October 2011). "Nereyda Rodríguez falleció este sábado". Listin Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b Rivera, Severo (1 October 2011). "Falleció hoy la folclorista Nereyda Rodríguez". Diario Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Fundación Teatro Popular Danzante Nereyda Rodríguez presenta Muestra de resultados 2017". Acento (in Spanish). 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
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