This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

For Immediate Release CONTACT: Fatima Cocci 612-385-2441

fatimacocci@earthlink.net

Minnesota Salsa Fiesta Featuring Malamanya and 16-piece all-star salsa orchestra La Gran Charanga

Evening highlights top Twin Cities Latin musicians, DJs, and dancers Presented by Misplaced Music with support from Metropolitan Regional Arts Council

Time & Date Venue Details Contact Info 7 pm to midnight Cedar Cultural Center $12 in adv www.mnsalsafiesta.org Friday, Nov 9, 2012 $15 at door 612-338-2674

It’s a post-Halloween, pre-Carnival Party! On November 9th dozens of top local Latin music and dancers will come together for a high-energy event at the Cedar Cultural Center. Talent lineup includes musicians from Charanga Tropical, Malamanya, Salsa Del Soul, Sensación Latina, and Salsabrosa. Dance showcases will include pros from acclaimed Social Dance Studio and fabulous Rueda performance groups Minniami Salsa and Salsa De La Calle. Adding spice will be tarot card readings, face painting, and a live Cuban cigar roller. Minnesota Salsa Fiesta, now in its third year, promises to be the biggest Latin music and dance collaboration of the year! Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Doors open at 7 p.m. with DJ Fatty spinning salsa hits. Bring your dancing shoes for a lively salsa lesson from one of Minnesota's leading instructors Rene Thompson, former lead dancer at La Tropicana in Havana, Cuba. At 8 p.m. beloved local band Malamanya takes the stage for a 1-hour set. The pro dancers perform and just before 10 pm mega-band La Gran Charanga takes the stage.

La Gran Charanga is a 16-piece all-star ensemble premiered at the 2011 Minnesota Salsa Fiesta to a blown away crowd and rave reviews. The ensemble is inspired by the great bands of Cuba such as Los Van Van and Charanga Habanera. La Gran Charanga features a 5-piece horn section, 3 violins, 4 singers, and a full Latin rhythm section. The repertoire of La Gran Charanga includes classic cumbias, hip shaking merengues, modern timba, intense danzones, romantic boleros, and salsa, salsa, salsa! This is music that is great for listening, excellent for dancing, and fantastic for a fiesta.

The core of the group is Charanga Tropical, the band known for its special blend of salsa and strings. ‘Charanga’ refers to the unique instrumentation, first developed in Cuba a century ago, which combines violins, flute, bass, piano, and percussion. The band was founded by saxophonist/flutist Doug Little after 7 months of research in Cuba. La Gran Charanga includes 3-time Latin Grammy nominee Viviana Pintado (Charanga Tropical, other), singers Adriana Rimpel (Malamanya), Juan Bautista (Sensación Latina), and Gloria Rivera (Salsa Del Soul), percussionists Rey Rivera (Zafra) and Mariano Flores (Salsabrosa), trumpeter Bill Simemson (Seven Steps To Havana), and many others. For tickets, directions, and complete show information visit www.mnsalsafiesta.org Press kit, high rez jpegs, videos, also available at www.mnsalsafiesta.org Misplaced Music (www.misplacedmusic.org) is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting local music of all genres through an internet radio station, live events, and unique collaborations.