6th annual Dia de Los Muertos event brings music and celebration to the Morris

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Morris Performance Art Center held their 6th annual Día de Los Muertos event.

"Six years ago, I attended a celebration in Texas. I didn't know much about Dia de Los Muertos or the Day of the Dead, and when I saw the celebration, I thought this needs to be in South Bend, and so I'm working with the symphony," said Marvin Curtis, the coordinator of Arts Equity and Public Art for the City of South Bend.

Nov. 8 was the last day that five different ofrendas or altars were on display at the South Bend Museum of Art, Raclin Murphy Encore Center, St. Joseph County Public Library Main Branch, La Casa de Amistad and Howard Park.

"For me, it's seeing people come together at a community event that celebrates the heritage of a people, and so the idea is that the Voice Performing Arts Center and this celebration is for everybody, and so we spread out throughout the city with the ofrendas," said Curtis.

Each ofrenda symbolizes an honor or remembrance of deceased individuals, created by local artist and students from South Bend.

The event also featured a free concert featuring University of Notre Dame Mariachi Band, Ballet Folklorico Azul y Oro, and Sones de Mexico Ensemble who is an award-winning group.  

"The songs of this celebration speak to that community, and so I believe that it makes everybody feel included and welcome and so I think that's why I want people to feel like they're part of this community, that it's not a separate thing.," said Curtis.

Curtis also said as the years go by, he gets the chance to learn more about the celebration, " I think the whole idea is for people to feel that this is a great celebration of a culture that many of us are unaware of, as I was, so I've learned a great deal as I go through this every year."