Events | Casandra Awards 2007

Here is a list of the Nominees and their categories in English and Spanish, The winners are in RED and the yellow links are to read more information on the item in this web site.

The web site for the Asociación de Cronistas de Arte, (Acroarte) 

Our complete exchange rate tool can be found here

Video of the beginning of the Casandra Awards ceremony with hosts/ anfitriones Luisito Marti y Jatna Tavares.(4:15)

Here are a few other videos of the awards to watch on YouTube (they open in a new window so you do not lose your place):

Antony Santos - Premio Casandra 2007

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CASANDRA DAMIRON, La Soberana de la Canción (The Lord (Sovereign) of the Song)

Altagracia Casandra Damirón Santana is born day 12 of March of 1919, in the city of Barahona. Daughter of Amiable Eliseo Damirón (Chichí) and Alicia Santana (Malena).  All of the five children in the family were very musically talented along with the parents. The entire family would play assorted instruments and sing together. When Casandra was six she was already singing in the church choir, the school and the Teatro Unión. By the time she was 11 her father was called to serve in the capital in the judicial system so the family moved to  the Colonial Zone in front of the Iglesia las Mercedes in Calle calle José Reyes. From here she went on to sing and perform to all the people, here in Dominican Republic and elsewhere.

Rafael L. Trujillo (more info on Trujillo) was searching for someone to represent the country in a talent show called “Feria de la Paz” (Fair of Peace) to be held in Santo Domingo.People from all across the world would be coming bringing their most talented with them. Trujillo had no one to represent the country. He found Casandra. She formed a folkloric dance troupe with people from all different areas of Dominican Republic dancing all the dance styles of the island. She won a standing ovation and the admiration of the dictator Trujillo.

She was so loved by the Dictator that she was able to travel the world representing the Country of Dominican Republic. She sang in places like France, Spain, Sweden, the United States and Argentina,Cuba among many others. A French newspaper wrote “Casandra Damirón no es una soberana; es una emperatriz de la música. Su estilo es tempestuoso y delicado al mismo tiempo; terciopelo y dinamita. Hoy podemos decir que nos ha visitado una diva". (this is my rough translation - Casandra Damirón not only a representative of her country, she is an empress of music. She has a style that is stormy and delicate at the same time.Velvet and Dynamite. Today we can say that a diva has visited us)

She had cancer in 1979 and had an operation.

She worked to teach children the folkloric dance and song in the old tradition.

Casandra Damirón died when she was 64 years old in 1983. Her last words to her doctor as she was sitting in her rocking chair were  “cuidenme a mis hijos”. Translated "Take care of my children"

In 1984 the Foundation of Artistas and Cronistas of Santo Domingo (ACROARTE) adopted the name of Casandra Damirón to be the name of their yearly awards for artistic excellence.

more on Casandra (in Spanish) at acroarte.com and wikipidea.com

Translation help by my good friend Pablo. Thanks!