Get ready to rumba

Get ready to rumba as Radio 2 launches a season of dance-related programming with a new seven-part series from the multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan. Other season highlights include a documentary from Len Goodman, following on from his Dancing Years series last year, and, in December, a show called Super Troupers, in which Arlene Phillips looks back at the dad-titillating TV dance teams of the 1960s and 70s.

c’s Latin Beat explores the history of Latin American music — that bubbling blend of European folk, African music and indigenous rhythms. It’s an intoxicating mix of samba and bossa nova from Brazil, rumba and mambo from Cuba, salsa from Puerto Rico, cumbia from Colombia, tango from Argentina, mariachi from Mexico, and merengue from Dominican Republic.

Estefan is a good choice as guide, although you wouldn’t guess as much from the way she’s quoted in the press release (“I am so happy to be able to share my Latin roots and the passion of the music to the listeners of BBC Radio 2”) but the content achieves the nigh-on impossible of keeping devotees happy with intelligent insight from Latin American music experts and introducing the genre to people who know nothing about the subject.

On a final, more serious, note: let’s make the most of series like this while we still can — the BBC’s latest cuts have hit Radio 2 particularly harshly and it’s unlikely that such grand-scale productions will get made in future.
About this programme

New series. The singer-songwriter celebrates Latin popular music, beginning by exploring that of her homeland Cuba and tracing the roots of the Miami scene. Tonight's playlist includes Gloria's first international hit Conga and tracks by Beny More, Perez Prado, Celia Cruz and Roberto Torres.

Source: Jane Anderson

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Posted in Gloria Estefan , Latin American music , Latin Beat , Latina Gloria Estefan , salsa circuit , salsa dancing steps , Troupers

The Hues that Haunt the 2011 Latin Billboard Music Awards

Any red carpet event is anticipated by many as their favorite as celebrity fashionistas show off their gorgeous dresses and their beautiful smiles! Not only that! It’s a moment of eyeing for the best and worst dressed of the night!

It seems to that the recent 2011 Latin Billboard Music Awards night is the showcase of the best dressers in the women category, and no one had failed.

Here’s the proof!

Black Dress Rules! This is the night’s motif as Rashel Diaz, Katie Barberi, Maria Montoya and Gloria Estefan stepped in the red carpet all in a gorgeous floor sweeping black dress.

Rashel, Katie and Maria were one of the night’s presenters, while Gloria Estefan was awarded with the prestigious Billboard's 'Spirit of Hope' Award for her philanthropic work.

Royalty Reigns: Angelica Maria, better known as the “Girlfriend of Mexico” donned an elegant royal blue dress with diamond sequence, while Carolina glitters in that long slit body hugging glittering royal blue dress as they both smiles in the red carpet.

Gorgeous in Green:  Azucene Cierco and Alexandra Villegas looked smookingly hot in their sultry green dress as they strike a nice pose on the red carpet.

Sexy Angels in White Dress:  Liannet Borrego and Gloria Trevi lit up the red carpet as they donned adorable white dresses that perfectly fit their awesome figures. They both emphasized their slim tummy that wowed the crowd!  Gloria Trevi’s live performance was also one of the night’s highlights.

Unique Dressers of the night! These three lovely women stole the night’s best dressed award as they are the ones that seemingly donned different color of dresses.

Gabi Espino matched the red carpet as she nailed a designer made strapless red dress. While Aylin Mujica throw a peace sign t her fans dresses in a lovely figure fitting yellow long gown; and Maritza Rodriguez took a confidence pose in her long flowing gray dress in V-neck.

Have you noticed one significant person is missing in the red carpet arrival shots? Yes! It’s Shakira! The night’s female big winner, yet she doesn’t have any picture in the event. I have browsed the net and still, don’t even see just one.
I was really puzzled on what the sexy Shakira donned during the Awards night.

But, all in all the night is perfectly glittering with lovely women in their lovely dresses. Who do you think is the best dressed of the night?

Note: pictures courtesy of zimbio.com
By Joanna Rossi, www.salsacircuit.com

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Posted in 2011 Billboard Latin , 2011 Billboard Latin Music Awards , Gabi Espino , Gloria Estefan , Gloria Trevi , Katie Barberi , Liannet Borrego , Maria Montoya , Rashel Diaz , shakira

Gloria Estefan, Emmanuel To Receive Special Honors At 2011 Billboard Latin Music Awards

Gloria Estefan will receive recognition for her philanthropic work and Emmanuel will be given a career achievement honor at the 2011 Billboard Latin Music Awards in Miami on April 28.

Premios Billboard, airing at 8 p.m./7 p.m Central live on Telemundo from BankUnited Center in Miami, will include an appearance by Estefan, whose philanthropic work is being honored with the Billboard Spirit of Hope Award. Also scheduled to appear is Emmanuel, who will receive the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award for a career that spans three decades.

The Spirit of Hope Award, created in honor of Selena, is given to artists who have tirelessly given their time to civic, community and humanitarian causes. Estefan is known for her music across the globe and her philanthropic stamp also stands tall through her Gloria Estefan Foundation and many other projects she has personally taken on. The foundation helps abused children, raises funds for their health-related causes and provides scholarships to college students.

Emmanuel was discovered 35 years ago as "La voz del Heraldo," or "The voice of the Herald."  Since then, the singer-songwriter has become internationally renowned for a career that will be honored with the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award. The crooner was mentored early in his career by tenor Pedro Vargas. Emmanuel went on to record music that for more than three decades has continued to make new fans. His success also opened the doors for other Latin music acts, as he was the first international Latino music artist to have his own concerts in the United States at such places as New York's Radio City Music Hall, Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and the the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

Over the years, Emmanuel has received recognition for his work in music including La Voz del Heraldo in 1976, best singer and new artist at Festival OTI, 1979; one Silver trophy (Antorcha de Plata) at Viña del Mar, Chile in 1983 and two in 1989; and seven gold and two platinum albums. He has also lent support and provided awareness and fundraising projects that benefit the environment and other causes.

Winners of the Billboard Spirit of Hope Award and the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award are decided by an editorial committee, which bases its decisions on virtues related to that specific award. Previous Billboard Spirit of Hope Award honorees include Marc Anthony, Daddy Yankee, Shakira, Juan Luis Guerra, Mana, El General, Ricky Martin, Olga Tañon, Soraya, Ricardo Montaner and Juanes. Previous Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Los Temerarios, Vicente Fernandez, Celia Cruz, Joan Sebastian, Marco Antonio Solis, Miguel Bose, Conjunto Primavera and Carlos Santana.

The awards show can be accessed through www.Telemundo.com/PremiosBillboard, the official site of the 2011 Billboard Latin Music Awards Presented by State Farm for the latest information and details of this impressive event. Fans can also follow the event on Twitter: @LatinBillboards and on Facebook: Facebook.com/PremiosBillboardTelemundo.

Head here for more information about the Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards, taking place in Miami April 26-28.

Source  Justino Aguila, Los Angeles

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Posted in 2011 Billboard Latin , 2011 Billboard Latin Music Awards , Emmanuel Estefan , Gloria Estefan , latin , latin music , latino , Premios Billboard , salsa circuit , salsa circuit weekly music chart , telemundo