Check out this awesome video summary of the Latin Roots and Rhythms Festival May 7-9, 2010. This video was produced by World Primitive Productions.
Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas Inc.'s first annual Latin Roots & Rhythms Festival kicked off Philadelphia's summer arts season with a bang on May 7, 8, and 9 in 2010. The three-day festival celebrated Latin American, Spanish and African dance, music, and culture with 14 hours of entertainment and authentic cultural performances.
The Latin Roots and Rhythms Festival is the result of a fusion of our popular and long-running Fiesta (1992 to 2002) and Feria (2003 to 2007) festival series. It focuses on Latin American cultures as we know them today, as well as their roots, primarily in Indigenous, African and Spanish cultures.
FEATURED PERFORMANCES
Friday, Saturday and Sunday featured main stage performers: Latin Fiesta, Fiesta Flamenco, Kùlú Mèlé African Dance and Drum Ensemble, Raíces de Borinquen/Familia Rojas, Pasión y Arte, Flamenco Olé and Casa de Venezuela with special guest Ensamble A Contratiempo.
Saturday featured a family-friendly Latin American street fair featuring crafts and food vendors, and dance and music performances and workshops by artists hailing from countries including Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru and Argentina.
Original artwork by Liliana Wilson | http://www.lilianawilson.com/
SPONSORS
The 2010 Latin Roots & Rhythms Festival was made possible by a grant from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage through Dance Advance; other major support comes from the William Penn Foundation and Hispanics in Philanthropy.
FUTURE OF THE FESTIVAL
The Latin Roots and Rhythms Festival will continue in 2011 with another full weekend of dynamic performances that celebrate the cultural roots of Latin America!
Latin Roots and Rhythms Festival 2010 Schedule of Events
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| Source: latinfiestainc.com |
Esperanza Academy Charter School
Friday, May 7, 2010
8:00PM - 10:00PM
Critically acclaimed Delaware Valley ensemble Latin Fiesta presents "Cuba Canta y Baila," preceded by a firey show by Fiesta Flamenco, led by internationally renowned flamenco dancer and choreographer Tomas Dura.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Upper Darby Performing Arts Center (UDPAC)
12:00 Noon - 5:00PM
The UDPAC's outdoor courtyard is transformed into a family-friendly Latin American street fair featuring crafts and food vendors, and dance performances and workshops. We travel throughout Latin America with live dance performances and workshops by Larimar (Dominican), Pasos Caribeños (Puerto Rican); Yaretzi (Mexican), Fuego Nuevo (Aztec & Mayan), Así es Panama (Panamanian), Tango-Time Productions (Argentinian), Palmas Peruanas (Peruvian) and Impacto Vallenato (Colombian).
Source: kulumele.org
5:00PM - 7:00PM
The first of Saturday's two indoor performances begins inside UDPAC's 1650-seat theater. The Kùlú Mèlé African Dance and Drum Ensemble joins Raíces de Borinquen/Familia Rojas to explore and commemorate the African roots of Latin American culture through invigorating drumming, singing and dance.
Source: pasionyarte.org Source: Niko Alexandrou/ flamencoole.org 7:00PM - 8:00PM
Raíces artists entertain guests as they mingle in the foyer between shows. Food vendors are also on site with Latin American treats to appease appetites between shows.
8:00PM - 10:00PM
Flamenco dance is taken to new and exhilarating heights by the all-female flamenco troupe Pasión y Arte and nuevo flamenco favorites Flamenco Olé!, whose performance features a magnetic appearance by guest artist from Spain, Carmela Greco.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Esperanza Academy Charter School
3:00PM - 5:00PM
We celebrated Mother's Day on Sunday when the third and final day of the Latin Roots & Rhythms Festival culminated with a dazzling performance filled with vibrant music and colorful dances of Casa de Venezuela, a musical ensemble and dance troupe influenced by Venezuela's indigenous, African, Caribbean, European, and Middle Eastern cultures. They were joined by special guests from Ensemblea Contratiempo, a Venezuelan group that showcases various musical Venezuelan rhythmus such as traditional folk music, Bossa Nova and Jazz in a delightfully exquisite fusion of sounds.
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| Source: casadevenezuela.net | Source: ensambleacontratiempo.com |