Acadiana Center for the Arts is excited to bring Acadiana Joaquin Diaz for a Merengue Extravaganza and Latin Festival Kick-off party, Friday, September 30 at 8:00 p.m. This is the most dance provoking, traditional merengue music you'll ever hear! General admission and reserved table seats are available and the Moncus Theater will be reconfigured to become a jazz club, complete with a dance floor.

Joaquin Diaz's enthusiasm on stage is totally irresistible – his light-fingered accordion playing and infectious vocals drenched in Latin soul make this Caribbean maestro the best of the new generation of traditional merengue artists. His repertoire is a mixture of traditional and original tunes characterized by exhilarating rhythms.

Diaz's musical career began on the streets of Santo Domingo when he was nine years old. At the age of 12, this Dominican king of accordion was playing in the most prestigious Regencies of the capital. In 1990, Diaz brought Dominican magic and his accordion wizardry with him to Canada. Now residing in Montréal, he and his extremely talented musicians have thrilled multi-cultural audiences throughout North America and Europe.

"We are thrilled to be able to partner with this years Latin Festival to bring this extraordinary artist to AcA," says AcA executive director Dr. Gerd Wuestemann. "Celebrating the music of the Americas also allows us to celebrate the continued story of new populations that re-defines our life and culture here in Acadiana. Doing it with such a great musician and accordion virtuoso - an instrument we can certainly relate to here in Acadiana - makes it all the better. Thanks to the incredible modular design of the AcA's Moncus Theater, we can present this great band party style, complete with table seating and a dance floor."

Tickets are $15 general admission, $25 reserved table seating with cocktail service.

Tickets can be purchased at AcadianaCenterforArts.org/Tickets, calling 337.233.7060 or visiting the Box Office at 101 W Vermillion St Lafayette, LA.

Box Office hours are Tue - Sat, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.