Latino Arts Festival Returning to the Ware Center, 3/5-7

Philadelphia Salsa Dancers, Latin Jazz Quintet, family activities and an animated film for children, an awarding-winning play "Yo Soy Latina", and Hector Rosado's Salsa Band are all part of this year's Latino Arts Festival in Lancaster City at the Ware Center between Thursday, March 5 and Saturday, March 7, 2015.

First Thursday Latino, kicks off the next Latino Arts Festival in Lancaster City on March 5 from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Ware Center. Each First Thursday Latino offers a unique experience, and this event is no exception. Enjoy Grupo Fuego of Philadelphia at the start of the night followed by a salsa lesson, if you dare, and of course social time to meet fellow attendees. Grupo Fuego Dance Company is the oldest & largest salsa dance studio & performance team in the city of Philadelphia with dancers ranging from 5 to 75 years old. This is a free event and advanced registration for this evening is not necessary. First Thursday Latino along with all other Latino Arts Festival activities take place at the Ware Center located at 42 N. Prince Street, Lancaster. This evening is sponsored in part by Rosario Caminero Latino Celebration Committee.

Friday, March 6 continues the festivities with Jazz in the Sky featuring Marko Marcinko Jazz Quintet at 7:30 pm. The Marko Marcinko Latin Jazz Quintet delivers an upbeat mix of Latin and Brazilian jazz flavors. The quintet was formed in 2007 and features conga master Bob Velez, guitarist Bill Washer, bassist Paul Rostock, saxophonist/flutist Tom Hamilton, and drummer/percussionist Marko Marcinko. Each member has a long history with the Latin jazz tradition, from touring and performing with the likes of Latin jazz legends and multi Grammy award winning performers such as, Tito Puente, Machito, Arturo Sandoval, Gato Barbieri, Charlie Sepulveda, and Paquito D'Rivera. The various members of this high-energy traditional Latin jazz quintet keep this musical style on fire and alive. Tickets are now on sales at $25 per ticket.

Saturday, March 7 is a full day of Latino Arts Festival activities and performances that start with a family event called "Passport to Latin America". Families can join us between 2 pm and 4 pm and enjoy activity stations. Each station will represent a Latin country and offer an activity relating to that country. Children, accompanied by their parents, can browse station to station learning & creating. For each station they stop at, children will get their "passport" stamped. Punch and snacks will be available, in addition to an ice cream social planned for 3:30 pm. An animated film for kids will be shown at 4 pm, ideal for parents that would like to attend Linda Nieves Powell presentation. Passport to Latin America and the animated film are free activities and do not required advanced registration.

"Yo Soy Latina" will be presented by Linda Nieves Powell at 4 pm on Saturday at the Ware Center and is also offered at no charge to attendees as part of the sponsorship from Linda Holman Marcks. Linda Nieves-Powell is a writer, director, producer, and photographer. In her groundbreaking award-winning play, YO SOY LATINA!, Linda Nieves-Powell tells detailed stories about the many faces of Latina Women. YO SOY LATINA! is based on six different monologues from six different women, chosen from interviews with 25 Latina women. YO SOY LATINA! has performed on off-Broadway, regional theater, and at over 400 colleges across the country. This presentation is free, but ticketed.

And no one can close out the festival like Hector Rosado's Salsa Band with Celeste M. Polanco on Saturday. A social hour with refreshments will start at 7:30 pm and performance will start at 8:30 pm. The strictly Salsa Classic band consists of 11 professional, top musicians from the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley area. This high standard band is inspired by the gratification of the audience as the music motivates them to get up and dance. This is a very potent band that will guarantee to wear the audience out! They perform a variety of music consisting of Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and Latin Jazz. Tickets for this performance are $15 each.

The Latino Arts Festival is sponsored in part by Hagelgans & Veronis. Tickets, when needed, can be purchased or reserved (for free events) by calling 717-871-7600 or visit www.ArtsMU.com. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Ticket Office located in the Student Memorial Center on Millersville's campus, or the Ware Center, located at 42 N. Prince Street, in Lancaster. Doors open one hour before each show for ticket sales, subject to availability.

The Millersville University Visual and Performing Arts Season is made possible by support from Season Partner Rodgers & Associates and Season Sponsors: Aussie and the Fox, Clipper Magazine, Hagelgans & Veronis, The Hotel Lancaster, 12:34 MicroTechnologies, Ann B. Barshinger, Peggy Neff, Mary S. Burton & Laurent Horne, Linda Holman Marcks, and Mary Kearns & Jon Walker. Media Sponsors are Fig Lancaster Magazine and Fine Living Lancaster. The film series is sponsored by Carmen & David's Creamery.

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