MIAMI, FL. Oct. 22, 2020 – Just because we have to socially distance doesn’t mean we can’t engage in music and dancing — we’ll just do it safely at home. Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Koubek Center presents its new virtual concert series Little Havana Social Club ¡en casa! beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 with Latin Grammy nominee DJ and producer Mr. Pauer via Facebook @KoubekCenterMDC. Additional concerts will take place on Nov. 19 and Dec. 17.
“In this new series, we are adapting one of our signature programs, the Little Havana Social Club, which is a gathering inspired by the sounds and spirit of the fiesta de barrio that so many of us from Latin America and the Caribbean know, but with a Miami touch,” said Melissa Messulam, Koubek Center manager. “The Little Havana Social Club is a multidisciplinary experience including dance, theater, spoken word and the visual component that is so important. We know that there’s nothing like gathering in our garden, but our programming is still all about creating a dialogue between the local artists and the public. The goal remains building community through the arts. And music is one of the shared experiences that connects us as a society.”
Little Havana Social Club ¡en casa! will feature some of Miami’s top artists. The series will showcase the danceable Miami funk of Los Wizzards, the one-of-kind experience of theater and dance with Teatro Salvaje, and the Caribbean soul music of singer/songwriter Keba, in addition to reggae powerhouse Jahfe, singer/songwriter Leslie Cartaya and her modern take on classic Cuban son with elements of jazz and funk; and rapper/spoken poetry artist Lyrical G, the first student-turned-professional mentor at the Guitars Over Guns program.
Mr. Pauer (aka Toto Gonzalez) will be the emcee of the series, not only introducing the artists and conducting brief interviews but also playing sets between performances. Born in Venezuela and a long time Miami resident, Mr. Pauer adds yet another style to the music mix of the program. His work, especially his Electropico sound, mixing electronic dance music with several standard music styles from the Caribbean, sums up the theme of the series: tradition with a contemporary Miami flavor.
“I feel the way this series has been curated is very interesting because it has reached out to different nationalities, cultures, and music styles,” Mr. Pauer said. “And this will attract a different, wider audience. I’m looking forward to it.”
The performances at the Koubek Center theater will be filmed and edited by audiovisual director and producer Juan Enis who has worked with top Spanish and Latin American Artists including Alejandro Sanz, Miguel Bose, David Bisbal, Enrique Bunbury, and La Oreja de Van Gogh and directed documentaries for Spanish Television (TVE) and ARTE, the European Television Channel (French and German). Nicaraguan-born, Miami- raised artist Luis Valle, aka “El Chan Guri,” whose recognizable style blends influences from indigenous cultures and shamanism, will contribute to the visual landscape of the series. An internationally recognized artist, his work can be seen throughout South Florida as he has created commissioned murals, and paintings for public art projects, corporate clients, and neighborhood initiatives.
“We are very excited to feature a wide range of artists with a variety of cultural identities,” Messulam said. “This is really a way for Little Havana Social Club ¡en casa! to showcase the Miami that we know and love.”
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. www.koubekcenter.org
MDC Koubek Center contact: Adriana Oliva, 786-252-9920, adriana@aoinsight.com.