Cleveland Museum of Art's VIVA! & Gala Series Continues with Cuban Dance and Mexican Mariachi Music

CLEVELAND (Oct. 14, 2010) – The Cleveland Museum of Art's VIVA! & Gala performing arts series continues its globe-trotting season with performances celebrating the cultures of Cuba and Mexico. The 20 young women of Lizt Alfonso's Dance Cuba take the stage on Wednesday, Oct. 27, while the members of Mariachi Los Camperos present the lively music and colorful costumes of Mexico on Friday, Nov. 5. Both events will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the museum's Gartner Auditorium.

From Havana, Cuba, Lizt Alfonso's Dance Cuba combines elements of flamenco, ballet and contemporary dance with Spanish and Afro-Cuban rhythms provided by a live band. Established in 1991 by director choreographer Lizt Alfonso, the company is a resident ensemble at Havana's Grand Theatre.

Dance Cuba has earned accolades in performances around the world, including appearances at the Apolo Theatre of Barcelona, Broadway's New Victory Theater and the Vail International Dance Festival. According to the New York Times, "The dancers certainly moved with great strength through choreographic phrases that were rhythmically strong and precisely measured. ... Each work dazzled on its own."

Tickets for Lizt Alfonso's Dance Cuba are $39 or $35 for the general public and $38 or $34 for museum members. The performance is part of the season's "Faces of Latina Performers" miniseries.

Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, under the direction of Nati Cano, is commemorating its 50th anniversary with a concert that celebrates the bicentennial of Mexico. The show tells the story of Mexican independence through mariachi favorites, including "Viva Mexico," "Mexico Lindo," La Bamba," "Ave Maria," "La Cucaracha" and many more.

The ensemble reached national prominence in the U.S. after Linda Ronstadt's album Canciones de Mi Padre (Songs of my Father), in which Mariachi Los Camperos played a prominent role. In 1988-89, the group worked on the promotion of the album, including national television appearances on programs including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and the Grammy Awards telecast. They also appear on Linda Ronstadt's Mas Canciones (More Songs) and were featured in the hit film Sex and the City. The group is known for the excellence of its musicians and for demanding musical arrangements that highlight the individual skills and voices of the players. The ensemble has recorded nine albums — including 2008's Amor, Dolor y Lágrima, which received the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Album.

Tickets for Mariachi Los Camperos are $39 or $35 for the general public and $38 or $34 for museum members.

Group and student rates are available. Pending availability, students can purchase "Pay What You Can" tickets at the door for any VIVA! & Gala performance.

Tickets are available through the museum's online box office at www.ClevelandArt.org or by phone at 216-421-7350 or 888-CMA-0033.

VIVA! & Gala 2010-11 Season
VIVA & Gala has built a reputation among regional audiences for bringing one-of-a-kind artists to Cleveland, and the 2010-11 season is no exception, with 21 performances from 10 different countries.

Programs are made possible in part by The Ernest L. and Louise M. Gartner Fund, The P.J. McMyler Musical Endowment Fund and The Anton and Rose Zverina Music Fund. Additional support provided by the Musart Society. Support for the "Faces of Latina Performers" miniseries is provided by Kathryn Karipides and David Brown in memory of their beloved friend May Chicris. The "Pay What You Can" student ticket program is made possible in part by the Milton and Tamar Maltz Family Foundation. The Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba performance is presented by Erica Hartman-Horvitz and Joan Horvitz. The official media sponsor is WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream.

Subscriptions for the series are on sale now. Subscribers can save up to 25 percent off single ticket prices or may choose to create their own, custom packages by selecting four or more concerts at a savings of 5 percent. Details can be found at www.ClevelandArt.org.

Single tickets for individual performances are available by calling the Cleveland Museum of Art box office or online at www.ClevelandArt.org.

About the Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 40,000 objects and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. Currently undergoing a multi-phase renovation and expansion project, it is a significant international forum for exhibitions, scholarship, performing arts and art education. Admission to the museum is free.

The Cleveland Museum of Art has a membership of more than 21,500 households and is supported by a broad range of individuals, foundations and businesses in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. The museum is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Additional support comes from the Ohio Arts Council, which helps fund the museum with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. For more information about the museum, its holdings, programs and events, call 888-CMA-0033 or visit www.ClevelandArt.org.