The influence of Latin music on American pop music and dance can be traced back as early as 1877, when the habanera dance rhythm worked its way into ragtime and early jazz. ¡Fiesta! begins in the 1920’s, when Mexican music joined the invasion of America with the “Mexican Hat Dance,” “Cielito Lindo” and “Estrellita.” Famous performers such as Gene Autry, Carmen Miranda and Desi Arnaz helped to spread Latin music’s influence, bringing the genre to a peak in popularity in the U.S. during the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s,

This festive tour takes you from Mexico to Cuba, Argentina and Brazil, with songs and arrangements from such well-known composers, bandleaders and arrangers as Ernesto Lecuona (“Siboney”), Xavier Cugat, Carmen Dragon, Antonio Carlos Jobim (“The Girl from Ipanema”), Manuel Ponce and more.