Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Parada
Hi Ana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ana Parada, was born and raised in the multicultural of Bogotá, called the “South American Athens”. From an early age, she was fascinated with different cultures and had an immense love for her countries diverse folklore.
After moving to Dallas Texas in 2004, she realized that Dallas was lacking of a source for Latinos to not only know about events, but also about the different Cultures that reside in the Metroplex. That is when she started Uptown Latino, entertainment company that has been part of some of the most important Latino events in the city of Dallas, since 2011.
Driven by a deep appreciation for Latin arts, traditions, and history, Ana embarked on a journey to establish multiple Latino events in the city. From one of those events, the idea of creating a Foundation started to grow in her heart. After founding the biggest Colombian event in North Texas, the Dallas Colombian Festival, she starting looking into the possibility of showcase Latin Cultural in a whole different way.
In 2019, Representa Foundation was born with the mission to “promote, disseminate, and inculcate the rich Latin American culture to the next generation.” Through its leadership, Representa Foundation has become a beacon of cultural celebration and education, enriching the lives of countless individuals in the DFW.
Ana has overcome numerous challenges and obstacles along the way, demonstrating resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to Representa Foundation. She have forged meaningful partnerships, mobilized resources, and inspired communities to embrace and celebrate their Latin heritage.
Ana Parada’s impact extends beyond the local community in Texas. Representa Foundation is the FIRST Colombian foundation in DFW to provide completely free folk dance classes with over 250 members, they have presented their cultural programs at the Latino Cultural Center, Latinidad Festival, Plano international Festival, Dallas Holiday Parade, Carnaval de Barranquilla Miami in Coral Gables and even the Hispanic Heritage Parade New York City along with the Queen of el Carnaval de Barranquilla 2023, the largest hispanic parade in the US. Ana has have been doing cultural work since 2014 and became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2019.
Representa Foundation is changing the cultural ecosystem of the city by bringing folklore for different parts of Latin America like never seen before. Opening opportunity to different artist and groups to be seen and recognized. Under the leadership of Ana Parada and her team, Representa Foundation continues making history every step of the way. Inspiring other to work hard for their dreams in the arts and culture
This year the Dallas Colombian Festival is celebrated its 7th year, and the Colombian Folkloric Dance team of Representa Foundation is on this 5 year.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been many challenges with both Representa and Uptown Latino. One of them was to survive the pandemic as an entertainment/event company.
Then I would say that for Uptown Latino, the biggest challenge is the fact that I started as a young woman in the entertainment business, when there was not that many of us. Everything was harder to accomplish, many people didn’t want me to succeed, and some men would try to take advantage of their positions over me. Thankfully, being a woman was also my strength in the sense of resilience and hard work. I like to show up with my work, rather than with words, and that has given me amazing opportunities.
With Representa Foundation, has been to trust the wrong people with things so valuable that cannot be measured. However, It’s essential to learn from such experiences, reassess trust criteria, and surround yourself with individuals who share your vision and values. Building a reliable team is crucial for long-term success and growth
As you know, we’re big fans of Representa Foundation. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are changing the lives of many people in the city by giving them the chance to cultural educate not only themselves, but their families too.
Our sucess can be measured by the increased participation in folk dance classes, greater attendance at cultural festivals, testimonials from participants about their connection to their heritage, and the foundation’s outreach and engagement metrics. Additionally, observing the involvement of younger generations in perpetuating and innovating Colombian heritage and Latin American culture over time would be a long-term measure of success.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Looking ahead, the future aspirations for Representa Foundation include expanding its reach and influence beyond the Dallas-Fort Worth area to foster cultural pride and education on a broader scale. This could involve establishing satellite branches in other cities with significant Latin American communities, partnering with schools and community centers to offer cultural programs, leveraging digital platforms to reach a wider audience, and collaborating with other cultural organizations and institutions to amplify their impact. Ultimately, the goal is to continue promoting Colombian heritage and Latin American culture while empowering individuals to embrace their cultural roots wherever they may be.
One of our biggest dreams is to create a “casa de la cultura” (house of culture). This space would be for all the Latin groups that don’t have a place to practice or teach classes.
Pricing:
- Classes are always free
- Events have an entrance fee that varies
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/representafoundatioonn
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/representafoundation?igsh=enNmcTRob3FwcTQ3
- Facebook: https://Www.facebook.com/representafoundation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@representafoundation
Image Credits
Cesar Alberto Angulo
George Villa
