Kennedy Center: 2004 AmericArtes Festival


September 7 through 26 as part of the Kennedy Center *Prelude Festival,* AmericArtes: Espíritu de Puerto Rico celebrates the vibrant spirit of la Isla del Encanto, the enchanted island, with premier Puerto Rican music, dance, theater, literature, and visual arts. Drawing upon some of the island's and United States' top creative talents, the festival will showcase the extraordinary virtuosity and contribution by Puerto Rican artists to American and world culture. Experience the salsa of Gilberto Santa Rosa, the boleros of Ednita Nazario, and the merengue of Olga Tañón. Enjoy classical music from Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, hot Latin jazz in the KC Jazz Club, and the national voices of Puerto Rico in Tres Voces: Chucho Avellanet, Lucecita Benítez, and Danny Rivera. Plus, don't miss the colorful modern dance of Andanza, the imaginative theatrical satire of *Quíntuples, a gathering of Nuyorican poets*, and much more.
Información en Español

Gilberto Santa Rosa Known as "El Caballero de la Salsa" (the gentleman of salsa), this master of soneo vocal improvisation technique was the first Puerto Rican singer of his generation to perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Sep 7, 2004 at 8:00 PM, Concert Hall $20.00-$50.00 BUY TICKETS Media Partner: La Nación Ednita Nazario The Broadway star and Latin Grammy®–nominated vocalist secured her position as a leading lady of ballads in the 1990s. Her latest CD, Por ti, debuted at number one on Billboard’s Latin chart. Sep 8, 2004, Terrace Theater $25.00 BUY TICKETS Media Partner: El Tiempo Latino, WILC-AM Viva 900, and Telemundo 64	Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico Conducted by Music Director Guillermo Figueroa and featuring soprano Ana María Martínez and tenor César Hernández, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra presents works by Puccini, Gutiérrez-Espinosa, Rossini, Sorozábal, and other composers. Sep 19, 2004 at 8:00 PM, Concert Hall $10.00 BUY TICKETS Media Partner: La Nación Tres Voces: Chucho Avellanet, Lucecita Benítez, y Danny Rivera Three vocalists from Puerto Rico's Nueva Ola (New Wave) movement come together for a spectacular evening of romantic, socially conscious, and political songs. Sep 23, 2004 at 8:00 PM, Eisenhower Theater $24.00-$45.00 BUY TICKETS Media Partner: El Tiempo Latino
FREE MILLENNIUM STAGE EVENT! Olga Tañón Dubbed “La Reina del Merengue” (the queen of merengue), two-time Grammy® and Latin Grammy®–winning music sensation Olga Tañón is famous for her unique blend of tropical music, pop, salsa, boogaloo, and reggaeton. Her contagious energy, vocal talent, and smash multi-platinum albums have led the Senate of Puerto Rico to declare November 9 “El Día de Olga Tañón.” Sunday, September 12 at 6 p.m., Concert Hall Part of the Open House Arts Festival Media Partner: Classical 103.5


Gilberto Santa Rosa Known as "El Caballero de la Salsa" (the gentleman of salsa), this master of soneo vocal improvisation technique was the first Puerto Rican singer of his generation to perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Sep 7, 2004 at 8:00 PM, Concert Hall $20.00-$50.00 BUY TICKETS Media Partner: La Nación Ednita Nazario The Broadway star and Latin Grammy®–nominated vocalist secured her position as a leading lady of ballads in the 1990s. Her latest CD, Por ti, debuted at number one on Billboard’s Latin chart. Sep 8, 2004, Terrace Theater $25.00 BUY TICKETS Media Partner: El Tiempo Latino, WILC-AM Viva 900, and Telemundo 64	Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico Conducted by Music Director Guillermo Figueroa and featuring soprano Ana María Martínez and tenor César Hernández, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra presents works by Puccini, Gutiérrez-Espinosa, Rossini, Sorozábal, and other composers. Sep 19, 2004 at 8:00 PM, Concert Hall $10.00 BUY TICKETS Media Partner: La Nación Tres Voces: Chucho Avellanet, Lucecita Benítez, y Danny Rivera Three vocalists from Puerto Rico's Nueva Ola (New Wave) movement come together for a spectacular evening of romantic, socially conscious, and political songs. Sep 23, 2004 at 8:00 PM, Eisenhower Theater $24.00-$45.00 BUY TICKETS Media Partner: El Tiempo Latino


Quíntuples Teatro del Sesenta presents this satire of Puerto Rican culture by Luis Rafael Sánchez. Idalia Pérez Garay and José Félix Gómez perform the six roles of the Morrison Quintuplets and their father. In Spanish with simultaneous English audio translation. Sep 17 - 18, 2004, Film Theater $20.00 BUY TICKETS
Enjoy a free pre-performance discussion with director Rey Pascual, Saturday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Film Theater. Free with your ticket to either performance of Quíntuples.


Frank Colón A master of Latin-Caribbean music, the drummer has created a raw, energetic performance style baptized “Techno-Primal Percussion.” Sep 16, 2004, Terrace Gallery $25.00 BUY TICKETS	Miguel Zenón Quartet Called "a central figure in the new Latin jazz" by the New York Times, saxophonist Miguel Zenón and his quartet fuse jazz, Latin, classical, and folkloric influences. Sep 18, 2004, Terrace Gallery $25.00 BUY TICKETS

The Kennedy Center presents two special literary events curated and moderated by Marie Arana, book editor for the Washington Post.
En Voz Alta: A Performance by Nuyorican Poets In honor of the 30th anniversary of New York’s Nuyorican Poet’s Café, Nuyorican’s greatest will gather to include Piri Thomas, Martin Espada, Willie Perdomo, Sandra Maria Esteves, and Naomi Ayala. Sep 17, 2004 at 7:30 PM, Terrace Gallery $10.00 BUY TICKETS	Puerto Rico in The Female Imagination Enjoy a discussion by Puerto Rican women novelists and poets. Participants include Rosario Ferré, Mayra Montero, Judith Ortiz Cofer, Esmeralda Santiago, and Mayra Santos Febres. Sep 26, 2004 at 2:00 PM, Film Theater $10.00 BUY TICKETS
FREE EVENT! Edwin Fontánez Author and illustrator Edwin Fontánez reads from his new children's book On This Beautiful Island. A heartfelt tribute to Puerto Rico’s ancient Taíno culture, the story is a journey through magical colors through the eyes of a child who wants to share the beauty of his island. Fontánez will also lead a Taíno tattoo activity inspired by his art. A brief Q&A and book signing will follow the presentation. Sunday, September 12 in the Theater Lab Book reading: 1:45–2:30 p.m. Taíno art workshop: 3–3:45 p.m. Part of the Open House Arts Festival Media Partner: WAMU 88.5 FM	FREE EVENT! Writing a Life: A Film by Frank Cantor Don’t miss this feature-length documentary about author/poet Esmeralda Santiago and the power of words to transform lives, in English and Spanish with English subtitles. A discussion with Santiago and Cantor immediately follows the screening. A co-production of PBS affiliate TU-TV in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and CANTOMEDIA, New York. 90 minutes. September 26 at 4:30 p.m., Film Theater FREE, no tickets required. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Kennedy Center will host exhibits by two acclaimed Puerto Rican visual artists, each renowned for their unique aesthetic vision and contribution to world culture.
FREE EVENT! Antonio Martorell: Dédalo (Labyrinth) From Santurce, Antonio Martorell has won many international awards for his interactive installations that entice viewers and play games using images, colors, textures, and words. For Dédalo, Martorell will explore the concept of shared and contrasting identities by constructing a twisting path of miniature ink portraits he will sketch of Kennedy Center visitors, using their fingerprint as a foundation for each rendering. Interactive Installation: September 4-8 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hall of Nations entrance to the Grand Foyer and September 7 during intermission for the Gilberto Santa Rosa concert. Exhibit runs from September 4-25.	FREE EVENT! Jaime Suárez: Galería de las Tierras (Hall of Regions) Encompassing architecture, ceramics, sculpture, and scenic design, Jaime Suárez's work can be found in the collections of many prestigious museums around the world, including New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. At the Kennedy Center, the San Juan-born artist creates an installation featuring 12 large hanging flags crafted from paper printed with clay stamps. September 1-25 in the North Gallery
View All Media Partners and Sponsors
AmericArtes: Espíritu de Puerto Rico is presented with the generous support of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, through funding from the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and Rums of Puerto Rico. Additional support provided by Juan and Marianna Sabater, The Honorable and Mrs. Thomas F. McLarty, III, Delta, and the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. International Programming at the Kennedy Center is supported by the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.