For Immediate ReleaseFor more information contact:

March 13. 2012Rosalinda Luna - Latino Cultural Center

(214) 671-0049

The LCC celebrates the opening of American Sabor:

Latinos in U.S. Popular Music with a weekend bash.

DALLAS March 13, 2012– American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian, presents the musical contributions of U.S. Latinos from the 1940s to the present, exploring the social history and individual creativity that produced stars like Tito Puente, Ritchie Valens, Celia Cruz, Carlos Santana and Selena.
The exhibition will be on view at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas, TX, March 24 through June 17, 2012 and is free and open to the public. Developed by EMP Museum and the University of Washington, and organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), American Sabor will travel to 12 cities through 2015. The exhibition, its national tour and related programs are made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund. To celebrate the opening, the Latino Center will host a day-long open house filled with live music, break dancers, instrument making and dance classes. The event will take place March 24, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. all activities are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

In day two of the celebration, Texas Folklife and the Latino Cultural Center announce that for a third consecutive year, the annual Big Squeeze accordion contest for up-and-coming Texas musicians is being presented in Dallas. The Big Squeeze comes to the Big D on Sunday, March 25, and will be hosted by the Latino Cultural Center.

The Big Squeeze contest is open to Texas accordionists 21 years or younger. Contestants will be judged on song interpretation, technical skill, originality, execution, and stage presence. Contestants may register on site or in advance by calling Texas Folklife at (512) 441-9255 or online at Contestants should arrive for the auditions at 3:00 p.m. Acoustic accompaniment will be provided, but contestants may bring one person to accompany them if they prefer. The public auditions and special musical performance will take place at 4:00 p.m. The complete contest rules and entry forms are available online.

The auditions will be followed by a concert and dance in the LCC’s plaza by Grammy Award-winning Los Texmaniacs, who won the award in 2010 for Best Tejano Album. The band’s distinctive sound combines the rhythms of Tex-Mex, conjunto, rock, blues, and R&B. In addition, Dallas native and reigning Big Squeeze champion Ignacio Morales will perform on his award-winning squeezebox!Ignacio is a sophomore at the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, which is a highly regarded and award-winning school in the Dallas Independent School District. Booker T. recently won the coveted Grace Note Award for its nationally noted jazz and music performance programs and academic excellence. Ignacio joins an elite group of students who are alumni from Booker T., such as national sensations Norah Jones and Erykah Badu.

Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES)

SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C. for almost 60 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. Exhibition descriptions and tour schedules are available at

EMP Museum

EMP Museum is dedicated to the exploration of creativity and innovation in popular music. By blending interpretive, interactive exhibitions with cutting-edge technology, EMP captures and reflects the essence of rock ’n’ roll, its roots in jazz, soul, gospel, country and the blues, as well as rock’s influence on hip-hop, punk and other recent genres. Visitors can view rare artifacts and memorabilia and experience the creative process by listening to musicians tell their stories.

University of Washington

Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest state-supported institutions of higher education on the West Coast and is one of the preeminent research universities in the world.

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community partners to advance driving safety, education andAmerican heritage and community life.The Ford Motor Company Fundhas operated for more than 60 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company.For more information, visit

About the Latino Cultural Center

The Latino Cultural Center is a division of the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. Established in 2003, the LCC’s mission is to serve as a regional catalyst for the preservation, development and promotion of Latino and Hispanic arts and culture. The LCC offers a year-round season of programs, including visual arts exhibitions in two galleries and more than 50 dance, theater and music performances annually in the Oak Farms Performance Hall. The LCC’s signature family programs include Target Second Saturdays, the Día de los Muertos Celebration, and the annual Posada. The Center is located at 2600 Live Oak, Dallas, Texas 75204. LCC hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information, please call 214-671-0045 or visit our Web site at

Texas Folklife

Texas Folklife is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to presenting and preserving the diverse cultures and living heritage of the Lone Star State. For more than 25 years, Texas Folklife has honored the authentic cultural traditions passed down within communities, explored their importance in contemporary society, and celebrated them by providing accessible and joyful arts experiences. It is located in Austin, Texas, in the SoCo neighborhood—one of the city’s vibrant commercial and arts districts.

1317 S. Congress Avenue

Austin, Texas 78704

T (512) 441-9255

F (512) 441-9222

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