Top Ways To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month In Denver

The Daily Meal Staff|Sept. 29, 2014 7:00 am EST

Salsa (credit: Salsa Central Denver)

Hispanic Heritage Month runs September 15 through October 15 and offers you a chance to get to know a little more about this rich and diverse culture. Denver has a lot of ways to celebrate Hispanic heritage. From performing and visual arts to history and education, you can find many different organizations offering unusual ways to learn more about Hispanic heritage. Take some time, grab the family and visit any of these important and fascinating ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Denver.

Chicano Humanities and Arts Council
772 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 571-0440
www.chacweb.org

Stop by the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council to take in the many Chicano visual artists who are creating amazing works here in Colorado. The Council was formed to provide a place to promote the art of Chicano and Latino culture, and it has many different ways for you can see these beautiful works of art for yourself. The best place to start is in the gallery, which offers two shows per month by local visual artists. Combined with those shows, the Council often pairs specific nights with music, acting, dancing and more. Check out the calendar online for the full list of events, or just drop by to see the beautiful art that is on display.

Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center
721 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 296-0219
www.suteatro.org

Since 1971, Su Teatro has been the only performing arts company in Colorado dedicated to telling the stories and experiences of Chicanos. The company has performed more than 15 different original productions and has toured the country from Los Angeles to New York. In 2010, Su Teatro purchased the historic Denver Civic Theater building on Santa Fe Drive, offering this wonderful company a larger, more permanent location for its many productions. Check out the online calendar for a full list of events at Su Teatro, as it offers a wide range of theatrical experiences all year long. You'll love your visit to Su Teatro, and you'll be amazed at the incredible talent from this wonderful company.

Museo de las Americas
861 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 571-4401
www.museo.org

The Museo de las Americas is an important history and art museum in Denver, dedicated to exploring the diversity of Latino art and culture. It is home to the second largest collection of Mesoamerican objects in Colorado, with more than 4,000 items that showcase the lineage of this rich culture. The historic pieces date back to the Pre-Columbian period and include both colonial and contemporary works. Stop by on the third Friday of every month for Spanish Happy Hour, where you can enjoy drinks and entertainment along with an opportunity to interact with other Spanish speakers of all levels.

"Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program"
Regis University, Dayton Memorial Library
3333 Regis Blvd
Denver, CO 80221
(303) 458-4031
www.historycolorado.org

Date: Now through Oct. 28, 2014

The History Colorado Center is taking some time this month to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month though a few different exhibits, all designed to highlight the rich Hispanic heritage in Colorado and surrounding areas. This is in collaboration with Regis University, which will showcase a free exhibit at the Dayton Memorial Library through October 28. This exhibit is titled "Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program, 1941 – 1964." It's a bilingual traveling exhibit that tells the story of the largest guest worker program in the history of the United States. This fascinating exhibit is also in partnership with the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. If you visit on October 23, you can get a free guided tour with Dr. Nicki Gonzales, the assistant professor of history at Regis University.

Salsa Central Denver
Turnverein Dance and Cultural Center
1570 Clarkson St
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 831-9717
www.salsacentraldenver.com

Kick up your heels and learn a little about salsa dancing from some of the very best salsa teachers in Colorado. Salsa Central Denver offers a weekly dance show every Wednesday for salsa and Latin dance styles. You'll get to see the best moves while you take one of the classes for beginners or for intermediate skill levels. Following the class, there is an open community dance that runs for the rest of the night. These classes are a wonderful place to start, especially for anyone with little or no salsa dancing experience. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by learning some of the best dance moves and enjoying this wonderful and stunning style of dance.

Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.