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|  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE International Icons and New Voices Highlighted at
Annual Beacon of Latino Diversity Crosses Generations, July 23-August 3, 2008
International icons. New Voices. Wry twists on tradition. Bold new statements. The 12th Chase Latino Cultural Festival (July 23-August 3) at the indoor Queens Theatre in the Park showcases the veteran performers who started it all side by side with performers striking out in new directions. It brings together the “Lawless Goat” of old-school Dominican bachata and the “Good Rooster” of Nuyorican experimental rock. It presents well-loved New York institutions, international icons, and eye-opening newcomers, including world premieres by contemporary dance companies from abroad, thanks to its annual tradition of a commissioned dance piece. Queens Theatre continues as a beacon of diverse Latino performing arts with this annual festival. “By partnering with world class events such as the Chase Latino Cultural Festival, our Latin Media and Entertainment Commission is helping millions experience first-hand the spirit and rich diversity of New York City’s Latin arts and entertainment sector,” said Mayor Bloomberg.” Performances bridge the gap between the younger generation who only hear salsa, cumbia, and bachata on the airwaves, and their parents who love its roots. It brings together recent immigrants who never got a chance to attend a theater back home, with seasoned Festival buffs jumping at the chance to dance the night away, read their latest rhymes, or expand their horizons. It spreads the word about the great diversity and creativity thriving in Queens and around Latin America nationwide. For information and tickets, contact the Queens Theatre in the Park box office at 718-760-0064 or go to www.queenstheatre.org. Here is the diversity of offerings the Festival has this year: Chase Latino Cultural Festival opens with the Debut Performance of Caracumbe is an Afro-Peruvian group composed of thirteen dancers and musicians, many former members of the Peru Negro ballet. Director Marcos Napa shares the artistic legacy of his ancestors skillfully and passionately through music and movement that has endured the test of time.
El Perro – Film In this warm-hearted and poignant road movie, a man and a dog embark on a delightful adventure across the stunningly beautiful Argentine Patagonia. "Lovely! flawlessly directed by Carlos Sorín" — A.O. Scott, The New York Times "It's hard not to be won over by the deadpan humor and optimism of El Perro" — Erin Clements, Time Out New York
Corina Bartra This sophisticated, innovative vocalist from Peru, is the first singer to blend jazz with Afro-Peruvian music. "Corina Bartra seems to have captured virtually every avant-garde style imaginable, and put them to the test. Her music has a commanding, cohesive sound, noteworthy for its inventiveness.” New York Daily News
Tola and Maruja and the Elvirita Elvirulo conference Carlos Mario Gallego, Tola, and Luis Alberto Rojas, Maruja, two extremely popular performers from Colombia bring to Queens Theatre a fascinating and hilarious new show centered around a traditional “joke.” In the sketch, Tola and Maruja play two elderly sisters, gossiping about their lives, and waiting for a bus that never arrives. These brilliant comedians also examine the cultural significance of this historical joke, which was banned by the Catholic Church for many years.
Tango and Beyond: The Story of Argentinean Music (Family performance) This duo brings to life the music and culture of Argentina from its earliest roots to the present day.
For Voice And Guitar ALL SEATS $10 The Inca Rose Duo - Annelise Skovmand and Pablo González Jazey take audiences on a musical journey combining traditional folk music, classical selections and popular songs from Argentina. ”Impeccable reunion of voice and guitar… From beginning to end, there is a warmth and musicality that never disappears for an instant.” Pablo Kohan, La Nación, Buenos Aires
Jimmy Sabater Musician, vocalist, songwriter extraordinaire, and the founder of the “salsa” genre, has performed all over the world, and recorded a vast, impressive catalogue of albums featuring major artists such as Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. With his versatile musical skills and his romantic, velvety voice, Sabater is a consummate entertainer.
Noche Flamenca Experience for yourself this acclaimed flamenco ensemble as they present their authentic presentation of this cathartic art form. “There has been no company I have been so glad to discover as Noche Flamenca and, above all, its lead dancer, Soledad Barrio. I can think of no current ballet dancer in the world as marvelous as she.” Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times La Mujer del Mar was commissioned in part with funds from the National Dance Project’s Production Grant.
Open Mic – Hosted by Rich Villar Come jam at Queens Theatre’s open mic session of poetry and spoken word, hosted by poet/curator Rich Villar. Let your word be heard, speak your mind & bring your art. If you are interested in participating in this event please contact Gabriela Alcalá at 718.760.0686, ext 226 or galcala@queenstheatre.org. Each act is restricted to 10 minutes. Bilingual work (Spanish/English) encouraged.
World premiere commissioned by Queens Theatre Camerino 4 One of Mexico’s newest and most innovative companies presents an exciting program of contemporary dance inspired in part by “theater of the absurd.” An eclectic combination of influences - including playwrights Harold Pinter and Eugene Ionesco, the language of cinema, and Mexico City itself.
Aquiles Báez Aquiles Báez is a multitalented Venezuelan musician - a performer, arranger, composer and master guitarist. His innovative, genre-defying pieces combine jazz, classical and folk music. “Aquiles Báez quartet puts a jazz spin on traditional music. They are a sit-down feast!” The Boston Globe
Zemog el Gallo Bueno Zemog el Gallo Bueno plays 21st Century Latin music, reflecting all of the contradictions and tensions of what it means to be Latin in America in 2008. Zemog’s music is hot, bold, brash and fun, with a folksy, energetic and jazzy sound, and passionate, fiery vocals. “An original, satisfying spin on Latin rock.” Downbeat Magazine
NYC debut concert Dominican bachata stars of the 1960s to the 1980s - singers Ramon Cordero, Augusto Santos, “El Chivo Sin Ley” (The Lawless Goat), and guitar giant Edilio Paredes, all enduring legends - charted the course of bachata’s rise to international popularity with their irresistible dance rhythms. Also featured is rising bachatero star, singer-guitarist Joan Soriano a.k.a. “El Duque” (The Duke)
Dragones: Destino De Fuego / Dragons: Destiny Of Fire - Film John, a young dragon, was adopted by a family of condors on a Lake Titicaca island. Though he was raised like other condor kids, John knew deep down inside that he was different.
1st USA performance since winning Latin Grammy Award
for Album of the Year 2007 These seven musicians are the greatest maestros of “gaita” music, a multi-generational tradition revealing another side of the Afro-Colombian musical landscape, and the traditional roots of modern cumbia.
Pregones Theater
“Migrants” This bilingual play with music celebrates the Puerto Rican pioneers who established communities in the United States and struggled for the preservation of their culture. The play is a collective creation of Pregones Theater, based on written and oral history, interviews and the works of writers such as Guillermo Baralt, René Marqués and Klemente Soto Beles.
Rubén Rada Candombe is an Afro–Uruguayan rhythmic style music, and Rubén Rada is its master. Rada’s magical songs are fresh, brash and dynamic. They reveal the influence of his favorite artists, from Ray Charles to The Beatles to Louis Armstrong. A brilliant vocalist and composer, and an outstanding showman, Rada has charisma and swing that cannot be equaled. The Chase Latino Cultural Festival is sponsored by Chase, Delta Air Lines (the official airline of Queens Theatre in the Park), and Con Edison. The Media Sponsors of the Latino Cultural Festival are Time Warner Cable of New York City and New Jersey, El Diario La Prensa, HOY, Telemundo47 and Radio Wado 1280 AM. Additional funding for the Chase Latino Cultural Festival 2008 has been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Additional support has also been provided by the Frank J. Antun Foundation, Bloomberg, Harkness Foundation for Dance, Independence Community Foundation, Jerome Robbins Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, RBC Dain Rauscher Foundation, and The Travelers Foundation. We are pleased to host an intern from the Multicultural Arts Management Internship program of the Arts & Business Council of New York. The Latin Media & Entertainment Commission is an official partner of the Latino Festival, which was founded in 1997 by the Latin American Cultural Center of Queens and Queens Theatre in the Park. |  |
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