Miami, Jan. 23, 2018 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Koubek Center affirms its role as a cultural treasure with a stellar 2017-18 Season Line Up, which expands upon last year’s thrilling signature series, announces a groundbreaking artist-in-residence program and introduces the re-birth of a beloved theater company.
“The Koubek Center is proud to be expanding its stellar arts programming and deepening our bond with the community,” said Jessica Gloria, Koubek Center’s General Manager. “Our programs offer a wide spectrum of artists and works that highlight the rich cultural diversity of the city.”
Little Havana Social Club kicks off with a 1940s-style ballroom social dance, Danzon Cubano! featuring Federico Britos yu su conjunto with the Emmy Award-winning Miami Dade College Orchestra in a tribute to musical legends Barbarito Diez, Benny More and Cachao on Saturday, Feb 17. Enjoy a romantic evening of slow dancing, beautiful attire, old-school manners and glorious music. The Koubek Center will offer a complimentary pre-concert dance lesson and will be blending specialty cocktails for purchase.
Other Little Havana Social Club events will feature the sounds of Pacific Colombia in a Chirimia street-style party featuring Rancho Aparte on Saturday, Mar. 24; and in the spring with Betsayda Machado, “the Voice of Venezuela, ” offers up the spirit-shaking vocals and percussion of Afro-Venezuelan soul on Saturday, Apr. 21.
And for families who want the experience but can’t attend late evenings, Playtime has you covered, celebrating: Colombian traditions with the folkloric ensemble Puerta de Oro de Colombia in Carnaval de Baranquilla on Saturday, Feb 24; Mexican heritage with a day dedicated to the Son Jarocho stylings of Veracruz, featuring Miami’s Ameyal and Chicago’s Ida y Vuelta folkloric groups on Saturday, Mar 31; and love of earth with Grammy-nommed Rita Rosa for Earth Day: Rumba Flora on Saturday, Apr 28. All Playtime events are free admission and include a combination of craft-making, garden games, music and dance and performances.
Deepening it’s roots and strengthening ties to the surrounding areas, Koubek Center has invested in artists who in turn invest in the neighborhood with a groundbreaking new initiative aligning art with activism and artist with community: En Residencia. Four artists/ artistic teams will immerse themselves into life in Little Havana for six-month residencies culminating in community-engaged art projects celebrating life in this iconic neighborhood. Congratulations to artist, researcher and flamenco dancer Niurca Marquez; artists, theater and performance practitioners Fernando Calzadilla & Maria Paula Cruz; conceptual artist Domingo Castillo; and performance artists Liz Ferrer & Bowtie. As they settle in and stir up, expect activities, gatherings, disruptions and discussions as their works-in-progress evolve. Stay tuned for more information and follow the artsits #EnResidencia or koubekcenter.org/ enresidencia.
Koubek Center promises to be robust with activity, from the gardens to the streets, and also the stage. Teatro Prometeo, MDC’s Spanish-language theatre company, enters an era of revival and renewal, offering high quality theater productions, specialized workshops taught by recognized artists, opportunities to share the stage with theater professionals, and support for new and cutting-edge work. The Spanish-language theatre company will continue to offer its ever-popular children’s and adolescents’ programs, Prometeitos and Prometeens.
The historic mansion and gardens have undergone a major transformation since its adoption unto the MDC family of iconic buildings a few years ago. After a period physical revitalization and strategic partnering, the Koubek Center took steps to becoming a vertible performing arts center in its own right. It became home to Teatro Prometeo, MDC’s Spanish language theater company, and realized it’s own distinctive programming with the Little Havana Social Club concert/ social dance series and Playtime, Dia de Las Familias bilingual family activities series. It continues to serve as hub for like-minded cultural partners, and is activating new ways to reach out and give back to the neighborhood, as with its new Knight-funded residency program.
The complete 2017-18 Koubek Center Season:
Little Havana Social Club: Danzon Cubano!
Federico Britos y su conjunto and the Miami Dade College Orchestra
Saturday, Feb 17 at 8 p.m.
A 1940s-style ballroom social dance in tribute to legends Barbarito Diez, Benny Moré and Cachao.
$20 advance / $25 Day-Of. Tickets at koubekcenter.org
Playtime: Carnaval de Barranquilla
Saturday, Feb 24 from 12 -4 p.m.
Celebrate Colombian traditions with the Puerta de Oro de Colombia folkloric ensemble! Music & dance performances and much more.
Free Admission.
Little Havana Social Club: Pacific Colombian Street Party
Rancho Aparte
Saturday, Mar 24 at 8 p.m.
An upbeat Afro-Colombian marching-band dance party from the Chocó region.
$20 advance / $25 Day-Of. Tickets at koubekcenter.org
Playtime: Son Jarocho
Saturday, Mar 31 from 12 – 4 p.m.
A fun-filled day of Son Jarocho music & dance from Veracruz, Mexico. Miami’s own Ameyal Mexican Cultural Organization joins forces with Chicago’s Ida y Vuelta folkloric ensemble to offer music, dance, crafts and their new production Bajalú – a Son Jarocho puppet odyssey!
Free Admission.
Little Havana Social Club: Afro Venezuelan Soul
Betsayda Machado y Parranda el Clavo
Saturday, Apr 21 at 8 p.m.
The “Voice of Venezuela” brings her powerhouse vocals, spirit-shaking percussion and pointed lyrics from the country’s Caribbean coast.
$20 advance / $25 Day-Of. Tickets at koubekcenter.org
Playtime: Earth Day: Rumba Flora
Saturday, Apr 28 from 12 -4 p.m.
Honor Mother Earth with children’s educator and Grammy-nominated singer Rita Rosa and her show Rumba Flora! Explore recyclables and learn how to take care of our environment with workshops, craft activities and more!
Free Admission.
For more information, visit the Koubek Center’s new website at Koubekcenter.org . Stay up to date by signing up for the newsletter and following on social media.
About The Koubek Center
The Koubek Center is an intellectual, cultural, and community hub in the heart of Little Havana. A historic landmark in South Florida, the revitalized mansion remains true to its pioneering heritage—celebrating its multicultural community with workshops, art exhibitions, theater performances, literary readings, concerts and more. In addition to the mansion, the iconic space includes glorious gardens, the Koubek theater, the ArtSpace gallery, classrooms, and mini performance spaces.
The programs of Koubek Center are made possible with the generous support of: Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissionaires; the State of Florida, Department of State , Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Southern Exposure: Performing Arts of Latin America, a program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts; and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
MDC Live Arts Contact: Alexa Burneikis, 305-237-7733, aburneik@mdc.edu;