The town of Teseguite, in the municipality of Teguise, is living these days with special enthusiasm its festivities in honor of its Patron Saint, San Leandro. Within the festive program, last Friday night once again became an unforgettable event for residents and visitors with the celebration of the "X Juan Cabrera Lemes Memorial", a deeply rooted event that every year pays homage to popular Canarian culture.
At 21:00 hours, the San Leandro Socio-Cultural Center opened its doors to host an evening where music, dance, and emotion were the main protagonists. The memorial began with the performance of the Cultural Association "Parranda El Abuelo", who arrived from the Illustrious Town of Tegueste, on the island of Tenerife.
This group, created in 2012 as a parranda and which since 2016 also has a dance troupe, is chaired by the young Daniel Díaz and currently formed by 45 members committed to keeping alive the musical and dance traditions of Tenerife. During their performance they offered a journey through the most representative of their island's folklore, showing the essence of s work also reflected in their album "Linaje", a title that evokes the cultural heritage transmitted from generation to generation. The audience, enthusiastic from the first moment, responded with warm and prolonged applause that rewarded each of the pieces performed.
The second part of the evening was starred by the Cultural Parranda Association "El Lagar de Teseguite", created in 2003 and formed by about twenty members under the presidency of Antonio María Perdomo. As organizers of the memorial, they offered a very special performance counting on the collaboration of the Cultural Association of Traditional Dances "Altaja", founded in 2013 and directed by Yeray Martín.
The combination of music and dance turned the stage into an authentic showcase of Lanzarotean folklore. While the Parranda El Lagar enveloped each piece with its songs and instruments, the Altaja group brought to life the most representative dances of the island of Lanzarote; Seguidillas, Isas, Malagueñas and Sorondongo. The harmony between musicians and dancers captivated the audience, who responded again with prolonged ovations.
However, the most anticipated and deeply emotional moment of the night arrived with the recognition of Don Marcial Cabrera Martín, born in Teguise and a true reference in the teaching of traditional dances just as they have been historically transmitted in the Illustrious Villa of Teguise.
Since the decade of the seventies, Don Marcial has dedicated his life to teaching generations of young people, men and women, the art of dancing traditional pieces with respect for the authenticity and style of Teguise. Today, about to turn 94 years old, he continues to be a tireless guardian of this cultural heritage, ensuring that the tradition is not lost and remains alive in the heart of the new generations.
The honoree was supported at all times by his family, former students and friends, who wanted to accompany him on such a significant night. Also present was the institutional representation of the Teguise City Council, headed by its mayor, Olivia Duque Pérez.
After the reading of the brilliant biography of the honoree by the presenter of the memorial, the president of the Parranda El Lagar de Teseguite, Antonio María Perdomo, presented Don Marcial with a sculpture in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to the teaching and defense of typical dances. It was then that the applause resonated with more force than ever, lasting for several minutes and eliciting visible emotion in the honoree.
The evening concluded wrapped in an atmosphere of gratitude, pride, and collective feeling. Because beyond the music and dance, the X Juan Cabrera Lemes Memorial once again demonstrated that Canarian popular culture is, above all, a living legacy that is transmitted from heart to heart.
Without a doubt, for Marcial Cabrera Martín this will be a night that will remain kept forever in his memory. And for Teseguite, one more page in the history of a town that knows how to honor its past while keeping alive the flame of its traditions.
