Spring Break
Latin Fest dances with diversity
Natalie Abreu
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Focus
Every year around this time, special events herald a new season filled with color, light and life.
The sun seems just a little bit brighter, the air a little bit warmer and the music at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts a great deal more energetic and fun.
This Saturday at 8 p.m., the energy and excitement of Latin Fest will be coming to lovers of great music and culture at Jorgensen.
One of the goals of Latin Fest organizers is to "promote awareness and knowledge of different Latino cultures," according to Bringing Awareness Into Latino Ethnicities (B.A.I.L.E.) President Oscar Perez.
This year, the Puerto Rican/Latin-American Cultural Center-sponsored event has a few big names of the Latin music world to spice up the night.
The opening act will be Ray González and his orchestra, who will warm up the crowd for the night's headliner, Oscar d'León.
Both are sure to get hearts pumping and feet moving to a salsa rhythm.
"PRLACC selected these artists because of their incredible energy and talent in the styles of salsa that will lift up the audience and fill up the dance floor," said Perez, an 8th-semester Spanish major.
D'León has had a 30-year career in Latino music and has performed all around the world, in places including Europe, Latin America, Canada, Tokyo and the Canary Islands.
Although mainly a singer, d'León is also a bassist, bandleader and composer of salsa.
All his work has helped him earn the nickname "El León de Salsa."
Ray González and his Orchestra are a Connecticut-based group composed of González and nine professional musicians who specialize in playing an array of Afro-Antilles rhythms such as salsa, meringue, bolero and Latin jazz.
"B.A.I.L.E. has worked hard over the past two months to prepare routines and choreographies in the cultural styles of merengue, bachata, hip-hop, and salsa, as well as two senior solos to recognize the two seniors that will be graduating this semester," Perez said.
Also mixing it up throughout the night will be DJ Wil G.
"Latin Fest has been extremely successful over the years because of the performers that come, but more importantly, the cultural aspect of the event and the unity that we offer in a friendly, family-oriented environment makes people want to come back," Perez said.
With music, dancing and a sultry candlelit cabaret setting, Latin Fest will certainly prove to be a success for members of the UConn community who want to have fun, as well as expand their cultural awareness.
Tickets for the Fest are available at Jorgensen.
Prices range from $25 to $45 for UConn students and $30-$50 for the general public.
The sun seems just a little bit brighter, the air a little bit warmer and the music at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts a great deal more energetic and fun.
This Saturday at 8 p.m., the energy and excitement of Latin Fest will be coming to lovers of great music and culture at Jorgensen.
One of the goals of Latin Fest organizers is to "promote awareness and knowledge of different Latino cultures," according to Bringing Awareness Into Latino Ethnicities (B.A.I.L.E.) President Oscar Perez.
This year, the Puerto Rican/Latin-American Cultural Center-sponsored event has a few big names of the Latin music world to spice up the night.
The opening act will be Ray González and his orchestra, who will warm up the crowd for the night's headliner, Oscar d'León.
Both are sure to get hearts pumping and feet moving to a salsa rhythm.
"PRLACC selected these artists because of their incredible energy and talent in the styles of salsa that will lift up the audience and fill up the dance floor," said Perez, an 8th-semester Spanish major.
D'León has had a 30-year career in Latino music and has performed all around the world, in places including Europe, Latin America, Canada, Tokyo and the Canary Islands.
Although mainly a singer, d'León is also a bassist, bandleader and composer of salsa.
All his work has helped him earn the nickname "El León de Salsa."
Ray González and his Orchestra are a Connecticut-based group composed of González and nine professional musicians who specialize in playing an array of Afro-Antilles rhythms such as salsa, meringue, bolero and Latin jazz.
"B.A.I.L.E. has worked hard over the past two months to prepare routines and choreographies in the cultural styles of merengue, bachata, hip-hop, and salsa, as well as two senior solos to recognize the two seniors that will be graduating this semester," Perez said.
Also mixing it up throughout the night will be DJ Wil G.
"Latin Fest has been extremely successful over the years because of the performers that come, but more importantly, the cultural aspect of the event and the unity that we offer in a friendly, family-oriented environment makes people want to come back," Perez said.
With music, dancing and a sultry candlelit cabaret setting, Latin Fest will certainly prove to be a success for members of the UConn community who want to have fun, as well as expand their cultural awareness.
Tickets for the Fest are available at Jorgensen.
Prices range from $25 to $45 for UConn students and $30-$50 for the general public.
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