Circus Latino! at Edge-On-Hudson Offers Music and Circus Arts Along the River in Sleepy Hollow, Sept. 18-20

SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY--(Marketwired - Aug 4, 2015) -  Nothing brings a community together like a circus. When the circus comes complete with a 90-foot "Big Top" tent along the shore of the Hudson River and the sound and energy of Brazilian and Ecuadorian bands combined with the artistry of aerialists and acrobats, then you have something truly special. Circus Latino! will arrive in all its percussion-pounding glory Sept. 18-20 at Edge-On-Hudson, the former General Motors site adjacent to the historic lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. 

The artistry of Circus Latino! is sure to ease the back-to-school blues of children and adults alike, transporting circus-goers for a magical hour of unforgettable entertainment. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the fresh breezes and spectacular views from this riverfront site, while enjoying midway performers, grabbing a bite to eat, or marveling at the more than 100 hand-crafted lanterns created by local Sleepy Hollow artists and community members. 

Just before show time, the sound of parade drums will fill the air and visitors can join stilt-walkers, plume dancers and all of Circus Latino's musicians and performers for a "Batucada Parade," marching in to the Big Top tent. This magic is only the beginning, as performers from Westchester Circus Arts will blend their artistry with that of renowned musicians including Monika Oliveira, Jania Santana, Nanny Assis, Eddie Monteiro, Jazz Forum Arts' Mark Morganelli, and the venerable Grupo Inkhay. 

Brazilian singer Monika Oliveira was born in Belém/Pará and raised in Rio de Janeiro. She combines her love of Brazil's musical heritage and Jazz into a sultry variation on both -- Brazilian Jazz that is at once moving and rhythmic, pure and passionate. Nanny Assis is a drummer/percussionist, singer and talented songwriter and a recipient of the prestigious Brazilian International Press Award as "Best Singer of the Year." He has recorded two albums: "Brazilian Vibes" and "Double Rainbow."

Mark Morganelli is Executive Director of Jazz Forum Arts, a not-for-profit arts presenting organization which is co-producing Circus Latino. An accomplished performer in his own right, Morganelli is a trumpeter and flugelhornist who has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Syracuse Jazz Festival, the Du Maurier Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival, and the JVC/NY and Saratoga Jazz Festivals, among others. Morganelli's albums include "My Romance," his fourth CD as leader. He continues to perform with his Jazz Forum All-Stars and Brazil project around the region.

The members of Grupo Inkhay, all hailing from Ecuador, are, Rothman Teran, César Vele, and Iván Vele, under the direction of Pepe Santana. They play over two dozen musical instruments including a variety of pan-pipes known as "sikus," "antaras," and "zampoñas." They also play flutes called kenas, whistles and ocarinas as well as an array of percussion instruments. All of these instruments have their roots in pre-Hispanic civilization. "Inkhay" is a Quechua (indigenous South American) verb that means "to tend the fire," and the members of Grupo Inkhay have chosen this name to symbolize their commitment to keeping alive the music of the Andes Mountains of Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. 

Circus performers meld seamlessly with the music in dazzling displays of aerial silks, flying straps, the Lyra (spinning aerial hoops), and an acrobatic duo, with comic relief provided by a memorable comic trampoline act. The performers are led by Westchester Circus Arts directors Hillary Sweeney and Carlo Pellegrini, and include Henry Kravchenko, Becca DeAngelis, and Heather Franklin, among others.

Circus Latino! is co-produced by Jazz Forum Arts and Westchester Circus Arts, under the auspices of the Village of Sleepy Hollow, and is funded by grants from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and I Love NY, with lead private funding from Edge-On-Hudson, the master-planned community set for development on the former GM property in Sleepy Hollow.

Circus-goers can choose from one of five, hour-long shows scheduled rain or shine at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19; and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20. Tickets are specially priced to be affordable for the entire family at $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, or $10 for children under 10 years old. Free parking is available on-site. Tickets are limited and advance purchase is recommended. Online ticket purchase is available at www.visitsleepyhollow.com. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at Village Hall in Sleepy Hollow (28 Beekman Avenue, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.); at The Tarrytown Music Hall (13 Main Street, Tarrytown, N.Y.), and, subject to availability, on-site at Edge-On-Hudson (199 Beekman Avenue) at the start of each performance. Further information may also be obtained by calling (914) 631-1000.