"ROCKER ROLLER RICAN" Film Festival Feature Luis Chaluisan Salsa Magazine 57 Minutes RICO!
MNN Time Warner Documentary About Luis Chaluisan Amherst 1986 BA Theater Arts. Rocker Roller Rican begins with film of Internationally recognized Nuyorican Performer El Extreme Luis Chaluisan in October 1975 at Amherst College (a mere three months after he turned professional as a dancer-singer at the age of 17 with the Alliance of Latin Artists in NYC.) It is thoroughly produced filmed review as he travels from the Bronx in 1975 to the present day through the national American arts world as a Ballet/Jazz/Salsa/Folkloric Dancer-Curated Artist-Latin/Indie Rock musician-CBS/Telemundo/PBS News Reporter-Television Producer-Published Author-Radio Show Host-TV Station Manager-National Slam Poetry Ct. Team Champion
By: Maria Hernandez
Executive Director
WEPAwebTV-Managing Editor
Salsa Magazine 7,400 + members
ROCKER ROLLER RICAN
Directed by: Maria Hernandez WEPAwebTV - New Edge Theater
Produced by: Mike Tapp MNN Time Warner Cable
Associate Producer: Ronald Chaluisan
Featuring: L.f. Chaluisan Batlle plus
Film Directed by: John Coles Talking Wall Pictures 1975
Film Directed by: Tony Ortiz Top Productions NYC 1984
Off Broadway Scenes Directed By: Petronia Paley 2002
Set Design by: Albert Chaluisan
Rocker Roller Rican - A Nuyorican Adventure
"It is an edgy take on a unique slice of Latino culture, presented with a very personal perspective."
Tom Zapiecki Production Manager at WBGU-TV
"Measured yet expressive, delivered with a weight and authority"
Toledo Blade community news WBGU-FM
"Among all the cookie cutters I’ve worked with over the years, Luis Chaluisan is truly unique."
Gerry Brooks Anchor news at 6, and 11 p.m WVIT-NBC CT.
"It's all the things that Luis Chaluisan is: infectious, deep, passionate, life-loving, beyond brilliant."
Gary Lee Washington Post
Critical Reviews of Luis Chaluisan's Work:
“Let the man talk to you for a half hour about his life and he'll make Jack Kerouac look like Emily Dickinson." Adam Klasfeld - Theater Mania
“Luis Chaluisan is a born storyteller. His gift for capturing the heart and soul of each character he portrays is not only convincing, but also inspiring. The show is full of humor, insight, poetry, and Puerto Rican pride. Chaluisan's smooth-talking narrator introduces the various vignettes with articulate wit and wisdom. One is a heartfelt homage to the original poets of the Nuyorican venue. His unique voice as a writer clearly displays his poetic influences”
Elias Stimac - Backstage
“In an era when spoken-word poetry has carved out a niche in slam competitions and even on HBO's Def Poetry, Chaluisan's work is old- school - often as literate as it is lyrical, stuffed with images drawn from New York City life. Clem Richardson, NY Daily News --NY Daily News”
Clem Richardson - NY Daily News
“An exceptional surprise. Juan Moreno, Diario La Prensa --Diario La Prensa”
Juan Moreno - Diario La Prensa
“El Extreme was the most innovative combo that I heard cranking out a compelling blast of pure fun that smashed the barrier between funk, rap, jazz and blues. They call their music "Psychotic Latin Blues," and that's exactly what tey sounded like- a great big Captain Beefheart-meets Sun Ra in Puerto Rico Jam. EDITOR & PUBLISHER Stephen Leon Metroland Albany NY”
Stephen Leon - Metroland
“Poet Performer recognized for groundbreaking work. Performing since the 1970's Chaluisan, a Wakefield resident, says he is honored by the recent recognition of his work ... but says "My goal has been to develop the art form and bring it to people who generally don't see it."” Noah Fowle - BX TIMES
“I think Spic Chic is strong stuff, right in the Nuyorican tradition. Poems and then stories back into poems that are often emotionally moving. A self exploration in a non-chronological history consistent in language and point of view, it is clearly a highly personalized work that is successful in the Nuyorican free-style genre and successful in the broader sense as well. David Henderson, author, ‘Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky: Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child”
David Henderson - Steve Cannon's A Gathering Of The Tribes Reviews
“Luis Chaluisan you have done so much for salsa music keeping it in the eyes and ears of so many. Your poems, music reviews and general news reach the masses and you shed light on the new, when people thought it was lost." Jose Vazquez-Cofresi - Orquesta SCC
