From the Pointer Sisters to the Bangles, TLC to BLACKPINK, and every Supreme and Spice Girl in between, all-woman musical acts have been making headlines for decades. That will be the case here when Pachanga returns tomorrow night to Bay Street Theater, where an all-female lineup will take the stage as a benefit for Organizacion Latino-Americana of Eastern Long Island (OLA).
The theme of this year’s Pachanga is ¡Fuerza y Pasión! (Strength and Passion) and features Lulada Club, a dynamic salsa band, Mila Tina, a multidisciplinary percussionist, and Inana Lu Rose, an actress and singer whose credits include Disney’s “Mulan” (2020).
The word “Pachanga” itself refers historically to a genre of Latin music that originated in Cuba and is accompanied by its own distinct and vibrant dance style. Here on the South Fork it’s one of OLA’s signature annual events, dating back to 2017 when it was originally called Pachanga for Peace and Unity. OLA, of course, is the advocacy and arts organization that supports the diverse Spanish-speaking community here and regionally. Its other events have included film festivals, talks, educational workshops, and direct assistance in matters of employment, immigration, and more.
“It’s exciting to have all of these uniquely talented and extraordinary women performing at our Pachanga this year,” Minerva Perez, OLA’s executive director, said in an announcement. “Our Pachanga celebrates the strength and resilience our community demonstrates in so many ways, each and every day. It also provides a space to celebrate Latin artistic and cultural heritage and to bring together the community members who make up this wonderful cultural mosaic that is the East End.”
Lulada Club is based in New York City and was founded by Andrea Chavarro, a singer and salsera (salsa dancer) who is originally from Colombia. She had been living in Istanbul and felt the urge to establish an all-female musical act. It finally took shape when she moved to New York several years ago.
“This project is a combination of my passion and mission to create more representation for women onstage and my deep love for the music I grew up with,” Ms. Chavarro said in an announcement. “. . . . It became clear to me that there weren’t nearly enough women represented onstage, especially in a genre like salsa. I have always been a salsera, and often when living in faraway countries with cultures very different from my own, salsa is what kept me connected to my roots.”
Mila Tina is a returning Pachanga performer, “skillfully blending the expressive force of drumming, dance, martial arts, and visual arts,” according to an announcement. She will be joined onstage by Ms. Rose, who is “a true demonstration of East meets West. Her voice is otherworldly, but genuine and world-class in its precision,” according to EastWest Sounds, a maker of music software and virtual instruments.
Pachanga starts at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow with a reception and cash bar for ticket holders. The music starts at 7. Tickets cost $20 by advance purchase online at bit.ly/3vVQ17Z, or $30 at the door.
