CONWAY, Ark. (Feb. 6, 2009) – Rica Obsesión, an eight-piece Latin band from Chicago, will perform Saturday at Hendrix College. The two-hour concert will begin at 8 p.m. in the Hulen Ballroom on campus, and virgin margaritas will be provided. The event is free for Hendrix College students and their guests.
Formed by two Guatemalan brothers, the Rica Obsesión family now combines the talents of nine members: founders Byron and Dennis Calito (congas and timbales, respectively), Harley Figueroa (saxophone), Adrian Ruiz (piano), Jose Porcayo (bass), Kenny Anderson (trumpet), and John Dorsche (trombone), with vocals by Jackie Patton and Alex Torres.
"It's awesome that we've been able to bring a band of this caliber," said Allison Selking, vice-president of Students for Latin and Iberian Cultures (SLIC). "There are so many members, and they're coming from so far away. As far as I know it's never happened in the history of the Hendrix Spanish club. It's a major step for us."
The band's passion is salsa, but they also perform merengue, cha cha, boleros, bachata and Latin Jazz. Hendrix students have been preparing for the event for three weeks, brushing up on their steps through several two-hour classes taught by dance team coach Andrea Morell.
The event is hosted by SLIC. For more information, including audio and video clips, visit www.ricaobsesion.net.
Hendrix, founded in 1876, is a selective, residential, undergraduate liberal arts college emphasizing experiential learning in a demanding yet supportive environment. The college is among 165 colleges featured in the 2009 edition of the Princeton Review America's Best Value Colleges. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. For more information, visit www.hendrix.edu.