Top Five

Can't-Miss Shows at the Latino Cultural Festival

By Boris Kachka

Folk artist Simon Diaz.

(Photo: Courtesy of Queens Theatre)

1. Coral
With a major-label Latin album and 80 original songs under her belt, the 27-year-old Argentine alt-rock singer may just be the Liz Phair of South America. (July 31 at 8 p.m.)

2. How to Create a Rumba
Ivan Acosta’s music-filled documentary (with English subtitles) traces the roots of Cuban rhythm through its adapters in New York, Miami, and glorious Union City, N.J. (August 4 at 7 p.m.)

3. El Teatro De Movimiento
Alicia Sanchez’s contemporary-Mexican-dance company performs a world premiere of “Fuera de Tiempo” (“Out of Synch”), specifically commissioned for the festival. (August 6 at 7 p.m.)

4. Simón Díaz
World-famous for his composition “Bamboleo” and other Venezuelan-based guitar folk—used by artists like Plácido Domingo, Pina Bausch, and Pedro Almodóvar—Díaz makes a rare New York appearance. (August 8 at 8 p.m.)

5. Noche Flamenca
Not your run-of-the-mill tapas-bar fare. Eight members of this company take the Andalusian Gypsy form back to its gritty local roots. (August 10 at 7 p.m.; see listings for general festival information.)