ARTSQUEST’S FRANK BANKO ALEHOUSE CINEMAS RELAUNCHES LATIN FILM SERIES

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The “Cinema Significa…” bi-monthly series begins on Nov. 13 with free a screening and live musical performance

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – ArtsQuest’s Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas (FBAC) will restart its “Cinema Significa…” Hispanic and Latin Film Series on Sat., Nov 13 at 12 p.m. with a screening of the 1998 film “Dance with Me.” The Lehigh Valley Urban Latin Orquesta will open the event with a live performance. Tickets are free and can be reserved at steelstacks.org/film or by calling the ArtsQuest Box Office at 610.332.3378.

“Cinema Significa…” was started in late 2019 with two sold-out screenings held before the pandemic shut the cinemas down. The series is now curated by ArtsQuest Cinema Committee member Alessandra Fanelli, an arts administrator and digital content creator based in Allentown. She also serves as a co-curator of the FBAC’s LGBTQ+ Film Series.

“’Dance With Me’ shows that there are two types of people: those who know how to live and those who merely breathe on a daily basis, and what separates them is simple: a love for dancing,” Fanelli said. “Coming on the heels of ‘Dirty Dancing’, ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and ‘Zorba the Greek’, ‘Dance with Me’ turned rhythm into soul and took things to the next level by setting the dance-fueled romance fantasy to a Latin beat.”

The film features Latin pop star Chayanne, who has released 21 albums and sold more than 50 million records over his storied career. “Dance With Me” also stars Vanessa Williams and Kris Kristofferson and was nominated for three American Latino Media Arts Awards (the ALMAs) in 1999.

“Cinema Significa…” strives to celebrate Hispanic and Latin stories and expand intercultural knowledge through dance, musical performances, movie screenings, Q&A panel sessions and other educational components resulting from community partners.

Fanelli said she has partnered with the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley (HCLV) to assist in curating this series in an effort to expand intercultural knowledge. Throughout the series, representatives from the HCLV will be present to discuss services they provide.

“’Dance with Me’ represents some of the diverse identities Cinema Significa strives to amplify,” Fanelli said. “It’s fun, colorful, and highlights Latin night clubbing as a passionate symbol for life; it’s exactly how I want us restarting this series,” Fanelli said.

Tickets are free and can be reserved at steelstacks.org/film or by calling the ArtsQuest Box Office at 610.332.3378. The next film in the series will be shown in January, title and full details will be announced soon.

ArtsQuest will continue to follow the latest CDC, state and local health and safety guidelines. Visit artsquest.org/safety for more information.

About ArtQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events.

Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, approximately 50 percent of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region. ArtsQuest is a proud member of NIVA, the National Independent Venue Association and NATO, the National Association of Theatre Owners.

Information provided to TVL by:
Nicole Harrell
ArtsQuest Director of Communications
http://www.artsquest.org/