FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Arts/Features Editor
July 10, 2015
CONTACT
Andrew Lee
Director, Puffin Cultural Forum
Tel.: 201-836-3499
E-mail: alee@puffinfoundation.org
R.E.A.L. Holds Fifth Annual Family Event Celebrating Latino
Culture at the Puffin Cultural Forum
Saturday July 18th, 2:00-5:00 p.m. — The Puffin Cultural Forum is proud to host the
sixth annual Teaneck Latino Community Event, sponsored by R.E.A.L. (Resource,
Education, and Awareness by Latinos). It will be an exciting afternoon of music,
poetry, family activities, food and more in celebration of the diverse Latino
community in and around Teaneck, New Jersey.
R.E.A.L.’s mission is to promote a positive awareness of the Latino community in
Teaneck and to be a resource for Latinos and others through education, advocacy
and participation in cultural and social community events. "The purpose of the
event is to bring Latino culture and heritage to the Teaneck and Bergen County
community via a fun-filled and joyful event," says R.E.A.L. member and event
organizer Marilyn Figueroa. "Though we are lumped together as Latinos, our foods,
history, music, dance and cultures are as diverse as the countries we come from."
That's why each year, R.E.A.L. highlights the arts, culture, and food of a variety of
countries.
The main feature this year is performance of music, dance and drumming by Los
Pleneros de la 21 (LP21), a performing arts group based in East Harlem. Los
Pleneros de la 21 is "dedicated to fostering awareness, appreciation and
understanding of the richness and vitality of Puerto Rican artistic traditions of
African descent and Creole." Embracing contemporary and urban sounds within the
traditional forms of the percussive bomba and plena of Puerto Rico, LP21 performs
shows that bring an infectious joy, inspiration, and energy to their audiences.
This event will also feature performances by Emi Antonio and Camille Safiya.
Reflective of the diversity of the Latino community of the region, Antonio, of the
Dominican Republic, plays within the pop-rock aesthetic, while Camille Safiya, who
recently debuted at the 2015 South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX, incorporates
soul, hip hop, reggae, jazz and production from all over the world into her music.
This year's event also promises a diversity of food as well as a family activity of
vejigantes doll-making. Vejigantes are Puerto Rican folkloric characters often seen
during festivals as masked dancers. Believed by some to be symbols of resistance to
colonialism and imperialism, they have various iterations across Latin America.
Throughout the event, the mood will be one of joy and celebration of the traditions
and unfolding histories of Latino cultures across nations.
$10 suggested donation. Reservations recommended; must be made before 5:00 p.m. on
the Thursday prior to the performance: tix@puffinfoundation.org. The Puffin Cultural
Forum is at 20 Puffin Way (off Teaneck Rd.) in Teaneck. Call 201-836-3499 or visit
www.PuffinCulturalForum.org.
LOS PLENEROS DE LA 21 (LP21): is a Grammy-nominated performing, music and
teaching ensemble of traditional Puerto Rican music with African roots. The group
was founded in 1983. Based out of East Harlem, they connect generations of
musicians and performers through the percussion-based musical traditions of
bomba and plena. By also embracing contemporary music and incorporating
education into their performances, LP21 is able to both continue the traditions of
their Afro-Puerto Rican musical roots while expressing the "versatility and
complexities of the Latino experience in the United States." Los Pleneros De La 21
has performed around the world, from Canada to Germany, Russia, Australia,
Thailand and throughout Latin America. They were the first to perform traditional
Puerto Rican music in Carnegie Hall and "even performed at the Kremlin in the USSR
prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall." Among the group's many honors is their album
"Para Todos Ustedes"' nomination for the Best World Music Grammy in 2005.
EMI ANTONIO: is a New York-based vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist
from the Domincan Republic. He has performed alongside such musicians Dan
Warner, Lee Levin, Chris Hierro, Jotham Afanador, Eli Menezes, Boris Milan, Tony
Dawsey, among others. Antonio recently released his single, "Amiga."
CAMILLE SAFIYA: is a vocalist, musician, and New Jersey native. Initially a visual
artist focused on painting from a musical family, Safiya made her transition to a
music after a trip in the Middle East and North Africa. Since her 2013 debut release,
“ISLAND BLUES | The Sonic Memoirs”, she released her “24K” album in January of
2015.
____________________________________________________________________
The Puffin Cultural Forum is a project of the Puffin Foundation, Ltd. which, through the arts, encourages
dialog about issues important to the community. The Puffin Foundation, Ltd. underwrites this and all other
Puffin Cultural Forum events and programs in order to make it possible for everyone to attend.
NOTE TO PRESS AND PHOTO EDITORS: This release and high resolution JPEGs can be downloaded at
http://www.puffinculturalforum.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=12
&Itemid=75
###