Flamenco Dreams
San Gabriel Civic Auditorium
Friday 14 and Saturday 15, 8:30 pm. Sunday 16, 7:00 pm

An enigmatic Gypsy musical journey of style, creativity and sensuality. Do not miss Esther Ponce’s inspiration of Rita Hayworth’s “Gilda” in this original Flamenco interpretation, gathering the most accomplished artists of this genre, in a special limited engagement of three performances. Over 13 artists on stage.
With the magic and fascinating world of flamenco, a native of Madrid, Spain, Esther Ponce, a world class flamenco dancer, choreographer, actress and singer, passionate, beautiful and wild, is opening her “Flamenco Dreams” to you, so you can enjoy all the secrets of this ancient art of flamenco.

Cesaria Evora
Hollywood Bowl (At Walt Disney Concert Hall)
Tuesday 18, 8:00 pm
Charles Floyd, conductor; Members of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

One of world music's great modern divas, singer Cesaria Evora is the cultural ambassador and greatest star of her native country, Cape Verde, a former Portuguese colony off the Northwestern coast of Africa. She excels at the highly stylized and emotionally intense ballad style known as the "morna," a melodramatic, mournful romantic music that is much like the Portuguese fado, full of beautiful, melancholy guitars and impassioned lyrics of love lost and life both savored and endured.
Cesaria Evora is one of the best singers in the world. She sings from her corazon and has the strength and energy to let you enjoy her voice. Her emotional resonance has seen the press compare her to artists as diverse as Edith Piaf, Mahalia Jackson and Billie Holiday.
She also insists on performing barefoot, as a symbolic salute to the poverty that afflicted (and continues to afflict) her fellow Capverdians. Her growing international success led to a major label deal with RCA Records, for whom she has recorded several highly popular albums, including 1999"s outstanding Café Atlantico.

K’ala Marka
Barndsdall Gallery Theatre (Hollywood Blvd.)
Saturday 22, 7:30 pm

K’ala Marka is one of the most known Bolivian group. They have gained recognitions as one of the best messenger for modern styled Bolivian Folklore. The Bolivian Band K'ala Marka was founded in 1984 in La Paz city by Hugo Gutierrez and Rodolfo Choque. The first step of the band was to draw its inspiration from their native music and culture and then to created their own style. A new sound, a new poetry, new effects and a personality of its own are the elements which give the band its strength.
As a consequence, it is one of the most important Latin American band of the recent years. Its style can be defined by its characteristic sound (introduction of electronic and digital effects and instruments used in a classic Andean way.) These innovations added to a typical Andean style win over the audience of several countries of The Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.



17th Annual International Nativities Exhibition
The Folk Tree
November 15 - December 31

Colorful and richly varied nativities made by artisans from Mexico and other parts of Latin and South America, Africa, India, Europe and elsewhere are on display in the 17th Annual International Nativities Exhibition.
The custom of centering a portion of the Christmas celebration around nativity scenes, both those on view and live re-enactments, was transported to Latin America by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. Today, the annual unpacking and arranging of often large and elaborate nativities is an important event for many Latin American families. A weaving of customs is evident in much of the work on display, a mix of pre-Columbian and European traditions.
Each artisan creates very personal interpretations of the nativity and the characters comprising this traditional scene - typically Mary and Joseph, the Christ Child in a manger, the three Wise Men, and various animals. Featured nativity scenes reflect a diversity of media and techniques. Great variety, with scenes ranging in size from 2" miniatures to sculptural pieces up to 3" high.


Tango Cabaret
MoLAA Museum of Latin American Art
Friday 21, 8:30 pm

Four passionate tango dancers, accompanied by Argentinean musicians directed by Dino Durand, transport you to the sensual, intimate, complex world of the Tango.
In the first part of the show, Argentinean dancers Makela Brizuela and Pablo Rojas will present “The History of Tango” taking you through the most important periods in the evolution of this mystical dance. The second part of the show will feature “The Passion of Tango”, performed by Argentinean dancers Zita Gonzalez and James Eisman .