By Mary Mares-Awe–ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2016 during a rainy evening, members of the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association, visiting Fulbright students, and other guests had the opportunity to attend a Tango inspired event at the Instituto Cervantes and listen to the warm sound of Tango music, and view a film showcasing the life of a centennial double immigrant.
Instituto Cervantes of Chicago Executive Director Antonio Martínez welcomed the audience.
The bilingual documentary entitled “Tita Turns 100” (Los 100 Años de Tita,) is produced and directed by Elio Leturia, who is a multimedia journalist and a member of the Chicago Chapter Board.
The biographical film that premiered at the Chicago Feminist Film Festival in March this year, takes the audience on a journey of the life of Tita Lage, a lovely lady who was born in Spain in 1913, moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, at age 17 and finally relocated to the United States when she was 73 in 1986, bringing with her the love of tango music and dance along with her Spanish roots.
Tita became a naturalized US citizen the day she turned 102 years old.
“Por una Cabeza,” “Uno,” “Se Dice de Mí,” were some of the tangos local singer Alba Guerra shared with the audience along with guitarist Juan Pablo Jones.
Following the film screening, local singer and actress Alba Guerra, one of Tita’s daughters, sang beautiful, traditional Tango songs to the accompaniment of guitar musician Juan Ignacio Jones.
After the concert, guests were treated to a reception featuring Argentinian wine, and Peruvian empanadas and alfajores.
The Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association partnered with the Consulate of Peru and the Consulate of Argentina, in this cultural event organized by the Instituto Cervantes.
Deputy Consul of Perú Annie Saucedo, President of the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association Mary Mares-Awe. Jane Florine, Elio Leturia, Deputy Consul of Argentina Marcelo Boffi, singer Alba Guerra and musician Juan Ignacio Jones surrounded by Fulbright scholars.
Elio Leturia is the Communications Director of the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association and the recipient of the 2013 Fulbright Dee Sarelas Service Award. A native Peruvian, Leturia is an Associate Professor in Journalism at Columbia College Chicago.
Peruvian Deputy Consul Annie Saucedo, documentarian Elio Leturia and performer Alba Guerra.
Photos by Mary Mares-Awe and Todd Burbank
FULBRIGHT CHICAGO 