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Community Corner

1ST FRIDAY @ GALERIA WEST Music Concert Event with MEXICO BEYOND MARIACHI in Concert

Thousands of area music lovers have enjoyed the popular 1ST
FRIDAY @ GALERIA WEST Music Series concerts, presented by TEATRO Si at the
intimate Galeria West Art & Music Gallery, located at 111 Quimby Street in
downtown Westfield, NJ. This bi-monthly live concert event continues to bring
to you a unique opportunity to enjoy a diversity of music genres as performed
by a select series of international artists. The popular concert series
continues on Friday, September 6, 2012 at 7:30pm with an evening of the unique
sounds of the Mexico Beyond Mariachi ensemble in concert as they celebrate the
diverse traditional music and dance culture of Mexico.



Each region of this diverse land has its own rituals, myths,
celebrations and costumes. The audience is treated to a spectacle that reminds
one of a Mexican mercado or market, filled with colors, flavors, sights and
sounds the viewer perhaps has never experienced before. From the mysterious
drums, flutes, conch shells and dancing musicians of the pre-Hispanic era, to
the fascinating fusion of rhythms and harmonies that possess roots extending to
Spain and Africa come travel with us into a circle of cultural expedition as we
are taken on a journey that begins with the conquest and leads us to the
present day. Come join founder and artistic director Alda Reuter and the cast
of "Mexico Beyond Mariachi" as this special group of professional
performers and teaching artists share their love for Mexican art and expression
in this fascinating artistic concert.



Alda Reuter comes from a family of artists who celebrate the
culture and traditions of Latin America. Her grandfather, Walter Reuter is an
internationally recognized photographer. Her father Dr. Jas Reuter was a
pioneer in the field of ethnomusicology having published numerous books. Being
exposed to different cultures at an early age, she developed a lasting interest
in the performing arts. Her professional career has included the styles of
Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Flamenco and Mexican Folkloric Dance. Also trained in music,
Alda is an accomplished percussionist and has appeared with major artists in
Mexico, Central America and the U.S. She is always exploring the close
relationship between music and dance. Upon her arrival in NYC she became part
of the renowned female Afro Caribbean dance and percussion ensemble Retumba. As
co-founder of Ballet Fiesta Mexicana Ybarra and Fiesta Flamenca she performs in
and produces major cultural festivals and events. She is also currently the
associate producer on a documentary about the music and dance of Veracruz,
Mexico. As a dance educator she works with different Arts Organizations such as
Young Audiences New York, Arts Connection, Community works and Yaffa
Productions. Alda is the artistic director of Mexico beyond Mariachi and also
founder of Rhythm of the Arts LLC, an organization that brings an appreciation
of folklore, culture and traditions through music and dance to thousands of
young students and audiences of all ages.

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Percussionist Peter Basil Bogdanos is the executive director
of Rhythm of the Arts LLC and Mexico Beyond Mariachi. As a professional
percussionist for the past 20 years, he has performed on stages all over the
world.



Guitarist and singer Juan Lucero is originally from Puebla,
Mexico and from a very early age was exposed to his native music and dance. As
a teen he started playing string instruments such as guitar, vihuelas, jaranas
and 'bajo sexto' (a type of Mexican bass). As a dancer he has worked with
several dance companies in the NYC and NJ area.

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Sinhue Padilla is the leader of the Latin fusion band,
Jarana Beat and Los Autentics de Manhatitlan in NYC. He earned his BA in
Contemporary Dance at Instituto Mexiquense de Cultura in Mexico. Earlier, he
studied music at Casa de Cultura and Nahuatl sacred music and rituals under
music master Kuauhtlinxan. He taught dance-theater and music at the Centro de
Actividades Culturales at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. He
studied Arab/Andalusian roots of Latin American music at Amor de Dios and
Conservatorio Flamenco in Spain. He investigated forms of Afro-Amerindian music
in South America and where he has performed and toured extensively.



Tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $10 for children.
Advance tickets are available online at www.BrownPaperTickets.com (enter 1st
Friday @ Galeria West for event search) or for reservations and information
call the TEATRO Si box office at 908-301-9496. Walk-up tickets, if available,
can be purchased at the door on event date starting at 7:00pm. Showtime is
7:30pm to 9:00pm. Call the box office on event date for ticket availability
information.



May we suggest that you plan to enjoy a delicious dinner or
dessert before or after the show at a fine dining establishment in downtown
Westfield and in the surrounding area. Several are within walking distance from
Galeria West.



Event proceeds benefit programming efforts at TEATRO Si, a
501(c)3 not for profit NJ organization.

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