Carnaval Fever

February 9th, 2018

Frank and Pilar Leto, in partnership with the National Hispanic Cultural Center, continue the annual celebration of Carnaval with “Carnaval Fever” on Friday and Saturday, February 9-10, 2018 at 7:30 PM in the NHCC’s Albuquerque Journal Theatre. Tickets are $17, $22, and $27, with a $2 discount for students, seniors, and NHCC members, and are available from the Center’s Box Office, at 505- 724-4771, or at www.nhccnm.org.

Featuring the Odara Dance Ensemble and the musical group PANdemonium, Carnaval 2018 is a dazzling spectacle of vibrant dance, engaging music, and beautiful costumes, showcasing the Carnaval traditions of Cuba, Trinidad, Brazil, and New Orleans. This year, come catch Carnaval fever and celebrate life with an open dance floor, audience participation, prizes and humor.

Frank Leto, composer and leader of PANdemonium, is a multidimensional artist who has found a balance between professional musician and professional educator. A talented instrumentalist, he plays Brazilian percussion, Afro-Cuban percussion, and Trinidadian steel drums; his band features him on vocals, steel drums, and percussion. Frank writes all the music for the band, which blends diverse musical styles such as reggae, ska, soca, calypso, samba, salsa, and zouk into its own unique sound. PANdemonium has recorded two world music CDs.

Pilar Leto, a creative and well-versed dancer, choreographer, and producer, is the founder and Artistic Director of the Odara Dance Ensemble. She has performed and instructed Brazilian, Caribbean, and Afro-Cuban dance in San Francisco, Japan, Philippines, and Hawaii, as well as Albuquerque, for over 25 years. The Odara Dance Ensemble performs regularly for community and cultural events, and appears nationally and internationally as well.