Queens Theatre in the Park (QTP) announces the Chase 2010 Latino Cultural Festival, which will take place from July 29 to August 8 at Queens Theatre in the Park.  This is the 14th year of the festival, which will feature 13 events including music, dance, comedy, spoken word, film, and family-friendly performances, such as a concerts by Leon Gieco, a pop-folk musician who has been called the Argentine Bob Dylan; Carlos Varela, one of Cuba's most talented and emblematic artists; Colombia folk musician Jorge Velosa, who will perform his creation, a new musical style called carranguero music; and singer Susana Baca, who has been instrumental in the international popularity of Afro-Peruvian music.  This year's participants hail from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, the United States, and Venezuela.   Queens Theatre in the Park's Chase 2010 Latino Cultural Festival includes:   Thursday, July 29, 2010 - Contra Tiempo, Urban Latin Dance Theatre Friday, July 30, 2010 - YOMO TORO Y Los Latino Del Son, Special Guest "El Topo",Music Saturday, July 31, 2010 - FREE - Pistolera - Moona Luna, Music Sunday, August 1, 2010 - Tango y Vida, Music and Dance Tuesday, August 3, 2010 - Alejandro Caceres Dance Company Wednesday, August 4, 2010 - FREE - Film - Al otro lado Wednesday, August 4, 2010 - FREE - Open Mic Night / Bonafide Rojas Wednesday, August 4, 2010 - FREE - Milonga - Los Chantas Tango Quartet Thursday, August 5, 2010 - Leon Gieco - opening act Claudia Acuña, Aquiles Baez and Lucia Pulido Friday, August 6, 2010 - Carlos Varela, Music Saturday, August 7, 2010 - Jorge Velosa and Los Carrangueros, Music Sunday, August 8, 2010 - Susana Baca, Music   "The Chase Latino Festival is the Theatre's signature program. It represents everything our Theatre strives to be in terms of reflecting and celebrating the cultural legacies of the communities living in our Borough, and inviting international, national and local artists to showcase their work at our venue. Despite the severity of the economic situation, this Festival continues to flourish, due in large part to its many supporters and sponsors, and of course, the curatorial vision of the Festival's artistic director, Claudia Norman, who has brought over 200 companies and artists to perform at the Festival since its inception in 1997," said Jeffrey Rosenstock, Executive Director of Queens Theatre in the Park.   "As the only multidisciplinary Latino festival in New York, we always seek to represent - in 9 days-  the diversity of Latino and Latin American culture. I think it's important to bring artists to the US from abroad as well as local artists and expose audiences to past, present and future through live performances. This year's schedule  includes the contemporary voices (dance commission, young poets from the boroughs, film), the traditional and popular forms (tango,  milonga, urban dance, comedy troup), the legends (Yomo Toro, Leon  Gieco, Susana Baca, Jorge Velosa) , and the new generation of singers and  songwriters (Carlos Varela, Pistolera, Lucia Pulido, Claudia Acuña, Aquiles Baez)," said Claudia Norman, Artistic Director of the festival.   Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 8pm Contra tiempo, Urban Latin Dance Theatre / Dance (Los Angeles, California) Los Angeles-based Contra tiempo fuses Salsa, Afro-Cuban, West African and hip-hop styles to create an invigorating dance performance! Like the communities it reaches, the CONTRA-TIEMPO company is a tapestry; its professional dancers, artists and musicians are also immigrants, teachers and activists. These political and personal landscapes are brought to vividly life in their electrifying work! "An edgy examination of the struggle for Latinos in the United States, and a joyous celebration of community!" - San Francisco Bay Guardian Tickets $35 day of, $30 advance, $28 multi-show Appropriate for ages 8 and up.   Friday, July 30, 2010 at 8pm YOMO TORO Y Los Latino Del Son, Special Guest "El Topo"/ Concert (New York/Puerto Rico) Yomo Toro, musical maestro and cultural icon for over thirty years returns to Queens Theatre in the Park !  Known as the "Jimi Hendrix of salsa," TORO's spectacular, pioneering use of the "cuatro" (Puerto Rico's 10-stringed "guitar") has thrilled fans of all ages in concerts throughout the world. His dexterity and originality can be heard on his multiple recordings, his contributions to Willie Colon, Aresenio Rodriguez and Hector Lavoe's albums, as well as in films, including the opening theme to Woody Allen's "Bananas." YOMO TORO will be performing with special guests. Tickets $25 day of, $20 advance, $18 multi-show Appropriate for ages 8 and up.   Saturday, July 31, 2010 at 2pm Pistolera (Moona Luna) / Family Performance (New York) Fans of all ages have already enjoyed Pistolera's toe-tapping music. Now, Moona Luna continues the party with upbeat, inspirational songs for the whole family! Moona Luna, the first female-led, bilingual band of its kind, is the new musical project brought to you by the Latin-Alternative group Pistolera. Inspired by the birth of lead singer and songwriter Sandra Velasquez' first child. Moona Luna's tunes continue the Brooklyn band's tradition of peppy rhythms and joyous melodies. Perfect summertime fun! A bailar! "This funky band blends ranchera, cumbia, banda and rock to make for a spectacular live performance." - New York Post Tickets FREE Appropriate for ages 3and up.   Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 7pm Tango y Vida / Dance (Argentina/New York) Tickets $30 day of, $25 advance, $23 multi-show Six dancers, seven musicians, a singer and an actor present the history of tango live on stage.  In a seductive revue that is TANGO Y VIDA, (Tango and Life), these international artists embody the heat, the energy, the controlled abandon that is the Argentine Tango.  Tango y Vidais truly multi-cultural experience! Tickets $35 day of, $30 advance, $28 multi-show Appropriate for ages 15 and up.   Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 7:30pm Alejandro Caceres Dance Company / Dance (Chile) Adventurous contemporary Chilean dancer and choreographer Alejandro Caceres premieres a bold new piece at Queens Theatre in the Park!  Dilei (Delay) explores the perception of time - the drives, impulses, delays and habits that shape our social discourse.  Using voice and sound used to create musical patterns in his work, Caceres continues to extend the evolving language of dance. This daring and audacious new work will be performed with a piece from his repertory.  This year, Alejandro Caceres has been invited as an international guest in Movement Research, the prestigious New York-based international center for dance. Tickets FREE Appropriate for ages 15 and up.   Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 7pm Bonafide Rojas / Open Mic (New York) "Def Poetry Jam" star Bonafide Rojas emcees an open call to all poets and songwriters!  Sign up for the opportunity to present your poetry and songs to audiences at Queens Theatre in the Park. Bonafide Rojas, who will host the event, is a television performer, a published poet ("Pelo Bueno: a day in the life of a Nuyorican poet"), and the 2002 Slam This! Champion. Tickets FREE Appropriate for ages 15 and up.   Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 7:30pm Al otro lado / To the Other Side / Film (Mexico) (Natalia Almada, US/Mexico, 2005, 66 min. In Spanish with English subtitles) Like many young men in Sinaloa, the drug capital of Mexico, Magdiel faces two choices to better his life: trafficking drugs or illegally crossing the border into the United States. But Magdiel has a special talent that could be his ticket out: composing corridos - ballads about the narcotics underworld and illegal immigrant life. For over 200 years, corridos have been Mexico's musical "underground newspaper," and the voice of those rarely heard outside their communities. From Mexico to the streets L.A., AL OTRO LADO explores the world of drug smuggling and immigration through corrido music. Tickets FREE Appropriate for ages 15 and up.   Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 8pm Los Chantas Tango Quartet / Milonga-Dance (New York) LOS CHANTAS TANGO QUARTET hosts a tango dance-party at Queens Theatre in the Park!  Collaborating with dancers Jennifer Wesnousky and Orlando Reyes, Los Chantas will present a night of Milonga, a lively form of social dance born in Buenos Aires and now delighting audiences around the world.  Wesnosky and Raphael will be giving a "fast course" for audiences who are dancing tango for the first time.  Los Chantas Tango Quartet is a New York-based multinational tango ensemble with a playful, improvised style, infusing classic tangos with invigorating new life! Tickets FREE Appropriate for ages 3 and up.   Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 8pm Leon Gieco / Concert (Argentina) with opening act Claudia Acuña, Aquiles Baez y Lucia Pulido   CANTO A LATINOAMERICA: Claudia Acuña, Aquiles Baez, Lucia Pulido For the first time 3 of the most talented Latin American musicians in NY working together in a special music program ranging from traditional to original songs.  Chilean singer/songwriter/arranger Claudia Acuña possesses one of the most beautiful and compelling voices in jazz and creative music. While singing primarily in Spanish, her music crosses language barriers to communicate with power and deep feeling.  A Guitarist, player of many Latin-American strings, and award winner arranger, composer and music producer, Aquiles Báez is the living history of music in Venezuela and Latin America, as well as an enthusiastic patron for countless musicians from emerging generations who have regarded him as a wise voice to follow.  Lucia Pulido is a Colombian singer with one of the richest voices on the international Latin American musical scene today. She has mined the musical traditions of her native Colombia and other Latin American countries in an ongoing search for a distinct, experimental style, and has participated in various projects, ranging from traditional Colombian music to jazz and world music.   LEON GIECO "The Voice of the Argentinian people," folk/rock performer LEON GIECO brings his socially conscious songs to QTP.  Singer and songwriter LEON GIECO is considered a "folk legend" in Argentina, where he has challenged the authorities with his outspoken songs. Hs gruff voice, his poetic lyrics, and his unique blend of rock, folk -rock, pop and blues informed by his deep Latin American roots have earned him a huge international following. For almost forty years, GIECO's deep convictions have endured and prevailed. Today, he is rightfully regarded as one of the most influential and important figures in Argentine music. Tickets $25 day of, $20 advance, $18 multi-show Appropriate for ages 15 and up.   Friday, August 6, 2010 at 8pm Carlos Varela / Concert (Cuba) With his powerfully captivating voice and six-man electric band, Carlos Varela will rock your socks off one minute, and break your heart the next! Often compared to Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, Varela is one of the most popular and provoking singer-songwriters in Cuba. His beautiful melodies combine traditional salsa and "cha cha cha" with international folk and pop music, and his poetic, socially-conscious lyrics have been hailed by The New York Times as "literary songwriting at its best!" A rocker and a troubadour, Carlos Valera is an artist of serious political vision and extraordinary musical gifts! Tickets $30 day of, $25 advance, $23 multi-show Appropriate for ages 15 and up.   Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 8pm Jorge Velosa and Los Carrangueros / Concert (Colombia) After a Madison Square Garden performance which was televised in more than 20 countries for over 150 thousand people, Jorge Velosa returns to New York City for the first time in fifteen year to bring his spirited live show to Queens! Jorge Velosa is one of the great international representatives of Columbian popular music , having invented an entire musical genre known as "carranga."  For over 30 years, Velosa has devoted to life to cultivating Colombian regional music - investing it with a spirit of brotherhood and a sense of fun.  Reflecting the soul, the hopes and dreams of the Colombian people, Jorge Velosa's music makes all borders evaporate. Exclusive NYC performance!  Tickets $30 day of, $25 advance, $23 multi-show Appropriate for ages 3 and up.   Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 7:30pm Susana Baca / Concert (Peru) Continuing its tradition of bringing the best Peruvian artist to Queens, QTP is proud to present Grammy Award-winning singer Susana Baca performing selections from her intimate and deeply personal new CD, "Seis Poemas."  With a voice that has been called, "the quiet storm," Baca pays tribute to Chabuca Granda, one of the great figures of Latin American song, and Federico Garcia Lorca, one of Spain's most influential writers. A key figure in the revival of Afro-Peruvian music, Baca also explores the rich sounds of her African heritage. Baca's earlier interpretations of Granda's songs, which reflect the simple beauties of Peruvian life and culture, catapulted her to international acclaim. "Susana Baca is one of the great voices of modern Peru!" - NPR Morning Edition Tickets $30 day of, $25 advance, $23 multi-show Appropriate for ages 15 and up.   In 1997, Queens Theatre in the Park founded the Latino Cultural Festival with the Latin America Cultural Center of Queens to celebrate the contributions of Latin American artists to New York's cultural life. Queens Theatre saw that a rising number of Latinos were calling Queens home and adopted an artistic vision that was at once local and global. Through the Festival's performing arts programs, Queens Theatre could better serve the changing community with artistic programs that were relevant and could resonate throughout the community.   Under the leadership of Claudia Norman, Festival Artistic Director since 1999, QTP highlights Spanish, African and Caribbean influences, presents rich folk traditions, and spotlights a range of popular and cutting edge artists. By amplifying new voices and showcasing classic heritage, she has transformed a modest cabaret series into the nation's largest and most important Latino multi-disciplinary cultural festival, featuring music, theatre, dance, film and family productions, as well as visual art exhibitions. Many of the participating Central and South American artists now make the Festival their exclusive NYC engagement. This once local effort to better serve Latino audiences has become a major cultural attraction in the northeast.   The Festival is sponsored by JP Morgan Chase, Time Warner Cable, Con Edison and DELTA.   Tickets are available: * Online at http://www.queenstheatre.org. * By phone at 718-760-0064, Tue-Sat, 12-6pm. * In person at Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY.   Queens Theatre in the Park is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY. By Subway: Take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point stop. Exit and turn left after passing through turnstile, walk downstairs on the parking lot side and follow the theatre shuttle signs. Take free trolley to the Theatre. Trolley runs for one hour before and after all performances. By Car: Take the Grand Central Parkway to exit 9E (from Manhattan) or 9P (from Long Island) and follow the signs for the Theatre.  Free parking in adjacent lot.   About Queens Theatre in the Park Queens Theatre in the Park is committed to presenting performing arts that provide audiences with the highest quality work. QTP also produces new plays, with a concentration on up-and-coming directors and playwrights.  QTP has broadened the experience of its core audience to include works by under-recognized artists from around the world and works that tap into the diverse communities of Queens.   Queens Theatre in the Park is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the New York State Pavilion designed for the 1964 World's Fair by Philip Johnson.  The Pavilion was converted to a theatre in 1972 and was operated by various organizations until 1985.  QTP was officially established in 1989 with the full support of the community and the Queens Borough President.  After a $4 million renovation that brought full ADA compliance, the Theatre officially opened to the public in 1993 in a facility that allows it to stage productions equal to those of any Off-Broadway house in Manhattan in its 464-seat main stage theatre and its 99-seat studio theatre.  What was then a small cabaret-style theater with an operating budget of under $500,000 has transformed itself into a major performing arts center with exhibition galleries with a projected operating budget of $3.5 million for FY10. QTP became an independent nonprofit in 1997.  It is a member of the Cultural Institutions Group receiving support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The Theatre presents and produces 300 performances annually.  QTP serves 100,000 people annually who reflect the rich demographics of its community population.  Currently 75% of the Theatre's constituency is from Queens. In addition to its own season, QTP frequently provides its space for use by community arts organizations and local promoters. QTP is soon to complete a $23 million physical transformation of the Theatre with funding provided by Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, The Council of the City of New York and the Mayor. This major capitalinvestment has added a 75-seat cabaret performance space with a full service cafe and kitchen facility; created a dramatic new 3,000 square foot lobby/reception area; provided new visitor amenities and improved the facility's accessibility. These improvements will transform Queens Theatre in the Park into a destination for the residents of the Borough and beyond.   Queens Theatre in the Park events are made possible with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.   The Chase Latino Cultural Festival is sponsored by Chase, Delta Air Lines (the official air line of Queens Theatre in the Park) and Con Edison. Media Sponsors of the Latino Cultural Festival are Time Warner Cable of New York City, The New York Times, El Diario and Telemundo.   Funding for the Chase Latino Cultural Festival 2010 has been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, The New York State Council on the Arts, and The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Additional funding has also been provided by Bloomberg, Harkness Foundation, Jerome Robbins Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, The New York Community Trust / Lila Acheson Wallace Fund for the Arts, RBC Wealth Management, The Shubert Foundation and the Arts & Business Council of New York.   For more information, visit http://www.queenstheatre.org.