Roseburg Library to host Charrería program

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Roseburg Public Library invites the community to a Mexican cultural program with demonstrations including rope tricks and folkloric dancing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1.

Comunidad y Herencia Cultural Director Antonio Huerta will speak about the rich history and tradition of Charrería, the 500-year-old practice of horsemanship and roping that was adopted as Mexico’s official national sport in 1933. Huerta will discuss colonial Spaniards' outfits as they set foot in the Americas, how Indigenous people mastered domestication of the growing horse population in the 1500s, how the tradition was taken back to Spain in the 1600s and how the outfits became associated with mariachi bands.

Following the presentation, there will be a rope trick demonstration, a folkloric ballet performance and a Q&A session. The program will conclude at 8:30 p.m.

The event complements an eight-panel exhibition on display at the library through Feb. 1. The banners introduce Charrería, then highlight biographical information about Charros (Mexican horsemen) and Escaramuzas (Mexican horsewomen) from different parts of Oregon.

Comunidad y Herencia Cultural is a nonprofit organization based in Springfield that is committed to serving the Latinx community through education, artistic outreach and fostering community spirit. Learn more on their website at www.nochecultural.com.

The program, which will be held at the library located at 1409 NE Diamond Lake Blvd., is free and open to the public. For more information, contact library staff at 541-492-7050 or library@cityofroseburg.org.