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Rock & Roll Hall of Fame kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month
By Arooj Ashraf, La Prensa Correspondent
Keeping with a tradition started two years ago, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame kicked off early Hispanic Heritage Month in Cleveland with a free festival hosted outside on the Collection Auto Group Plaza on Aug. 28, 2011.
Nearly 300 people came with their families to enjoy performances by legendary musicians like Hector Tricoche and Sammy De León. Tricoche, an internationally renowned Puerto Rican artist, connected with the crowd, inviting them to sing along with popular lyrics and dance. His vocals along with the band performing live echoed throughout the pavilion.
“I like this, great chance to visit the Rock Hall and celebrate (our culture),” said El Menor, an aspiring musician with Show Studio Records. With his friends Maxim O, Cilo, the group performs a variety of Latin beats at local events in Lorain. For Maxim O the ultimate dream is to perform in Puerto Rico, and said the trio is working hard and improving constantly to make it a reality.
Meeting backstage with Tricoche and DeLeón they found inspiration from those who shared the same dream and made it a reality. “We had the same dream, and love for our music,” said Cilo, he looks forward to continued opportunities for sharing his passion and culture at a grander scale.
The festival packed with entertainment included performances by Latin Soul Dance Company, Julia De Burgos Cultural Center’s youth performance groups; Grupo Coqui and Explosion Divina Dance Troupe delightfully colorful cultural and contemporary performances. Exciting everyone was the group Zumba performances.
Heidy Torres Sossa, and internationally renowned Zumba dance instructor, dancer and model, led guests in high energy dance routines motivating children and adults alike to move. Zumba has become an exercise sensation for its Latin inspired moves combined with party atmosphere music and claims to burn 500 – 1000 calories. Mostly, “It’s a lot of fun,” said Robinson.
New at the pavilion this year were food trucks that added a little flavor to the music and entertainment flair. JiBARO Gourmet Food Truck and World Eats offered street food with an attitude that satisfied appetites.
Taraka Robinson enjoyed the event for its mix of cultural music but her main draw was the live Zumba performance. “I love every aspect of the Latin culture, especially the food and people and as a Zumba enthusiast I had to be here,” she said.
Latino Heritage Month will be celebrated from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, but events celebrating culture, people and arts are already in full swing throughout the city.
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