Marcelo Puig
Performance: Friday, December 7, 2007

Argentinean Marcelo Puig will perform traditional tangos, chacareras and zambas. The Chacarera is a folk dance and music that originated in the northwest of Argentina in the 19th century. The name originates from the word "chacra" ("farm"), as it was usually danced in rural areas, but it slowly made its way to the cities of that area.
Websites: http://www.tengotango.com/

Fuga
Performance: Friday, December 7, 2007

Fuga’s inspiration is anchored in the border of all borders — Tijuana.  This six-member Bay Area band will move you with their repertoire of rock, cumbias, and Cuba- and Veracruz-style sonero rhythms and inspire you with their social awareness lyrics.
Websites: http://myspace.com/fuguista

Alfonso Maya
Performance: Friday, December 7, 2007

Friday evening is headlined by one of the most talented singer-writers in Mexico today Alfonso Maya. His mastery of trova – featuring acoustic balladry and social protest song — combines poetic lyrics with contagious melodies. Maya began his career at the age of 14 in Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico.  He has performed all over the Mexican Republic, France, Spain, Slovenia and the U.S. His work was included on a compilation of best trova songs of Mexico called “1, 2, 3 por la trova,” produced by Fonarte Latino.
Websites:
http://www.alfonsomaya.net/
http://www.trovadictos.com/pmaya.htm
http://alfonsomaya.zonaacustica.com/bio.asp
http://www.myspace.com/alfmaya

Mauro Correa
Performance: Saturday, December 8, 2007

Saturday night will also be infused with the intoxicating aroma of Mauro Correa’s Brazilian rhythms.  Through his voice and his distinctive seven-string guitar, Correa takes us on a journey through the complex history of Brazil crossing indigenous, Afro-Brazilian, religious, traditional, bossa nova territories.

Aluna
Performance: Saturday, December 8, 2007

Aluna is a San Francisco-Bay Area multicultural ethnic and Colombian folkloric band. They will invite you to dance along with the traditional rhythms of puya and bullerengue with roots in Africa, indigenous and Spain. Their name comes from the Kogi Indians, a pre-Columbian tribe who live in isolation high in the mountainous jungles of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia. The concept of "Aluna" means pure thought, memory, spirit, soul, mind, imagination.
Websites: http://www.alunaband.com/

Marina Lavalle
Performance: Saturday, December 8, 2007

Encuentro will end its 26th concert with Marina Lavalle’s beautiful voice Lavalle’s musical offerings range from Cuban bolero to a delicious salsa to a classic Peruvian waltz.   Her musical career began when she was 9-years-old. She has performed with world-class musician, such as Pablo Casals and Carlos Hayre.  During the 70s, she was the main vocalist for the Cultural Association Peru Negro, presenting Afro-Peruvian music and traditional dances throughout the world.  She also collaborated with the Bay Area’s Cultural Association Rompe y Raja, and has performed at San Francisco’s renowned Ethnic Dance Festival.

The highlight of Lavalle’s Encuentro performance is a piece called Black Christmas from Peru’s coast where el niño negro is venerated.  This celebration’s roots come from colonial times when the slaves who where converted to Catholicism venerated baby Jesus with their African dances. 
Websites: http://www.derompeyraja.org/members.html

Bill Santiago (MC)
Performance: December 7 and 8, 2007

Journalist and comedian Bill Santiago is the emcee for the evening. Santiago was a regular contributor to several newspapers including The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times before turning to a life of comedy. Santiago is noted for his refreshingly intelligent and non-derisive humor, conveying the breadth of the Latino experience in the USA.
Websites: http://billsantiago.com/