EL MUSEO'S Young International Circle Dia de los Muertos Celebration

NEW YORK-OCTOBER 30:EL MUSEO'S Young International Circle Dia de los Muertos Celebration on Friday, October 30, 2009 at El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street, New York City, NY. El Museo del Barrio, New York City’s premier Latino and Latin American Art Museum, hosted its seventh annual Young International Circle (YIC) Benefit on Friday, October 30, 2009 from nine o’clock PM until one o’clock AM. The YIC Benefit was the first event in the newly renovated and reopened Museum, and for the first time ever, guests were invited to linger through El Museo’s galleries after dark. The YIC Benefit Chairs were Cromoto Atencio, Michel Heredia, and Gabriel Rivera-Barraza. Vice Chairs were Lara Alcantara, Ana Maria Celis, Ivonne Cohen, Karla Farach, Javier Figueroa, Cristina Lagorio, and Alexandra Wilkis-Wilson. Madrinas of the Young Internacional Circle are Mayra Hernandez, Jana Pasquel de Shapiro, and Samantha Thompson. This year’s honorary committee, all of whom were attendance included: Lara Blazed, Christian Cota, Carlos Campos, Liliana Dominguez, Karla Martinez, Raul Melgoza, Luisana Mendoza, Bibhu Mohapatra, Brian Reyes, Alexa Rodulfo, and Whitney Wolfe. The 2009 YIC benefit celebrated the age old traditions of Dia de los Muertos with a flavor of Carnaval. El Museo’s courtyard, covered by a giant tent, will feature several oversized installations of alters signifying Dia de los Muertos’ celebration of life after death. Decorated with tropical fruit, antifazes (masquerade masks), beads, feathers, and other Carnval inspired décor, the Latin evening featured several live Carnaval inspired performances including Samba dancers, a conga line, and Latin drummers. Antony Todd Inc. designed the event’s décor. Over five hundred international professionals, philanthropists and art aficionados flew in from Europe, North America, and South America to support the community and education programs at the museum. Guests enjoyed a Latin night of cocktails and dancing and an extensive silent auction. Jose Luis Pardo, lead singer of Los Amigos Invisibles also known as DJ Cheo provided the event’s music. Benefit Committee included: Paola Aboumrad, Alexandra Adame, Victoria Alexander, Yrmis Barroeta, Valeria Cordero, Karina Correa Maury, Beatriz de la Mora, Wendell Figueroa, Melissa Flores, Jeronimo Gaxiola, Clara Gonzalez, Isabel Gonzalez, Tasha Green, Andrea Gomez, Simon Guindi, Alex Hank, Elizabeth Jacoby, Gabriel Catan, Estefania Lacayo, Claudia Laviada, Carlos Longoria, Elizabeth Mateo, Laura Mendoza Satrustegui, Alexandra Pappas Dania Ortiz, Samantha Platner, Carlos Ponce, Leticia Presutti, Mauricio Quesada, Demian Reídle, Silvana Ritacco, Natasha Rosell, Adam Shapiro, Sylvette Sein, Luisa Serna, Erin Serrano, Federica Simon, Grace Souky, Rachel Tresta, Vilma Vale Brennan, Ana Gabriela Viso, Sabrina Wirth, and Lucia Zamorran. PHOTO CREDIT: ©Manhattan Society.com 2009 by Gregory Partanio | tel: 718.614.7740 |e-mail: GregPartanio@aol.com********MORE PHOTOS AND ID'S COMING SHORTLY*********