By Michael Knoll, South Florida Folklife Center, HistoryMiami

The South Florida Folklife Center (SFFC), a division of HistoryMiami, is pleased to announce the launch of the Heritage Spotlight series, an annual artist-in-residence program. The series showcases local traditional artists, cultural expressions, and the area’s diversity. Over the course of 2012, SFFC will feature three artists for three months each. Each artist will participate in public events (many of which will be free of charge), school programs, and other activities. It’s going to be a very busy year for us!

We are please to welcome Ezequiel Torres as our artist-in-residence from January through March. Born in Havana, Cuba, he is a master drummer who specializes in the batá drum, a key instrument in the Afro-Cuban Orisha religion (sometimes referred to as Santería). In addition to performing at ceremonies, Ezequiel also makes batá drums and other instruments by hand. Recognized for his expertise, he received the 2008 Florida Folk Heritage Award and the 2010 National Heritage Fellowship, our nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Ezequiel has lived in Miami since 1980.

Ezequiel’s public programs include:

• Discover Orisha Arts, Saturday, January 28 at 1 PM. Enjoy an informative performance of music and dance traditions related to the Afro-Cuban Orisha religion. Free and open to the public.
• Family Fun Day: Ritmos Cubanos: Azúcar!, Saturday, February 11 from 12 – 5 PM. Experience interactive drumming and dancing demonstrations, and participate in a Cuban-themed arts and crafts activity. Free and open to the public.
• Master Class: Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming, Sunday, March 25 from 1 – 2 PM. Are you a drummer? Want to try something new? Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a master. Space is limited. Advance reservations and payment required. Contact [email protected] or call 305-375-4590 to RSVP.

For more information about the Heritage Spotlight series, please visit http://www.historymiami.org/visit/south-florida-folklife-center/heritage-spotlight/.

The series is funded in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the State of Florida’s Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Humanities Council.