The 2007 ALMA Awards.

The 2007 NCLR ALMA Awards, a star-studded event, was taped on June 1 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, CA. The show will air TUESDAY, JUNE 5 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives) hosted.

The two-hour special was presented by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) – the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. The annual ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Awards special recognizes and celebrates the outstanding artistic achievement of Latinos in film, television, and music. The show was named “ALMA” (Spanish for “spirit” or “soul”) to honor the determined spirit of the Latino community.

Musical performances included multi-platinum artist Beyoncé Knowles, as well as Prince, Calle 13, Dashboard Confessional, Billy Gibbons, Los Lonely Boys, and War.

Talent included (in alphabetical order) Jessica Alba, Santiago Cabrera, Sheila E., Hector Elizondo, Daisy Fuentes, Andy Garcia, Jorge Garcia, Balthazar Getty, Grupo Fantasma, Jay Hernandez, Terrence Howard, Eva la Rue, Mario Lopez, Cheech Marin, Carlos Mencia, Amaury Nolasco, Ana Ortiz, Tony Plana, Sara Ramirez, Judy Reyes, Alex Reymundo, Roselyn Sanchez, Rodrigo Santoro, Robert Verdi, Nadine Velazquez, and Eduardo Xol.

Among the highlights of the awards ceremony was a presentation of the 2007 ALMA Award for Special Achievement in Television to comedian George Lopez. The Pioneer in Music Award was presented to the band Los Lobos.

In the opening number, dancers from ABC’s popular hit show Dancing with the Stars performed (Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani and Elena Grinenko, Alec Mazo and Cheryl Burke, Christian Perry and Annette Nicole, and Genya Mazo and Maria Shibalova).

An added feature was the celebration of top Latino designers who dressed Longoria throughout the telecast in custom couture gowns, as well as designer shoes, bags, and jewelry.