MIAMI, FL – Miami duo Afrobeta, dance group Developing Dreams and Venezonix, which blends Afro Venezuelan roots music and technology, will headline the new season of Little Havana Social Club ¡en casa! with a virtual concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 16. The series is hosted by Latin Grammy nominee DJ and producer Mr. Pauer and presented by Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Koubek Center.
Little Havana Social Club ¡en casa! performances have been filmed and edited by audiovisual director and producer Juan Enis and ARTE, the European Television Channel. The distinct visual elements of the show are by Nicaraguan-born, Miami-raised artist Luis Valle, aka El Chan Guri, an internationally recognized artist with a style that blends influences from indigenous cultures.
“We are very happy and proud to present this new edition of Little Havana Social Club ¡en casa!,” said Melissa Messulam, Koubek Center manager. “We started the series last year with the idea of offering a platform for great local artists and a meeting place for the community at a very difficult time, and the response has been so encouraging we decided to continue the program. We hope the community finds Little Havana Social Club ¡en casa! a place to share an experience with neighbors and friends.”
Comprised of vocalist and lyricist Cuci Amador and synth-centric producer/arranger Smurphio, Afrobeta has steadily developed an international following since bursting on the Miami scene in 2006. They have performed at major events such as Glastonbury, Space Ibiza, Burning Man, Ultra Music Festival editions in Miami, South Korea, and Brazil, Camp Bisco, and Identity Festival. The duo released their fourth full-length album, the self-produced Illusion Motel (Public Zirconia) in the fall of 2020.
The dance group Developing Dreams, choreographed by Pablo Malco, will offer a special performance of breakdancing, popping, and freestyling. The dance group is part of the Developing Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the education and development of the performing and auditory arts with a specific focus on serving underrepresented and at-risk children. In addition to performance opportunities, the Foundation provides quality after-school classes that include advanced level training in a safe, constructive environment.
Led by musician and producer Andres Ponce, a founding member of the psychedelic tropical soul group Elastic Bond, Venezonix blends roots and technology, drawing from both Afro Venezuelan and electronic music. The band’s debut album, the recently released “La Que Es,” features collaborations with singer Betsayda Machado and Parranda el Clavo, top exponents of Afro-Venezuelan music traditions, and a selection of genre-bending explorations mixing traditional instruments with digital textures.
Little Havana Social Club ¡en casa! will be hosted again by Mr. Pauer. He will introduce the performers, conduct brief interviews and play his Electropico sound, a distinctive mix of Caribbean roots music and electronic dance grooves, between performances. Born in Venezuela and a long time Miami resident, Mr. Pauer’s work underscores the theme of this Little Havana Social Club ¡en casa!: tradition-meets-technology in Miami.
Join the Little Havana Social Club ¡en casa! via the Koubek Center’s Facebook Page.
About the Koubek Center
A South Florida landmark with a long and rich history as a cultural hub, The Koubek Center is
dedicated to building community through the arts. Over the past several decades, the Center has offered a variety of activities including workshops, art exhibitions, theater performances, literary readings, and concerts. It is a place for artists and local arts organizations to explore and experiment, engage in collaborations and share their work with the community. The Koubek Center includes a 200-seat theater, an expansive garden, classrooms, and rehearsal and multi-use spaces. Built in 1929 by Austrian trader John J. Koubek as a gift to his wife, it was later donated to the University of Miami and acquired by Miami Dade College in 2011. For more information, visit www.koubekcenter.org.