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Donning dancing shoes could lead to happiness

If you want to have a beautiful time, then put on your dancing shoes, and head to the Ramada Hotel Friday at 8 p.m. and enjoy Vivo, Cante, Danza, a celebration of life, love and happiness by Cuban-Canadian musician Adonis Puentes.
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If you want to have a beautiful time, then put on your dancing shoes, and head to the Ramada Hotel Friday at 8 p.m. and enjoy Vivo, Cante, Danza, a celebration of life, love and happiness by Cuban-Canadian musician Adonis Puentes.

Puentes will be performing as part of the Coldsnap Festival taking place at select venues around Prince George until Jan. 29.

"You're going to have a good time during this beautiful evening, you know?" said Puentes.

"We as humans share many experiences in life and love and I have realized [while] travelling the globe, it is the same everywhere," he said Puentes.

Puentes will carry on the tradition of sonero singers (improvising lead singers in salsa music). "Love is my inspiration and to play music is a great way to make people happy and to spread love. And love, now more than ever, is needed on this planet."

Puentes comes from a musically strong family. Father Valentin Puentes is a musician and music teacher, his grandmother played tres, a Cuban guitar and lived to be 103.

"I think you can say it was about being at the right place at the right time," said Puentes. "I feel blessed to come from such a musical family." His twin brother, Alexis, known as Alex Cuba, is also an amazing musician, he said.

After joining his father and brother on a coast-to-coast tour of Canada in 1995, Puentes said it was destiny that brought him permanently back to this country three years later.

"You know there are only a few things in your life that you can control and I grew up in Cuba and I love my roots, my heritage, my friends, my family, but I felt a need to come to Canada."

The Puentes Brothers recorded their first CD called Morumba Cubana and in 2001 it was nominated for a Juno award as well as a West Coast Music Award and a Canadian Independent Music Award. In 2005, Puentes released his first solo album called Vida or Life. Containing a diverse and dance-friendly collection of original, contemporary takes on Cuban tradition. Radio programmers nationally began spinning their favorites and Vida ended up on many Top 10 charts.

On Saturday, following the dance, Puentes will lead Share the Beat Drum Circle at the Fire Pit Cultural Drop-in Centre, 1114 Third Avenue form 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

"This workshop will energize me," he said. "Every single time I have a drum circle I share what I know and I have a fantastic time and I also learn a lot from the people that come to the workshop. Drumming is one of the most natural ways to make music. I believe it is a strong method of communication. You know, when you drum you release energy and I think it's magic."

An important part of the event are the stories the drummers will share about their culture and experiences of racism, belonging, and diversity. Novice and student drummers are welcome to bring a drum and join the circle while everyone else is welcome to listen and share the beat. The event will wrap with pie and tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

"I would like to say thank you to our Prince George fans for welcoming me," said Puentes. "I will be there giving the best of me and please bring along your dancing shoes. We're all their to connect with one another."

Tickets for all shows are on sale at Books and Company, 250-563-6637; Studio 2880, 250-563-2880 and the UNBC Bookstore.