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By Vanessa Ogle
Brooklyn Daily
Every season means a new beginning.
More than 150 locals celebrated the start of fall at the Brooklyn Dance Center’s annual Harvest Celebration on Oct. 26 in Marine Park. The afternoon was a time to celebrate autumn and the changes the season brings, said an organizer of the event.
“The harvest is a time when the season is chancing and everything is coming to a close,” said Gail Kroog, the director of the center. “It’s kind of like a cycle.”
The day was filled with traditional and contemporary performances. Dancers spun and shimmied to melodies and singers performed original pieces, tailoring their tunes to fit the autumnal air. But even though the artistic media differed, Kroog said the festive fall acts were all connected by their outdoorsy themes.
“We did very nature-oriented pieces,” said Kroog.
Attendees also paid their respect to the Earth. Roman “Redhawk” Perez, a member of the Taino tribe, bestowed a blessing on the Earth — a ritual that included everyone in attendance, said Kroog.
“He does a blessing to the four directions,” she said. “He’ll blow on a conch shell and do the North, South, East, West and we’ll face each direction.”
Kroog said Perez told Native American stories that were passed down from different tribes — and his stories celebrated mother nature and all of her creatures.
“He talks about honoring the Earth,” said Kroog. “And he tells the story of the animals and the Earth mother.”
Kroog said the day was a time for locals to enjoy the Earth and, most importantly, remember that the death of something always means a new beginning.
“Everything is dying so it can be born again,” she said.