AmericArtes Festival 2004: Espíritu De Puerto Rico

AmericArtes! is a multi-year Latin American festival weaving together the movement and the metaphor of the vibrant cultures of Latin America in a host of music, dance, theater, film, visual, and literary arts programs. Performances and events on the Kennedy Center’s main stages, Millennium Stage, and in the Terrace Gallery showcase the eclectic mix of regional cultures in Latin America, reflecting the indigenous African, Spanish, and Portuguese influences that flavor the unique arts of the Americas.

In September 2004, AmericArtes! will highlight the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in Espíritu de Puerto Rico, featuring the best in Puerto Rican classical music with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra; popular singers such as Ednita Nazario, Olga Tañón and Gilberto Santa Rosa; dance with performances by Andanza, theater and literature. Literary highlights include En Voz Alta: A Performance by Nuyorican Poets and “Puerto Rico in the Female Imagination,” a discussion by scheherazades, a group of women novelists and poets. In addition, the Center will display installations by one of the most versatile artists in Puerto Rico, Antonio Martorell, and acclaimed visual artist Jaime Suárez.

The AmericArtes! Festival is presented with the generous support of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, through funding from the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Rums of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA). Additional support provided by Juan and Marianna Sabater, The Honorable and Mrs. Thomas F. McLarty, III, and Delta. International Programming at the Kennedy Center is supported by the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

2004 AmericArtes! Festival: Espíritu de Puerto Rico

Event Schedule

Tuesday, September 7 at 8 p.m.

Gilberto Santa Rosa
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
Gilberto Santa Rosa, known as “El Caballero de la Salsa” (the gentleman of salsa), is a master of soneo, an improvisational vocal technique. He has performed with Orquesta La Grande, the Puerto Rico All-Stars, Tommy Olìvencìa, Willie Rosario, and has been a solo artist since 1986. Santa Rosa was the first Puerto Rican singer of tropical music to perform at Carnegie Hall.

Wednesday, September 8 at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
Ednita Nazario

Terrace Theater
Puerto Rican pop star Ednita Nazario, who secured her position as the leading lady of ballads in the 1990’s, has performed at famous venues throughout Puerto Rico, South America, and Europe. She was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2002, and was cast by Paul Simon in his Broadway musical The Capeman, which earned her a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.

Sunday, September 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Olga Tañón
Millenium Stage
Part of the Kennedy Center Open House Festival
Four-time Grammy Award winner Olga Tañón, titled “La reina del merengue” (the Queen of Merengue), has been a force in Latin music ever since she recorded her first solo album. She has an honorary day in her native Puerto Rico; the Senate of Puerto Rico designated November 9 “El Día de Olga Tañón.”

Wednesday & Thursday, September 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Andanza

Terrace Theater
Andanza, the first Puerto Rican contemporary dance company to perform at the Pro-Arte Musical festival and the Casals Festival, has appeared in Spain, Mexico, Martinique, and Cuba.

Friday, September 16 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Frank Colón

Terrace Gallery
Frank Colón, a specialist in Brazilian, African, and Caribbean percussion instruments, has created a unique performance style called “techno-primal percussion.” Born in D.C. and currently living in New York, Colón has performed with The Manhattan Transfer, Wayne Shorter, Tania Maria, Earl Klugh, George Clinton, Mary J. Blige, Herbie Hancock, and more.

Friday, September 17 at 8:30 p.m., Lessons; 9:00 p.m.,

Dancing
Salsa with Son de Aqui and Dancing on the River Terrace

The Kennedy Center presents free, outdoor dancing on the River Terrace, featuring some of the most popular local dance orchestras. Professional dance instructors will be present.

Friday, September 17 at 8:00 p.m.

En Voz Alta: A Performance By Nuyorican Poets
Terrace Gallery
The Nuyorican Poets Café was founded in 1973 on New York’s Lower East Side as a vibrant space for Puerto Rican New Yorkers and other voices to read and experience poetry live. This special event honors the 30th anniversary of the Nuyorican Poets Café, founded in New York ’s Lower East Side as a vibrant space for Puerto Rican New Yorkers and other voices to read and experience live poetry. The Nuyorican’s greatest gather at the Kennedy Center to share anecdotes and read from their works, including original Café poet Piri Thomas (Down These Mean Streets)along with Martin Espada (Imagine the Angels of Bread),Naomi Ayala (Wild Animals on the Moon),Willie Perdomo (Postcards of El Barrio),and Sandra Maria Esteves (Bluestown Mockingbird Mambo). Willie Perdomo, poet Naomi Ayala (Wild Animals on the Moon), and one of the founding poets of the Nuyorican poetry movement, Sandra María Esteves (Contrapunto in the Open Field). Curated and moderated by Marie Arana, Book Editor, The Washington Post.

Friday and Saturday, September 17-18 at 8:00 p.m.
Teatro del Sesenta

Film Theater
Puerto Rico’s Teatro del Sesenta, Inc. presents Idalia Pérez Garay and José Félix Gómez in Quíntuples by Luis Rafael Sánchez. These six monologues revolve around the Morrison family. In Spanish with English subtitles.

Saturday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Film Theater
Discussion with Quíntuples author Luis Rafael Sánchez, from Humacao, Puerto Rico, who is best known as a novelist, playwright and essayist.
FREE with ticket to either performance.

Saturday, September 18 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Miguel Zenón Quartet

Terrace Gallery

Miguel Zenón Quartet: Saxophonist Miguel Zenón, a native of Puerto Rico and a graduate of Berklee College of Music and Manhattan School of Music, has performed and recorded with David Sanchez, Danilo Pérez, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, Ray Barretto, and more. 2002’s Looking Forward marked his first CD as a leader. 2004’s Ceremonial was produced by Branford Marsalis.

Sunday, September 19 at 8:00 p.m.
Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico

Concert Hall

Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, the country’s foremost musical ensemble founded by Pablo Casals in 1958, performs symphonic concerts, operas, ballets, pops, and educational concerts throughout the island and abroad. The concert, with Music Director Guillermo Figueroa, features soprano Ana María Martínez and tenor César Hernández.

Thursday, September 23 at 8:00 p.m.
Tres Voces

Eisenhower Theater

Tres Voces: Chucho Avellanet, Lucecita Benítez, y Danny Rivera
These three vocalists, who emerged as popular artists in the 1960’s, are regarded as the national voices of Puerto Rico. They perform a concert of romantic, socially conscious, and political songs.

Sunday, September 26 at 5:00 p.m.
Puerto Rico in the Female Imagination
Terrace Gallery
A discussion in English by Scheherazades, a group of women novelists and poets. Participants include National Book Award finalist and Liberatur Prix winner Rosario Ferré; Cuban novelist Mayra Montero (Palm of Darkness); Judith Ortiz Cofer (The Line of the Sun); and Esmeralda Santiago (When I Was Puerto Rican). Curated and moderated by Marie Arana, Book Editor, The Washington Post.

As part of AmericArtes, installations by Puerto Rican artists Antonio Martorell (Labyrinth) and Jaime Suárez (Galeria de las Tierras) will be displayed throughout the Kennedy Center.

For more information at http://www.gotopuertorico.com