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Sample Track 1:
"Peru Negro; "Carnaval Negro"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 2:
"Peru Negro; "Como Cantan, Como Bailan los Negros"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 3:
"Contramano; "Checking U"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 4:
"Contramano; "Pretending"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 5:
"Illapu; "A mis Paisanos"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 6:
"Illapu; "Carnaval de Chiapa"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 7:
"Karimbo; "Juan Travolta"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 8:
"Karimbo; "El Mundo"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 9:
"Sofrito; "The Beat of my Heart"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 10:
"Sofrito; "Leyendas Latinas"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 11:
"Ray Castro; "Guillate"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 12:
"Ray Castro; "Ven Vacila Ven"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 13:
"Joseito Mateo; "La Boda Chiva"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 14:
"Joseito Mateo; "Tiririri"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 15:
"The 40's; "If You Go Away"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Sample Track 16:
"The 40's; "Rock en el Milenio"" from JPMorgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival Sampler
Layer 2
Flurry of boro activities crowded into one day
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Flushing Times, Flurry of boro activities crowded into one day >>

Stop No. 3 was at 7:30 p.m. at Queens Theater in the Park for the beginning of its Annual Summer Latino Cultural Festival. The first performance in the summer series was Peru Negro, which was founded 30 years ago as a result of the international black pride movements. It was also intended to preserve Peru's African Heritage.

The production was lively, humorous, with a light touch of suggestion. One of the more interesting aspects was the use of wooden boxes in lieu of drums. It seems the Spanish colonizers placed a ban on drums. The innovative black slaves resorted to wooden boxes, which they sat on and bent over to beat the boxes on their sides with their hands. The music it produces is contagious; it just makes you want to dance. The Afro-Peruvian music has a unique sound all its own.

The costumes were colorful and the dances were non-stop perpetual motion. They had a talented woman singer during the entire performance. While we didn't understand the words in her songs, the passion and humor in her voice were obvious. She was accompanied by a melodic guitarist. A most entertaining performance and a fascinating glimpse into a completely different culture.

The evening was rounded off by light refreshments and beverages on the patio in front of the theater and ended with guests dancing the night away under the stars on the patio. The music of a live band was provided by the Theater in the Park. Regrettably we couldn't stay to enjoy the later festivities as we still had more events to cover. We just had time to take a quick photo of Milady Rosenstock and Terry Osbourne, take a sip of our drink and leave. For additional information on the many different Latino offerings, feel free to call Queens Theater in the Park. Each evening's program presents the entertainment of a different Latino Culture.

-Dee Richard 08/04/05
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