Juan de Marcos & Afro-Cuban All Stars at AWC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Diana Roth, (412) 471-8717; roth@trustarts.org

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents
Juan de Marcos & Afro-Cuban All Stars
Thursday, March 21, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.
August Wilson Center for African American Culture, 980 Liberty Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA- The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is proud to present a unique orchestra of full-range Cuban music, the Afro-Cuban All Stars on March 21, 2013 at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.  Lead by bandleader, producer, and arranger Juan de Marcos, the All Stars ensemble concept spans three generations of musicians, and promotes the full range of Cuban musical styles.

With the All Stars, de Marcos has constructed more than just a standard band; he has created a fluid, dynamic and diverse ensemble of musicians. His ensemble approach has allowed him to constantly adjust his orchestra lineup, which allows him to expand his musical repertoire through the addition of contemporary styles of Cuban music. Many of the band’s musicians have become international stars, and recently de Marcos has focused on featuring the next generation of Cuba’s most remarkable young musicians, emphasizing the ongoing evolution of Cuban music.

Juan de Marcos & Afro-Cuban All Stars (Photo Credit:  Michael O'Shea)

Within a few years the band received four Grammy Award nominations and was featured as the subject of many documentaries and films, including the Tony Knox documentary, Salon of Dreams. Afro-Cuban All Stars is one of the best-known and most successful Cuban orchestras performing today and has been essential to the growing worldwide popularity of Afro-Cuban music. This multi-generational big band performs the full, lively spectrum of Latin dance music, including mambo, salsa, and bolero.  This performance is a part of the 2012-2013 Trust Presents series, sponsored by Cohen and Grigsby.

Tickets ($18.00-43.00) for the Afro-Cuban All Stars on March 21, 2013 at 7:30 p.m., at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, online at www.trustarts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.

About Afro-Cuban All Stars

Afro-Cuban All Stars was formed during the spring of 1997 by Juan de Marcos, who played the Cuban tres, a three course, six string Cuban guitar, in Sierra Maestra prior to forming the All Stars orchestra.  de Marcos formed the group with other successful and talented Cuban musicians, and in 2002, after several successful years of performing, de Marcos founded his own independent label, DM Ahora! Records with which he released several All Stars albums and launched several other projects intent on spreading a new generation of Cuban music that mixes hip-hop with contemporary Cuban genres.  de Marcos is currently recording the albums Breaking the Rules & Step Backward, for which he has gathered some of the world’s finest expatriate Cuban musicians.


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DWTS Mark Ballas in National Tour of Burn the Floor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“DANCING WITH THE STARS”

MARK BALLAS

JOINS THE NATIONAL TOUR OF

BURN THE FLOOR

IN A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

The producers of BURN THE FLOOR, Broadway’s Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular, announced today that Mark Ballas of TV’s “Dancing with the Stars” will join the touring company of BURN THE FLOOR for a limited engagement. Mark Ballas will perform in Pittsburgh, December 28-January 2, 2011, at Heinz Hall as a special presentation of the PNC Broadway Across America – Pittsburgh series. In addition to Pittsburgh, Ballas will perform with dance partner Giselle Peacock in only two other cities: Raleigh, NC (November 30-December 5) and Houston, TX (December 14-19).

Single tickets to BURN THE FLOOR ($21-$57) are available by calling (412)392-4900, visiting the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue) or online at www.pgharts.org. For more information about the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh subscription series, please call (412) 456-1390. Groups of 10 or more may call 412-392-4819. PNC Broadway Across America – Pittsburgh is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

Mark Ballas is a lifelong performer, born in Houston and raised in England. As the only child of 8-time undefeated World Latin Ballroom Champions Shirley and Corky Ballas, he was raised in the ballroom world. He's held every major championship in ballroom, from Junior Olympic Gold Medallist to twice winning the International Open to the World. He's currently competing on his seventh season of America's Number 1 TV show, "Dancing With The Stars," having already won the competition twice in past seasons. Mark is currently in the studio recording his debut solo CD, The HurtLoveBox, which will be distributed exclusively through WalMart later this month.

“We are thrilled that Mark will be appearing in the US Tour. His star-power attraction is well deserved, and we look forward to bringing his amazing talents to the stage for audiences in these three cities,” says Harley Medcalf, BURN THE FLOOR creator and producer.

Ballas will be partnered with Giselle Peacock, known to US audiences from her appearances on “Dancing with the Stars,” “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Superstars of Dance.” She began dancing at the age of 10, studying ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and modern dance. As a competitive dancer, Giselle has captured both US and British Youth Championship titles.

Also appearing as featured dancers in these three cities will be “So You Think You Can Dance” alums Robbie Kmetoni, Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer. All three have been seen on TV’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” in the US (Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer, Top 10 Finalists) and in Australia (Robbie Kmetoni, 2010 Winner).

Years before “Dancing with the Stars”and“So You Think You Can Dance” turned Ballroom Dancing into must-see TV, BURN THE FLOOR was blazing a new dance trail and igniting stages around the globe. In BURN THE FLOOR, Ballroom Dance is totally reinvented. All the dance styles are refreshed and invigorated and leave audiences grinning with delight and screaming for more. You see and feel, live on stage, all the passion, drama and sizzling excitement of 20 gorgeous world champion dancers in a true theatrical experience, a performance with a grace and athleticism that The New York Times calls, "Dazzling!" and The Times (London) calls “the summer’s hottest ticket”!

BURN THE FLOOR is directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison. The national tour of BURN THE FLOOR launched in Portland, OR, on September 7, 2010, and continues through spring of 2011. For a full list of tour cities, please visit www.burnthefloor.com.
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Press Contact for interviews, photos and press tickets: Veronica Corpuz, 412-471-6082 / corpuz@pgharts.org