OYE el Ritmo

A week ago OYE threw a huge party to celebrate its' fourth anniversary. It was a HUGE success! With more than 300 people in attendance, La Casa de Cultura (the cultural center in el Progreso) was bursting. People started pouring in at 2:45 and at 3:00 the crowd was bubbling with anticipation. 

At 3:30, Abreak Elhoe, a band lead by OYE's very own Rock star Oscar Ramos, opened the show and stunned the crowd with solid music and not to mention a bass solo by Oscar on his new shinny blue bass (gifted by JMU).

After that, The Local high schools stole the stage some with hip-hop dance numbers and others with folklore favorites. 

Instituto de Notre Dame

Chévez

San José

Not Pictured: El Progreso and El Perla

We were even joined by a Dancing Queen monster; who emerged mysteriously from the crowd. (we are still not really sure where he came from)

Between dance numbers, Estrellato, a youth band from San Pedro Sula, wowed the crowd with everything from old covers to fresh tunes. 

Look, some of our own OYE kids got in on the act! 

No names (we promised) but there was a short OYE and Estrellato Duet

Then the community got a taste of the beautiful Caribbean culture when Lita Garifuna took the stage and stunned everyone with traditional dance,beautiful outfits and captivating rhythm.

 

The women in front and the two singers went into the crowd, and we think it is safe to say that everyone danced Punta (a traditional Garifuna dance) that day.

Then came with icing on the cake. Polache.

Polache is a growing star in Honduras. His lyrics speak about Honduras as a Honduran. He was a fast favorite here with such songs as, Mira a Honduras (Look at Honduras).

He drove straight from Tegus (the capital or about 4 hours depending on road conditions) to play for OYE el Ritmo and then drove back the next morning. He sacrificed to support OYE and it really was incredible. 

The whole room was jumping, singing and dancing! Then Polache invited some of our scholarship students on stage. When they got there the lights went out and Polache started singing "Mira a Honduras"  with the students. It was enough to make you cry. The crowd held up their cell phones like lighters and we all sang about the beauty of Honduras. 

That is one of many high lights from OYE el Ritmo 2009. We have tried desperately to post the video of the whole thing. Sadly, technology goblins have eaten our film and we were only able to save a few photos. However, the memory of smiling faces and kids with autographed everything (pants, shirts, tickets, and even faces) piling out of La Casa de Cultura was something OYE will never forget. 

Here are a few more photos from the event followed by photos from La Calle, who painted signs from our show.

He really was a dancing queen!

La Calle in action:

For those of you who were there thank you for celebrating with us and supporting OYE. With ticket sales we managed to raise enough money to cover a few Scholarships and had an incredible time remembering OYE's past and looking forward to it's future. 

For those of you who were with us in spirit, thank you. It is with your support over the last four or more years that OYE has reason to celebrate and it is our hope that you can join us for our fifth anniversary concert.

See you then!