My name is Siomara Bridges-Mata. I’m a dance instructor for the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center. I love what I do at The Straz, and I’m honored to take dance into the community for kids who might not have the opportunity otherwise. I started dancing at six years old, motivated by what I saw […]
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Our job isn’t just to make sure we have great shows available for you and your family — even though that is the primary aspect of what we do here. Our reason for being goes quite a bit further, with our reach and impact extending far beyond the footlights. That’s how it’s been ever since […]
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What started as a conversation about celebration the Tampa area’s rich artistic heritage turned into a free concert series drawing unexpectedly large crowds. After a brutal warrior’s stint in Vietnam that gave him an ultimatum to become brutal himself or take a higher calling, Fred chose love. A longtime jazz musician who’d played with Aretha […]
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We’ve always had a soft spot for military, veterans and their families, which is why we’ve offered discounted tickets for our armed forces guests for years. Since 9/11, the country as a whole has seen more wounded warriors return home with visible and invisible injuries sustained in the line of duty. Since we regard our […]
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The 2019 D’Angelo Young Artist Vocal Competition honors Opera Tampa’s dedication to nurturing new artists. One a more personal note, the competition represents Opera Tampa League Board Chair Gina d’Angelo’s commitment to continuing her parents’ love of music through philanthropic support. When Straz Center donor and Opera Tampa League chairperson Gina d’Angelo was in college, […]
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Rebecca Jacobson’s family owned the cast recordings of Hair, Pippin and Man of La Mancha. As they did for many Broadway-loving families, these musicals wove themselves into the Jacobson identity. The songs bookmarked memories, linking themselves to cherished people, intertwining grandparents, parents, grandchildren through music and story. Today, the opening notes from “The Impossible Dream” […]
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