Flatiron Nomad Celebrates Dia De Los Muertos

Photo By: Melani Bonilla

The Flatiron NoMad Partnership presented a Día de Muertos celebration on Nov. 2 at Flatiron North Plaza.

The free event featured several traditions including a curated mix of Mexican folklore by the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, sugar skull decorating and an interactive community altar in partnership with the School of Visual Arts.

The event started at 12PM and ended at 4PM with hourly performances from the dance company, as well as a sign up for a free dinner lottery.

Flatiron Nomad Partnership led the lottery with directions and slips given out by Melissa Benedek, the Marketing and Content Coordinator.

Benedek, in an interview with The Ticker, commented on how many attended the celebration. “Since we started, I’d say we’ve had a few hundred people pass through the North Plaza for this amazing event,” she said.

Many adults and children crowded the plaza, interested in the decorative papel picado strung around as well as the several booths offering free merchandise and promotional giveaways.

The Calpulli Mexican Dance Company brought together six of their dancers to perform traditional dances displayed around Dia de Los Muertos.

One dance included a dancer dressed up as La Catrina, a symbol of Mexican traditions and roots. According to the Day of the Dead holiday website,“La Catrina “became a strong symbol for the numerous Day of the Dead activities. Women paint their faces in colorful make-up and dress with elegant outfits evoking the famous symbolic skeleton.”

Another dance was called “Danza de los Viejitos,” where two dancers wore masks to represent an elderly woman and man. The traditional dance was performed by four men that represent fire, water, earth and air.