Aurora Theatre’s musical, “On Your Feet!” chronicles the lives and music of the 26-time Grammy Award-winning husband-and-wife team, Gloria and Emilio Estefan. From songs like”Conga” to “The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” the musical is a dance down memory lane.
“City Lights” host Lois Reitzes spoke with Aurora’s artistic director, Anthony Rodriguez, and actor, Maria Bilbao, who portrays Gloria.
Bilbao spoke about the cultural impact the Estefan’s had on American society.
“The two are very big music figures, who started off in the 80s. They kind of paved the way for Latinos and Latino people who were born in America, people who immigrated,” she said.
Rodriguez continues, “They changed the game so much because they started out with Spanish language music, that was being played in a variety of Spanish-speaking countries, but they weren’t able to do their music in English. I know for me that when Emilio and Gloria really hit it big, there was just a light over my parents and my family because they were hearing the music of their home, but in the language of their new home. And it just gave them so much joy.”
