OPEN Friday: May 22, 2026 [48:15-52:32]

Yup, it's all about community and joy and celebration. And I just love how much music and dance there's going to be all week and long. It's my favorite time of year. I know, it's my favorite time, too, because I'm part of it, too. Yeah, that's it. That's it. I'm the hostess with the most. It's alongside Javier Gomez from Brockstad as well. I love co-hosting with him. And so before we go, let's just share Saturdays. OK. So Saturday starting at 11 a.m. And it's running all the way till 7 p.m. So we start out with Maria Raquel, who's from Columbia originally. And she brings us all through the Latin American countries. And following that, we have our DJ sets with Uptown Vinyl Supreme, our Bronx DJ Collective, which we work with every year. Kali Rodriguez-Pena and Melange. He's a trumpet player. And I've known Kali as long as I've known military, because he was in the original formation of Bronx Banda, which was called Blitz. Bertha Marano and La Troop, they'll follow up Kali, Bertha's in both the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and Bronx Banda. So I wanted to uplift her this year. And then we have Tell Mari, which is super exciting, also from Havana, Kali's from Havana as well. And she is an Afro Cuban hip-hop artist. So it's like, from the Bronx to Havana, back to the Bronx. So I'm super excited about that. And she's not love that, aha. And then making this connection from the young artists of Kacita Maria to the OGs, we have the Mambo Legends Orchestra, which has original members from Tito Puente's Orchestra. And as some of you might know, Tito Puente was an alumni of Kacita Maria. So it's like talking about Dreaming Bay. We can have these young artists see that people are still playing Tito Puente's music. And he started out at Kacita. I love it. I love it. I love what you shared with regards to certain individuals being with a band. And now you're also bringing them on independently, individually, so that you can see everybody's growth as artists, which is what this is all about. And I love the variety. And so this is, I'm going to assume, oh, this is for you. We know this is my case. Yes, yes, yes. So we have it in blue for Friday for you. And then if you want to also wear a Kacita shirt on Saturday, we have our black version. OK, well, we'll decide whether I'm doing Saturday. But I'm definitely wearing the blue. I'm like, OK, we like the black. The black is for every day. And we'll have a Mambo dance lesson on Saturday to get ready for the Mambo Legends. So that's why we featured them this year. Love that. I love that. The Mambo dancers here. All right, well, we are running out of time, ladies. But I do want to thank you for coming on and giving us a little taste of what's in store because we're all going to be together that weekend as well. And you're going to be presenting very shortly. So I want to thank you for bringing your dance company and your drummers as well to give us a taste of what the live presentations are going to look and feel like. Yes, yes. I'm excited for our students and excited for the audience working together, all of us collaboratively. And thank for the opportunity to go see by you. All right. Yay, you guys. Stay too. Once again, Gail, I don't meet Daddy Tucker concept young. And we are talking everything the South Bronx culture festival, which is taking place on Friday, May 29th, and Saturday, May 30th, at Father Gigante Plaza, in front of St. Athanasius Church on 878 Tiffany Street in the Bronx. And for more info, you can visit us at maria.org. Don't go anywhere. Because Bombasso Dance Company is closing us out with some Bombas, South Bronx culture festival, me and Dad. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK. SCAPINY!