Northern Virginia Jewish Film Festival Closing Night: The Mamboniks

Closing Night

The Mamboniks

Alexis Gillespie | Documentary | USA | English | 90 min

The upbeat story of free-spirited dancers in New York (mostly Jewish) who were seduced by the sultry music of Cuba and a dance called the mambo in the 1950s, sparking a worldwide dance craze. Their passion for Latin rhythms earned them the nickname—Mamboniks. Mamboniks focuses on how two cultures, Jewish and Latin, met on the dance floor, highlighting the power of music and dance to bring people together. Set in New York, Miami Beach, the Catskills, and Havana, this lively show features the infectious Afro-Cuban sounds of Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, and Pérez Prado as well as rare movie footage.

SPECIAL PROGRAM: Peabody Award-winning director, Lex Gillespie, will join us for Q&A following the film.

For questions or to request accommodations contact:

Sarah Berry