Viva la Musica de Puerto Rico !

When you love your culture and your country, moving to a new land always brings a deep sense of nostalgia. You leave behind the streets you roamed when you were a kid, the foods that comforted you when you felt low, the buildings that cemented your history, and the music that made you move even when that felt impossible. Having left my homeland of Puerto Rico over 17 years ago I know that nostalgia all too well. I am a member of the Diaspora, and as such, I often look back towards my island and long to return, even as I realize that my path in life does not lead there anymore.

However, I carry the essence of my culture and my people with me in everything I do and say. The speed of my words, the loudness of my voice, the harshness of my opinions, my need for company and to get together around the table. Every time I see a beach, I've got to sample it. Every time I hear Spanish, I've got to listen closer to see if it's from Puerto Rico or Mexico or Spain. Every time I listen to music or watch a music show, I keep an eye out for performers with Latin roots, people like Ricky Martin, Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and Bruno Mars. I smile widely whenever a Puerto Rican achieves: when Puerto Rico came second in the Baseball World Series, when Javier Culson won medals for his hurdles running, when one of our chefs won the "best pizza made in America" award in a pizza making contest in Italy. Sometimes, I listen to the musical "West Side Story," just to smile at the fact that it tells the story of my people, and how we feel away from our island. Everything Puerto Rican makes me smile wider, and remember who I am. It is national pride, a fact that is part of my personality.

 

I love being Puerto Rican. This is why when I met Luisa, a dance instructor at the Albury Wodonga Dance Centre, I felt an instant connection. She's from Mexico, but like me, she loves her Latin roots. I mentioned my dream of creating a Latin entertainment evening, and she didn't hesitate to jump in. Together with her partner, Daniel, and with the assistance of the studio's owner, Glen, they allowed me to put together a night that features salsa, cumbia, and Spanish pop-ballads. They would teach salsa dancing to the Australian people, and I would sing. One of my dreams was finally coming true: being able to share the music of my heritage with the Australian public.

On July 6, at 7:00pm at The Rubix Cafe at The Cube, I will hold my first mini-concert, which means so much to me. I will perform songs by Hector Lavoe, Jerry Rivera, Marc Anthony, Shakira, Carlos Vives, and Tizziano Ferro. I will present songs my mother loved so much, such as "La Barca" and "La Puerta" in the style of Luis Miguel. The finale features the song "Hasta Ayer," a song that combines salsa with traditional Puerto Rican music. I know that the evening will be an emotional one for me, as my mind remember the many times I heard these songs in my family home, the many times they played on the radio as we drove around the island. I will feel pride and love for my country, my family, and my roots.

I am so grateful to G-d for this opportunity, for the support of my friends [whom I will not embarrass by mentioning here], and for the support from The Cube and local media. Also, the fact that my family always believes in me, that my mother and father always told me to reach for my dreams and make them come true. I hope the evening pleases the Australian audience it will be presented to, and that this becomes one of the many moments in my lifetime when I sing in this fashion.

Viva Puerto Rico !