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A More Intimate Performance with Gregorio Uribe

A More Intimate Performance with Gregorio Uribe

¡A rumbear! Returning to our Villa Victoria Center for the Arts after last year's sold out show, Gregorio Uribe is bringing you another rumba colombiana - this time it with a more intimate twist. Last October, Uribe and his Big Band celebrated the release of their debut album, “Cumbia Universal” and have enjoyed a successful year ever since - including a sold out show at Lincoln Center an...

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10 Facts You Didn't Know About el Español

10 Facts You Didn't Know About el Español

October 12th celebrates Spanish Language Day - a day highlighting the importance of the Spanish Language. Started by the United Nations in 2010, we couldn’t agree more with the reason for its creation, with an “aim to promote and support initiatives that promote multiculturalism and multilingualism.” At IBA we want to promote this initiative everyday of the year through our variety of programs roo...

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Hispanic Heritage Month: Keeping Culture Alive

Hispanic Heritage Month: Keeping Culture Alive

We live in a country that thrives on diversity. Where a mixture of backgrounds supports our development as a nation, whether our ancestors have been here for generations or if we are the first generation of Americans, we integrate our roots into our daily lives and share our culture with those around us so that we may learn from others and others may learn from us. [caption id="attachment_7069" a...

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Language into a Beat: An Interview with Henry Cole

Language into a Beat: An Interview with Henry Cole

We’re excited to host this world renowned percussionist who is transforming the music scene: Henry Cole, a Puerto Rican native, alongside the Villa Locura, combines a variety of musical styles to create an entirely unique genre. His fusion of beats - from salsa, to folklore, to funk, to R&B, to jazz, to Afro-Caribbean rhythms - moves audiences to feel ...

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Keeping the Community Alive: Boston's First Latinx LGBTQ Film Festival

Keeping the Community Alive: Boston's First Latinx LGBTQ Film Festival

With constant efforts to expand the arts and infuse diversity into the various neighborhoods of Boston, we have partnered with The Theater Offensive to highlight the Latino LGBT community and present Boston’s first Latinx LGBTQ Film Festival. “I’m very excited about this collaboration with IBA and The Theater Offensive; there’s a lot of potential for what we can do together,” said Josean Ortiz, t...

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Relive the Excitement: Festival Betances 2016 Recap

Relive the Excitement: Festival Betances 2016 Recap

For the past 48 years, Festival Betances has brought together the Latino communities of Boston and beyond for a three-day event. This celebration of culture and customs occurs once a year in mid July with the hope of bringing friends and family together in a welcoming environment. Those that are familiar with the rhythms and foods of the culture can enjoy a piece of their heritage for the weekend,...

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Finding Beauty Everywhere: An Interview with Ricardo Maldonado

Finding Beauty Everywhere: An Interview with Ricardo Maldonado

On Friday night, July 8th, at Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, Ricardo Maldonado opened his show “De Aquí y de Allá” to the public. He is an artist originally from Spain who has been in Boston for many years. With bold, contrasting colors and images of familiar scenes in nature, Maldonado invited guests to appreciate the natural beauty around them. We had some time to speak with Ricardo, where ...

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Another Betances Reveal: Sunday's Main Act

Another Betances Reveal: Sunday's Main Act

The last day of Festival Betances, Sunday July 17th, we will be presenting a salsa band from New York, made up of 8 musicians, that live up to their name 8 y Más (8 and More), with their music they fill the stage and sound as if a full orchestra were playing. The band’s drummer, Bobby Allende, told us about their origins, music, and trajectory. 8 y Más was formed 10 years ago, but Allende has bee...

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Another Big Reveal! Interview with Festival Betances Main Saturday Act

Another Big Reveal! Interview with Festival Betances Main Saturday Act

Jesus Pagán is a Puerto Rican singer who has always felt close the salsa genre. Throughout his career which started in 1998, he has been part of the chorus or percussionist for some of the greatest of salsa, the likes of Rubén Blades. He decided to branch off on his own eight years ago, and since then his success as singer and composer has only been increasing. He will be performing his unique sty...

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Exclusive Interview: Our First Betances Reveal

Exclusive Interview: Our First Betances Reveal

Edgardo Zayas wasn’t always a Bohemia singer, he discovered his vocation while serving in the military when he was 30 years old. “There I started to feel that melancholy that accompanies the earth, that goes with listening to music. I discovered the content of "borincana" music, and ever since then it has become what I do." Bohemia music is made up of a romantic rhythm with nostalgic overtones, wh...

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A Big Day Promoting Education and the Arts

A Big Day Promoting Education and the Arts

Last Friday was an important day for our organization with two different celebrations: one for our little ones and their successful completion of the Afterschool Learning Program, and the other to mark the opening of a special exhibit, “Emerging Latino Artists,” featuring local Latino artists who are making significant contributions to the Boston art scene. Afterschool Program End of the ...

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Upcoming Bilingual Play with a Mission to Inspire your Family

Upcoming Bilingual Play with a Mission to Inspire your Family

Imparting our culture on to the next generation is a task in which we pride ourselves in. From traditions that span generations to the language we speak it is important that our children have the chance to experience it. With this same principle in mind was born a special theater company who has made it their mission to pass on our heritage through entertaining bilingual plays for the past 30 year...

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Playing Tango, as Far as Life Allows it: Pablo Ziegler

Playing Tango, as Far as Life Allows it: Pablo Ziegler

It is with great pleasure that IBA hosted this memorable concert, featuring two of the greatest maestros of tango: Pablo Ziegler accompanied by special guest Claudio Ragazzi. Ziegler comes from a classical background with an affinity for jazz which he learned from the father of Nuevo Tango himself, Astor Piazzolla. He is perceived as a continuation of this modern interpretation of the classic genr...

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The Importance of the Arts in Early Childhood Development

The Importance of the Arts in Early Childhood Development

At IBA we recognize the important role and the benefits of the arts in the development of people, whether adults or youth, It's never too early to start or too late to take advantage of them. Art is a language that allows us to express and develop our ideas and emotions; artistic activities are full of processes that help us to grow and stimulate our creativity while nurturing the soul. When chil...

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Women's Day: Stories of Latina Success

Women's Day: Stories of Latina Success

[caption id="attachment_5308" align="alignright" width="227"] Lydia Villa-Komaroff[/caption] Women of all backgrounds have made insurmountable contributions to every fiber that makes up the tapestry of society as we know it. Contrary to overly exposed stereot...

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