Miami Beach Arts Trust Does Mambo Night Right
Story by Mary Damiano
Photos by Harvey Burstein

Celebrate was the key word at the Miami Beach Arts Trust’s Mambo Night. The September 21 event, held at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, celebrated Miami’s rich dance and musical heritage, now commemorated on a new set of stamps issued by the United States Postal Service.

The main room of the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens was adorned with the artwork of Miami Beach Arts Trust board member Sergio Baradat, who designed one of the stamps. In a touching speech, Baradat told the crowd that he had realized a lifelong dream by having his artwork featured on a stamp.

More than 300 people attended the event, including singer Tito Puente Jr., who cheerfully handed out autographs. The crowd munched on tapas, enjoyed the open bar, and danced to music from the DJs at WDNA. They also received a history lesson in the origins of mambo from legendary dancer and personality Cuban Pete, who, along with his dance partner Barbara Craddock, gave dance demonstrations so the eager crowd could cut their own rug.