SATURDAY, MAY 10, 7 PM: EDDIE PALMIERI, & the LATIN GIANTS of JAZZ are featured at the LOS ANGELES LATIN JAZZ FESTIVAL. ORESTES VILATÓ, DAVE VALENTÍN, ALFREDO de la FE, and musicians of the TITO PUENTE ORCHESTRA. GREEK THEATRE, 2700 No. Vermont, L.A. 90027. Tickets available on www.ticketmaster.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 18: ECHO PARK CUBAN FESTIVAL! 12-7 PM. FREE! Stay posted for schedule of entertainment! CHARANGOA, ECHO PARK PROJECT... DJ SAOCO! Sponsored by DUVAL PRODUCTIONS, CUBA CULTURE FOUNDATION-CITY OF LOS ANGELES, COUNCIL DISTRICT 13, & the DEPT. of PARKS & RECREATION. For more info,claudia@duvalproductions.net.

THURSDAY, MAY 15, 6 PM: JAZZ CAPOEIRA SUNSET RODA. The MPEVULA COALITION (featuring ROBERT FARRIS THOMPSON!), and local artists presents an evening of music, movement and oral wisdom designed to unmask the essence of objective reality. You are invited to participate! FREE at UCLA's FOWLER MUSEUM. www.fowler.ucla.edu

SATURDAY, MAY 17, 6 PM-MIDNITE: SALSA & SOUL "THROW DOWN!" 70% SALSA, 30% R&B, Old School and Urban Contemporary! Dance it all: Salsa, Rueda de Casino, Urban Line Dances....Beginning salsa class 6:15-7 PM; $11 from 6-9 PM; $15 after 9 PM. HOLLYWOOD PARK CASINO (6th Floor), 3883 West Century Blvd., Inglewood 90303. Brought to you by WIL MCZEAL, and NASH PRODUCTIONS.

SUNDAY, MAY 25, 1 PM: "WHAT HAPPENED to the VOODOO QUEENS in MEXICO?" A lecture by DR. PATRICK POLK of UCLA's Department of World Arts and Cultures exploring "...the presence of African traditional religion and spiritual practice in Mexico while emphasizing the colonial period and how these ritual practices relate to the broader African Diáspora..."This event is in conjunction with *“AFRICAN PRESENCE in MEXICO: FROM YANGA to the PRESENT” extensive exhibition @ the CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM (CAAM), 600 State Drive, L.A. FREE admission. The exhibit continues until June 1. For information, 213 744.7432 or www.caam.ca.gov.

THURSDAY, MAY 29, 6 PM: BATUCLADA, UCLA's award-winning BRAZILIAN large-drum ensemble playing samba, samba reggae, maracatú! Join in on the fun and dancing. A FREE CONCERT at UCLA's FOWLER MUSEUM. www.fowler.ucla.edu

MAY 29-JUNE 1: ALBERT TORRES' 10th ANNUAL L.A. SALSA CONGRESS! This year the featured performer is CHEO FELICIANO! DANCE WORKSHOPS! PERFORMANCES! Once again the Congress will be held at the LAX RADISSON HOTEL, 6225 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90045! For more information on the Congress, and registration, visit www.mysalsacongress.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 1: 13th ANNUAL DÍA de SAN JUAN FESTIVAL, this year featuring ISMAEL MIRANDA, direct from PUERTO RICO. Also on hand for your dancing entertainment will be ANGEL LEBRÓN y SU SABOR LATINO, CHINO ESPINOZA y LOS DUEÑOS del SON, LA BOMBA MIX and others. The day-long event will take place at the of the QUEEN MARY EVENTS PARK in Long Beach. $25 in advance; $30 the day of the event. For tickets, www.fiestalegre.net. For more information, call 714 522-5890.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 8:30 PM: DJAVAN! BRAZIL's LATIN GRAMMY WINNER, composer/singer/musician will be giving a long-awaiited concert at the JOHN ANSON FORD THEATRE. Brought to you by BRAZILIAN NITES PRODUCTIONS & EYES OF A CHILD, INC. For more on DJAVAN, www.djavan.com. Tickets, $45/$65/$85 available online @ www.fordamphitheatre.org

JUNE 16-JULY: CUBA in MEXICO MUSIC WORKSHOPS! Master CUBAN MUSICIANS teach three sessions in MORELIA, MICHOACÁN, MÉXICO! ROBERTO VIZCAÍNO, congas & timbales; ALEJANDO CARVAJAL, batá; FELICIANO ARANGO, bass. For more info: http://www.contemporarymusicproject.com/cuba.html

SAT., JULY 19-SAT., JULY 26: 12th ANNUAL EXPLORATIONS in AFRO CUBAN DANCE & DRUM! A week of intensive workshops by some of CUBA's masters of AFRO CUBAN TRADITIONS of DANCE, DRUM & SONG on the campus of HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY in Arcata, California. REYNALDO GONZÁLEZ, SUSANA ARENAS, FREILA MERENCIO will be teaching dance; Song will be taught by Master LÁZARO GALARRAGA, percussion will be taught by FRANCISCO AGUABELLA, ISRAEL 'TOTO' BERRIEL, JESÚS DÍAZ, JOHN SANTOS, ROMÁN DÍAZ, among others! 3 levels of dance; 5 levels of percussion. For complete information, visit http://www.humboldt.edu/~extended/afrocuban/

AUGUST 1-15: REGISTER NOW for VIVER BRASIL's MUSIC & DANCE WORKSHOP in SALVADOR, BAHIA, BRASIL! Nine days of classes in AFRO BRAZILIAN DANCE, PERCUSSION, and SONG, plus days filled with concerts, festivals, Candomblé ceremonies, day trips, and encounters with many of BAHIA's important dancers, musicians, visual artists, and researchers. A visit to Sao Paulo's new AFRO BRAZILIAN MUSEUM begins the trip. $3395 includes air travel, accommodations, classes, and special events. For more information, and to register, visit www.viverbrasil.com

AUGUST 17-24; & AUGUST 24-30: CALIFORNIA BRAZIL CAMP! Two sessions of BRAZILIAN MUSIC & DANCE WORKSHOPS in CAZADERO. The impressive faculty of musicians and dancers will teach BRAZIL's folkloric, popular and jazz traditions, and includes ROSANGELA SILVESTRE, LUIZ BADARÓ, ANA LAIDLEY, CAROL BACH-Y-RITA, MARCIO PEETERS, ZE RICARDO, and many more! For registration information, and complete schedule of activities, visit http://www.calbrazilcamp.com

updated 5/6/08
CONFIRM ALL EVENTS WITH LISTED VENUES.

curuye.com chooses to post a limited selection of So Cal cultural activities, and thereby encourages readers to check other calendars and resources for other specialized events.