The Valentines Day concert by Gitana Productions celebrates women and all who love them, according to Cecilia Nadal, executive director.

Gitana’s 18th annual Faces of Love Concert celebrates women and all who love them with music, dance and song. Featured performers include internationally renowned violinist Aska Kaneko, a principal member of the Gaia Cuatro Quartet, and Jasnam Daya Singh, pianist and composer from Brazil. Local musicians, a singer and dancers also will perform.

Guests can enjoy a pre-concert Valentine’s Day reception Candlelight, Chocolate and Champagne at 7:00 p.m. and help raise funds for Gitana’s upcoming play “Black and Blue,” inspired by recent Ferguson events and written by Lee Patton Chiles. Reservations and a minimum donation of $20 per person are required for the reception; guests will have a chance to win a one-night stay or $50 certificate for dinner at the fabulous Moonrise Hotel.

Highly acclaimed in Japan and Europe, Aska Kaneko explores a new frontier of new age and contemporary rhythms with a spiritual intent. Accompanying Aska will be Brazilian pianist and composer Jasnam Daya Singh, a favorite at the Monterey Jazz Festival who is equally comfortable with classical music and composition. Other performers include:
• Singer Ruth Latchison-Nichols, who has frequently played the great Mahalia Jackson on stage with her powerful and soulful voice and was a featured actress in Gitana’s production of “Eye On the Sparrow”;
• Amy Camie, award winning recording artist and harpist featured at Gitana’s St. Louis World Sacred Music Festival;
• Leverage Dance Theater will choreograph and dance to the music of Aska Kaneko. Dancer Amy Camie will celebrate the divine feminine through movement.

Tickets for the performance are $25. The Candlelight, Chocolate and Champagne reception at 7 p.m. is included with an additional donation of $20 or more per person. Tickets may be purchased online at www.gitana-inc.org, at the box office or by calling (314) 721-6556. Tickets also are available at Macro Sun International, 1310 Washington Ave. and 6273 Delmar in the Loop; and at Mystic Valley, 7241 Manchester Rd. Group discounts for 10 or more can be arranged by calling (314) 721-6556.

The Regional Arts Commission and the Missouri Arts Council have provided funding to support Gitana Productions events.

Gitana Productions, Inc. is a not-for-profit arts and education organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural awareness and collaboration by bringing international music, dance and drama to the St. Louis community. Gitana events present a rarely seen diversity of international and local artists exhibiting an array of traditional and innovative artistic expressions. For more information, visit www.gitana-inc.org or call Gitana Productions at (314) 721-6556.

Media Contact
Sharon Thatcher
[email protected]
314-721-6556

(Pictures available upon request)