New Latin Dance Postage Stamps Commemorated in Conjunction With National Hispanic Heritage Month

New Latin Dance Postage Stamps Commemorated in Conjunction With National Hispanic Heritage Month

EVENT: Nationwide dedication of the Let's Dance/Bailemos
commemorative 37-cent stamps at the Puerto Rican Family
Foundation's Excellence Awards Noche de Fiesta

WHO: Willie Colon, Grammy Award winning musician and composer
Vonzell Solomon, Performer, "American Idol" finalist, former
postal Carrier
Copacabana Dancers
Edel Rodriquez, Artist, "Cha cha cha" stamp designer
Jose Ortega, Artist, "Salsa" stamp designer
David Solomon, Vice President, Area Operations, New York
Metro, U.S. Postal Service
Maria Elena Girone, President and Chief Executive Officer,
The Puerto Rican Family Institute, Inc.

All participants are available for autographs following the
ceremony

WHEN: September 17, 2005
7 p.m. (EST)

WHERE: Copacabana
560 West 34th Street
New York, NY 10001-1304

BACKGROUND: The U.S. Postal Service is issuing four stamps featuring
dances that trace their roots to the Caribbean islands -- the
Let's Dance/Bailemos commemorative stamps. Although the four
stamp images are similar in style, the four Latin American
artists who produced the stamp images never saw the other's
work. The stamps are being issued to coincide with National
Hispanic Heritage month, Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, 2005.

Mambo
Known for its up-tempo beat, fast footwork, and sensuous body
language, the mambo laid the groundwork for its offshoots:
cha-cha-cha and salsa. The "mambo" stamp was created by
Sergio Baradat, who left Cuba with his parents as a child,
and immigrated to the United States.

Salsa
The salsa was popularized in the 1960s by New York Puerto
Rican musicians who integrated rhythm, blues and jazz into
Afro-Cuban rhythms. The "salsa" stamp image artist Jose
Ortega, born in Ecuador, grew up in New York City and owns a
Salsa club in Toronto.

Cha-cha-cha
The cha-cha-cha derived from danzon, the European salon-style
of dance, took its name from the last three beats in its 1-2,
1-2-3 rhythm. Artist Edel Rodriguez, a native of Cuba,
resides in Mt. Tabor, NJ, captured the famous "cha-cha-cha"
on a stamp with vivid colors.

Merengue
The merengue is a blend of European and African derived
styles and is the national dance of the Dominican Republic.
The "merengue" stamp image was captured by illustrator Rafael
Lopez, who was born in Mexico City. He now resides in San
Diego.

Spanish speaking representatives are available

CONTACT: Melissa Dodge, office: +1-202-268-5188, cell: +1-202-360-1552, or Monica Hand, office: +1-212-330-3118, cell: +1-202-746-1689, both of U.S. Postal Service.

PRNewswire -- Sept. 14

Source: U.S. Postal Service

Web site: http://www.usps.com/

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