`Latin dance band set to play at park`

Guaracha, a Latin dance band, performs Sunday in the second segment of Shenango Valley Per-forming Arts Council’s 1998 Pittsburgh Artists Series. The show will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Per-forming Arts Center at Buhl Farm, Hermitage.

Guaracha is recognized throughout southwestern Pennsylvania as the region’s foremost exponent of "Salsa" and "Merengue" genres of Latin dance music. The group has played in the Pittsburgh area since 1989.

Founded in 1987 by Cuban-born Miguel Sague Jr., Guaracha is a family affair. Sague’s wife, Leni, is a back-up vocalist and their son plays the congas, bongos and timbales.

The band features pre-Salsa ‘50s classics such as "Cachita,’ "Cuban Pete’ and "Babalu.’ It also plays some ‘60s crossover selections such as "La Bamba," and "Oye Como Va." Among contempo-rary numbers are "Morena Ven," "Bravo De Ve-dad’ and the "Mac the Knife" remake, "Pedro Navaja.’

Guaracha is a frequent headliner at Rosebud, a club in the Strip District in Pittsburgh. And the band also is a regular act at Cozumel Mexican Restaurant’s Saturday night salsa parties, Gateway Clipper Fleet’s international river cruises, Three Rivers Arts Festival, Latin American and Caribbean Folk Festival sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Latin American Studies. Guaracha also plays regularly at Persad’s annual Art for AIDS benefit.

The 11-member band may fluctuate in its make up, but it retains a rhythm section of keyboard and bass and percussion ensemble of congas, timbales and bongos. It also has a brass section of trumpets and trombones and saxophone. The local group features a lead singer and up to three female back-up singers, who also dance.

Those attending Sunday’s show are encouraged to bring picnics and lawn chairs. Rain site is Sharon High School auditorium.

Transportation is available for senior citizens. Arrangements may be made for clients of Arc of Mercer County, Mercer County Education and Rehabilitation Center and Keystone Blind Associa-tion. The shows are free but those who would like to donate to the series may send checks to She-nango Valley Performing Arts Council, Box 872, Sharon, Pa. 16146.

Contributors to the series are Vira I. Heinz Endowment of Pittsburgh, Edward J. Kavanagh Foun-dation, cities of Sharon and Hermitage, Sharon Music Club, Sharpsville Service Club, Kiwanis Clubs of Farrrell, Hermitage and West Middlesex and PennPAT. PennPAT is a program developed and funded by the Vira I. Heinz Endowment, William Penn Foundation, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Pew Charitable Trusts and Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation.

The Buhl Trustees provide the center for the concerts and the staff to assist. Melanie Werner is chairwoman; Pattie Segarra, vice chairwoman; Carol Simon and Jennifer Palombi, fund-raising; Barb Young, publicity; and Carole Dunkerly, Buhl Farm liaison.

Members are Marian Appleton, Rosemary Cerra, Barb Crago, Sherry Forner, Phyllis O’Meara, Ruth Petty, Ann Rundorff, Louise Saborsky, Ann Sandstrom, Karen Trapp, Susan Manes and Cathy Feeney. The next and final program will be Aug. 30 with the Tamburitzans of Duquesne University,

Pitts-burgh. The 38-member troupe will present folk music, songs and dances of eastern Europe. Established in the early 1970s, the Shenango Valley Performing Arts Council is a volunteer or-ganization serving the greater Shenango Valley. Its mission is to promote and encourage an interest for the performing arts.

SVPAC acts a resource, sponsor and presenter of cultural events for the community. The group also nurtures local artistic talent by providing an opportunity for artists to perform. SVPAC also sponsors workshops to foster and develop young talent.

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Updated July 14, 1998
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