The Herberger College is taking a lead role in capturing and preserving the unique tradition of performance in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Performance in the Borderlands, an innovative, cross-cultural arts project, was established at the Herberger College in spring 2004. Its aim is to establish ASU as a national center for the development, presentation, documentation, and research of the performing arts in the border region.

"We are establishing relationships with other universities, arts institutions and archives on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, and working with them to share resources, collaborate on research and undertake artistic ventures,” explained Dr. Ramón H. Rivera-Servera, who heads the project.

Rivera-Servera, an expert in Latina/o and Latin American performance, joined the college last spring as an assistant professor of performance studies and a Southwest Borderlands Scholar.

As part of its work, the project sponsors lectures, workshops and performances that focus on performance practices in the border region. Among the first events in the series were a lecture by renowned Chicano theatre historian Dr. Jorge Huerta (University of California-San Diego) on contemporary Chicano comedy and a presentation by award-winning poet and performance scholar Dr. Deborah Paredez (University of Texas, Austin) on the career of Selena, the popular Tejano singer. In 2004-2005, the Performance in the Borderlands Series will feature four lectures, two performances, three workshops and three local showcases.

The Performance in the Borderlands Archive, another initiative of the project, seeks to develop ASU’s archival holdings on the performing arts of the borderland region. The Performance in the Borderlands project is part of the larger Southwest Borderlands Initiative initiated by the ASU provost’s office.