Latin has rhythm, variety

The roots of salsa dancing go deep into West Africa.
By NANCILYNN GATTA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
The United States is a melting pot of cultures.
To celebrate Latin customs and artistic traditions, Youngstown State University's Performing Art Series presents the Latin Arts Explosion!, which coincides with the 2004 Ohio Latin Arts Association's annual conference.
The two-day festival will include a Latin dinner, performance by pianist Ignacio "Nachito" Herrera & amp; Puro Cubano, dance workshops conducted by James Lepore and exhibits of Latino visual artists.
"The Latin Arts [Explosion] Festival is certainly an important acknowledgment of the contribution of Latino communities to the fabric of American culture," said Lepore.
Herrera is a piano prodigy reared in Cuba. At age 12, he performed Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 with the Havana Symphony. At 16, he joined renowned Cuban pianist and Buena Vista Social Club member Ruben Gonzalez onstage. As a result of this meeting, Herrera discovered the rhythms of Latin music.
After receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees in Havana, he moved to Minnesota to teach at the McPhail Center and to perform.
For the past two years, he has played with Puro Cubano.
"We perform all Cuban styles of music -- cha cha cha, rumba, danzone and Latin jazz," said Herrera.
What's planned
At the YSU performance, he will mix in a little bit of American music, such as rhythm and blues, with his Latin styles. He will also conduct two workshops and perform during the event.
Lepore, a Boardman High School graduate, is an associate professor of dance at George Mason University. He danced professionally in Europe with modern dance companies. His interest in Afro-Cuban dance lead him to attend workshops in Cuba and learn more about this style.
"The reason that I became excited about it [Afro-Cuban dance] in the first place is because it's not a museum form. It's a very vital form. It's still danced. Forms of Afro-Cuban dance are found all over North America, especially under the heading salsa," Lepore said.
Roots in West Africa
"Salsa is a dance form that's been around since the 1800s. As I looked more and more into what salsa is, I began to discover deeper and deeper roots that go further into West Africa. A lot of these strands aren't found in Western culture. Cuba has preserved them."
He has taken students to Cuba to study Afro-Cuban dance since 1996.
"I was blown away by the amount of live music that I was exposed to everywhere. All of that music was accompanied by specific forms of dance," said Lepore.
Lepore's workshops will include an overview of the forms of Afro-Cuban dance. They are geared toward people who want to move to these rhythms and have a good time.
The Latin Arts Explosion is beneficial for both performers and the community.
"I want to play my music everywhere. I feel that Latin culture is getting important in this country and I feel that I am a part of it. It is a pleasure and an honor to play my music," said Herrera.