The Novela Project
The Novela Project is an academic, creative and artistic endeavor that explores the rich historical and cultural legacy that has shaped life in the San Luis Valley for over two hundred years.
The Novela Project Course
The Novela Project course joins rigorous academic investigation and creative writing in a process leading to the development of an original, full-length play script according to three distinct phases: research, playwriting and theatre production. The curriculum incorporates instruction of traditional research and field research methods. Students of the Novela Project course explore the history at-large of the San Luis Valley and learn interview techniques and ethnographic concepts in preparation for engaging community residents in recorded interviews. Students are then engaged in creative writing exercises which are developed into play script form. Ultimately, this endeavor finds its full expression on the stage as an original, full-length theatre production reflecting the lives and experiences of the people of El Valle.
Student Learning Objectives
- gain an understanding of the internal and external forces that have influenced life in the San Luis Valley;
- learn traditional research methods utilizing library, museum, books, letters, diaries, memoirs, photographs, film/video, music, newspaper archives, online, etc.
- learn field research methods (group and individual interview techniques) in order to conduct field research among the various San luis Valley communities;
- learn archival preparation including transcription, reporting, cross reference, logging, and indexing to facilitate data retrieval;
- utilize the data in a creative writing process to develop a play script reflecting the history, life and experiences of the people of the San Luis Valley; and
- engage in various aspects of theatre production to produce a full-length stage production.
The Novela Project Theatre Production
The Novela Project presents its first original stage play as an outdoor "theatre under the stars" experience during the Santa Ana Festival with 3 performances on July 24-26, 2009 at the San Luis Museum & Cultural Center. The building replicates 16th century Spanish theatre architecture reminiscent of Spain's Golden Age of Drama. The NP stage production strives to be an authentic cultural representation of the people of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico and does so by incorporating stories, language, folklore, customs, traditions, proverbs, music and dance. It is the story of a fiercely proud and independent people who find their way of life constantly threatened by powerful outside interests.
The Novela Project is an opportunity for community members to participate in all aspects of the project including storytelling, acting, production design, technicians, set construction, box office, advertising and promotion. While community members are not professional actors, they embody qualities which are equally important to this production. We believe this is best achieved by community residents trained to hone their performance skills and maintaining the integrity of native language and natural speech patterns. Language (Spanish), dialect and speech patterns, mannerism, gesture, movement and appearance are a few of those qualities that are central to the performance. These qualities trump professional virtuosity for this production, while striving for the highest production values possible.
Community members volunteer their participation in the theatre production. They are the actors, stage crew, run crew (light and sound operators), designers (set, prop and costume), builders (set, costume) and front of house operations (box office and house management). The NP provides training in all aspects of theatre production in order to build capacity among participants.
Novela Project Institute
The Novela Project Institute is a unique week-long professional development course which trains teachers to 1) guide students in a quest to recover personal heritage, 2) express that knowledge through creative and academic presentation, and 3) understand the importance of that heritage in relation to local, regional, national and global history.
The Novela Project Institute (NPI) is the educational arm of the Novela Project, an oral history study that explores the historical and cultural legacy of a community. The course is an effective, relevant and rigorous research-based instructional methodology that fosters appreciation of the multicultural and multiethnic history of the local community. NPI curriculum incorporates higher level thinking skills and learning modalities to improve individualized and diversified learning. Students experience increased self-esteem and confidence through the discovery of their personal connection to living history.
Participants will experience the history and culture of the people of the San Luis Valley firsthand and learn how to apply, adapt and replicate the NPI methodology to any other population, geography or locale.
Curriculum Development
Sandra Santa Cruz, M.A., Founder and Director of the Novela Project
Ms. Santa Cruz has extensive formal dance training and holds a B.A. in Dance and M.A. in Theatre from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She introduced the Novela Project, an innovative course that brings history to life in August 2006. Presently, Sandra serves as adjunct professor at Adams State College. Her students engage in close interaction with local communities through the research project. Ms. Santa Cruz is also the Artistic Director of Canto Al Pueblo Cultural Arts, a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to the expression of Latino/Hispano/Mexicano/Chicano art and culture.
Mario Castaneda, Ed. D
Professor Castaneda is an educational practitioner who has been a teacher, counselor, coordinator, and a curriculum/staff development specialist. He has taught both pre- and post-service teachers at various universities and colleges throughout California and Colorado. His areas of expertise include the social sciences, second language acquisition, specially designed academic instruction in education, and cross-cultural/multicultural education. Castaneda's research has explored the social and educational success of immigrants, minorities, Latinos, and Central American communities in the United States, the African legacy of Latin America, and issues of inter-group relations between ethnic minority groups.
Dennis J. R. Lopez, M.A.
Dennis' family has lived in the San Luís Valley for six generations. His formal education includes a B.A. from Adams State College in Foreign Languages, an M.A. in Secondary Education and Ed.L. from the University of Denver. Dennis teaching expertise includes Chicano Studies, Spanish and French. As a high school administrator, Dennis served as Athletic Director, Associate Principal and Principal. Dennis taught three years of undergraduate and graduate courses in the Teacher Education Department at Adams State College and served as Director of the Title V program and Director of the Field Placement Office. Currently, Dennis is Project Manager and Prevention Specialist for the SLV Mental Health Center Prevention Program.
Community Building
Benefits of Novela Project to Communities:
- Fosters a greater sense of pride through increased understanding and appreciation of the community's history and cultural heritage,
- Revitalizes the community through renewed interest and increased citizen engagement,
- Establishes theatre/arts/performance opportunities in the community;
- Develops creativity and problem-solving skills through playwriting and theatre production,
- Recognizes the arts and cultural heritage as a means of economic development for rural communities.
Endorsements
Many local organizations endorse and support the Novela Project including: Colorado Council on the Arts, Community Partnerships, Costilla County Commissioners, Town of San Luís, San Luis Economic Development Council, Valley Wide Health Systems, SLV Mental Health Center, Mi Animo Prevention, Centennial Schools, San Luis Museum & Cultural Center, ASC Community Partnerships, SLV Tourism Council, Las Comadres de San Luis, KRZA Radio, La Sierra News, Sangre de Cristo Parish, La Vereda Foundation, Ruth Marie Community Center and more.
The Novela Project is Funded by Colorado Council of the Arts
