FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2017
LOS PRIMOS – 17TH ANNUAL DANCE FOR ALL AGES
WARM UP YOUR WINTER WITH A NIGHT OF MUSIC AND SALSA DANCING
Halifax, NS - The Los Primos Project is very excited to be in its 20th year of promoting music education in both Nova Scotia and Cuba. Over the past 20 years, Los Primos has
- helped to raise more than $500,000 for music education and cultural activities in Nova Scotia
- collected and sent more than 700 musical instruments to schools in Cuba
- made more than 40 exchange trips by bringing music students from Cuba to Nova Scotia and sending Nova Scotia music students to Cuba to learn and perform
These achievements were made possible, in part, through our annual Dance for All Ages and yearly raffle of a trip for 4 to Cuba, which is drawn at the dance.
Featured performers: Eclectic-Us with Augusto Enriquez
Eclectic-Us is a Nova Scotia/Cuba band project, mixing young and old players to bring a new take on the Cuban sound that will deliver music impossible for dancers to resist. This year’s talented band will hit the stage around 10:00 pm and play two sets of hot salsa music that’s sure to bring the temperature of our icy city to the boiling point.
Eclectic-Us features Augusto Enriquez, one of Cuba’s most well-known singers and Jeff Goodspeed, one of Nova Scotia’s most well-known band leaders. Together they will feature the talents of some of the best young musicians around, who learned to play through the Los Primos Project: Carla Bezanson – piano; Kristen Wells – vocals; Owen Williams – guitar; and Matt MacLennan – bass.
Joining this talented crew will be two more incredibly gifted Cubans, Augusto’s daughter Alison Enriquez on violin and Maykel Nuñez on congas and vocals.
Add to this mix, drumming pro from Halifax, David Burton and you have an eclectic mix of young and old, Canadian and Cuban.
Opening acts showcase Nova Scotia’s young musicians
The night begins early at 7:20 pm with the Los Primos Satellite bands from Tantallon, Rockingham, and Preston performing.
Then the dancing really begins at 8:00 when the Halifax Salseros will be front and center again this year with some dance lessons, followed at 8:30 pm by the Nova Scotia Community College Latin band, Gruvéra. Setting the stage for the main act, will be a performance by the Preston Primos under the direction of Reeny Smith and featuring Mahalia Smith.
Eclectic-Us will take you through a wild journey of spicy Cuban music that will keep you moving all night long.
This mid-winter event is an opportunity for young and old to dance the night away Cuban style. The over 19 crowd can take a break from dancing and head upstairs for a cool drink and a bird’s eye view of some serious salsa steps. Younger folk can refresh themselves at the downstairs canteen.
Just the Facts
Music by Eclectic-Us featuring Augusto Enriquez; Tantallon Primos, Rockingham Primos, Preston Primos, and NSCC’s Latin Band, Gruvéra
Dancing Lessons and Performance by the Halifax Salseros
Win an all-inclusive trip for 4 to Cuba
Money raised will help support the Los Primos trip to Holguin Cuba this May when over 70 people from our area will head south to take part in the Youth Arts Festival – Romerias de Mayo
When? Saturday, February 25. Doors open at 7:00 pm
Where? Olympic Community Centre, 2304 Hunter St., Halifax (across from Long & McQuade)
Tickets $15 for adults (door $20), $8 for students (door $10), and $35 for a family of 5 (door $40)
Tickets available in advance at Stayners Wharf (near the Halifax ferry terminal), The Wooden Monkey (Dartmouth and Halifax locations), by email at tickets@losprimos.ca, or at the door.
Come celebrate 20 years of Los Primos!
For more information, contact Jeff Goodspeed at 401-2104 or email losprimos@eastlink.ca