• Dance class to live music beginning @ 8pm, $12.00
• Concert Performance beginning @ 9:30pm, $10:00
• Come ready to dance!

The Cape Verde Island were sighted by the Portuguese in 1456, by the end of the fifteenth century. Located 400 miles off the coast of Senegal, the Cape Verde Island became a navigational pivot. Cape Verde gained its independent from Portugal in 1975. Cape Verdeans trace their origins to the Portuguese settlers who intermingled with people brought from the West African mainland. America's more than 350.000 Cape Verdeans probably make up the largest single group of Americans who can trace their roots directly to Africa.

Maria Tavares
Veteran Afro-Cape Verdean dance instructor, Maria Tavares, has been dancing, strongly rooted in her West African/Cape Verdean heritage for her entire life.

In Cape Verde she performed with various groups, and through this contact with the music, Maria became very aware of her African-Cape Verdean origins and cultural connections. In New England she has performed with RhumbAfrica and many other African artists. Maria brings a lifetime of love and expertise to her community, which has long awaited the contributions of its African population.

In Cape Verde she performed with various groups, and through this contact with the music,while in New England she has performed with RhumbAfrica and many other African artists. Maria brings a lifetime of love and expertise to her community, which has long awaited the contributions of its African population.

Joao Cerilo
Joao Cerilo Monteiro was born in Cabo Verde Island and came to the US in 1982 bringing with him the musical traditions which he inherited from his family.An accomplished musician whose repertoire includes the traditional Cape Verde Funana, Batuku, Tabanka, Morna and Coladera. The morna, a ballad similar to the Portuguese fado, embodies Cape Verdean poetry. Mornas are slow ballads sung in Creole, a Creolized version of the Portuguese language.

Honored with the Artist Award, given by The International Gallery and Culture and winner of RISCA "Fellowship Folk Arts in Traditions" Joao Cerilo has several recordings to his name, the latest being "Kansera D'Spera" (2005) with lyrics that are filled with messages of hope.

Accompanied the rabeca (Violin), the Violao (Viola) and Cavaquinho. Funana and Batuku are traditionally from Sao Tiago Cape Verde Island. Funana is performed by a singer who accompanies himself on a Gaita, a Concertina-like accordion, other musicians usually provide a rhythm to include a ferinho or metal rasp.

ZENAGA
Pilon Batuku Band & Joao Cerilo