Miami, March 7, 2018 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Koubek Center will take its popular Little Havana Social Club series off site one night only for La Banda Morisca! at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 18 at the CubaOcho Arts Center in the heart of Little Havana.
While the Koubek Center will continue to host its popular social dance series at its gardens, this special event is a unique opportunity to expand the Center’s reach and collaborate with other cultural partners. It is also a timely opportunity to present this renowned flamenco fusion band direct from Jerez de la Frontera, during MDC’s 35th Miami Film Festival and MDC Live Arts’ Ojala/Inshallah series.
The changing border that separated the Arab-Andalusian Kingdom of Granada from the Crown of Aragon and Castile during the 13th and 15th century was known as “La Banda Morisca” – a place where Christians and Muslims, as well as the first gypsies coming to the Iberian Peninsula, met and coexisted.
Drawing their name and mix of influences from this strip of no-man’s-land, La Banda Morisca is a septet from Andalucia who incorporate traditions from both sides of the Mediterranean— including Andalusian moaxajas and North African chaabi– with flamenco and Andalusian rock on a range of instruments that includes oud (lute), guitarra Morisca (Moorish guitar), tarota (oboe), banjo, bass, percussion, saxophones and drums.
Acclaimed for their intoxicating blend of traditional and modern sounds, La Banda Morisca evokes the cultural heritage of ancient Al-Andalus and its lasting impact across Andalusia, the Maghreb, and the Near East.
Make it a night of Film + Music as cultural partners team up: Start your evening at The Tower Theater with Miami Film Festival’s screening of Indestructible: The Soul of Salsa at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 18, at the Tower Theater. The film follows Spanish flamenco singer Diego El Cigala as he embarks on a journey through Cali, Havana, Punta Cana , San Juan, Miami and New York. Then cross the street to CubaOcho Arts Centerfor the La Banda Morisca concert—the official after-party of the film festival screening. Package tickets available at www.koubekcenter.org.
The Little Havana Social Club series will continue the following month with the Betsayda Machado, “the Voice of Venezuela, ” offers up the spirit-shaking vocals and percussion of Afro-Venezuelan soul on Saturday, Apr. 21.
WHAT: Little Havana Social Club: La Banda Morisca!
WHEN: Sunday, March 18, at 6 p.m.
WHERE: CubaOcho Arts Center | 1465 S.W. 8th St.
TICKETS: $15 concert / $25 movie + concert Tickets at www.koubekcenter.org
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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; Jose Boza, Boza PR, 786-326-7988, jboza@boza-agency.com