By Erin Walsh
The Queens cultural scene is muy caliente this summer, thanks to a diverse array of programming provided by eminent and emerging Latino artists during the 2009 Latino Cultural Festival at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
The festival, which runs from July 30 through Aug. 9, is produced by Queens Theatre in the Park. The aim of the festival is to promote and celebrate the diversity of Queens by showcasing renowned international artists as a means to engage the local Latino population and community overall, said Jeff Rosenstock, the executive director of Queens Theatre in the Park.
Now in its 12th year, the festival was borne out of “an awareness that our entire community deserves access to cultural programs and deserves to see artists from their own country,” said Rosenstock. It aims “to show people what is going on around the world, in terms of artistry — that arts and culture play a role everywhere in the world.”
Tickets for the festival range from free admission to $35, depending on the performance and whether they are purchased in advance or on the day of the performance. Patrons receive a discount if they purchase tickets to two or more events. More information is available on the Queens Theatre in the Park Web site, queenstheatre.org.
This year, the lineup features six international artists, including Toto La Momposina y Sus Tambores, who performed at a ceremony honoring Gabriel Garcia Marquez with the Nobel Prize for literature and with Peter Gabriel; Inti-Illimani, a Chilean folk music ensemble, appearing with French-Canadian singer Francesca Gagnon, the principal vocalist on Cirque de Soleil’s “Alegria” soundtrack; and three New York-based artists.
As a self-described “cultural translator,” Latino Cultural Festival artistic director Claudia Norman travels the world to find iconic international artists that resonate with audiences and best embody their particular genre and art form, whether it is dance, music, theater, or film.
“My mission is to bring artists that the audience will enjoy,” she said.
Members of the local community are not the only beneficiaries of the raw talent on display at the Latino Cultural Festival. Norman said that both the New York and international artists who participate learn from each other and form friendships behind-the-scenes.
As part of its commitment to the local arts scene, the festival chooses a local act for the opening event, said Norman. On July 30, the Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble, a 12-member group dedicated to preserving Afro-Cuban culture through dance, song and music, will perform at 8 p.m. to raise the curtain on the festivities.
The festival also co-commissions and co-presents the world premiere of a Latin American choreographer’s new work with La Guardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College, said Rosenstock. This year’s commissioned artist is Luis Garay, who will appear with the Buenos Aires Dance Company at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, for a free event.
The festival offers Queens residents, as well as those from other parts of the Northeast who make the pilgrimage to Flushing Meadows Corona Park for various events, close contact with their icons in the 500-seat theater, said Norman.
Despite the ongoing economic recession, Norman said the renewed financial support from corporate sponsors, especially Chase Bank, has enabled the Latino Cultural Festival to continue to serve as a launching pad for artists.
“The sponsorship has been crucial,” she said. “Fortunately, we have been recognized with some awards, but, to me, the biggest reward is to continue programs with artists coming from Latin America and artists based in New York.”
