Historic Preservation Long Island Traditions focuses on traditional and vernacular architecture, sites and structures built by ordinary individuals for their own needs or those of their community. We work on behalf of those sites that are in danger of demolition, as well as working with communities to preserve their historic past. Long Island Traditions has […]
Surveys & Research Long Island Traditions uses oral interviews, photography, participant observation, historical research and artifact analysis to document cultural traditions passed down within families and communities. Rather than responding to a specific situation, Long Island Traditions’ research projects focus on a particular tradition, such as a kind of music or craft, that is part […]
Berta Gauto & Panambi Verá: Paraguayan Dance Group Berta Gauto is originally from Asunción, Paraguay. Her parents hail from Villarrica, a region known as the “cradle of poets and musicians”. Berta is part of an artistic family. Her uncle Diosnel Chase was a well-known traditional singer and songwriter. Her grandfather played polkas, guaranias and chamamé […]
Read this Newsday article about a Rockville Centre Historic House. This home is part of our Historic and Cultural Resource Survey of Rockville Centre, which can be viewed here.
The Elder Statesmen: African American Gospel Long Island has one of the most complex music traditions: African American gospel music. The roots stem from the many regional denominations of African American churches. According to African American historian Linda Day, the A.M.E. Zion church was founded in New York by free blacks and has a strong presence […]
Shrimathi Gayatri Devi: Bharata Natyam Classical Dancer Smt. Gayatri Devi, a Bharata Natyam dancer, teacher, and a choreographer of eminence, is one of the most senior and outstanding disciples of the legendary artist Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale of Kalakshetra. Gayatri Devi is acclaimed today as one of the nationally and internationally reputed exponents of the […]
Mala Desai: Odissi Indian Dance Teacher Mala Desai is a master teacher and practitioner of the Odissi form of Indian Dance. Born in New Delhi, she spent a significant portion of her life there, but her family traveled a lot because her father worked for the Indian railway. Mala, like other young Indian girls, started […]
Luis Cordero y Los Amigos Del Amargue: Dominican Bachata Group Luis Cordero is from Tenares, a rural town in the Dominican Republic. Luis learned to play the guitar from friends and family members, while he worked at the family farm. His mother recalled that when Luis was just 4 years old he would sing to […]
Peter Apaza and Peru Andino by Gabrielle Hamilton and Nancy Solomon Peter Apaza was born in the city of Puno, in the southern region of Puno, Peru. He brought his traditional music with him to the U.S. and later founded Peru Andino with his sister, Rosa Volida. Peru Andino has an extensive repertoire of 30 dances […]
Mission Long Island Traditions documents local architecture, from beach bungalows and bay houses to garden apartments and farm buildings. As fishermen and farmers disappear, we fight for the preservation of Long Island’s contemporary maritime and farming culture throughout the region. To recognize and pay tribute to Long Island’s diverse ethnic cultures, we support Irish stepdance, […]