12th Chano Pozo Rumba Festival Ready To Begin In Havana, 10/17/00

Havana, October 17 (RHC)-- The 12th Chano Pozo Rumba Festival is scheduled to begin on October 23rd in Havana and will be dedicated to the four most outstanding rumba experts of our time: Isabel Ibanez, Manuela Alonso, Caridad Cuervo and the Queen Guaguanco, Celeste Mendoza. The artistic dierector of the project, Orestes Vasallo, has called the festival "the last rumba of the millennium." The rumba is an Afro-Cuban dance full of complex rythyms that was born in Cuba's urban regions at the end of the 19th century. It's one of the most popular musical genres on the island. Luciano "Chano" Pozo was born on January 7th, 1915. He was an important composer, dancer and singer as well as a "rumbero." In May, 1946, Chano Pozo traveled to New York and performed with important musicians, including Dizzie Gillespie. He died in Harlem on December 2nd, 1948.