Salsa star Johnny Pacheco was honored with top Dominican show business award “El Soberano,” while Merengue performer Omega stirred the audience at last night’s Casandra awards. In his acceptance speech, Pacheco thanked Dominicans for their support and said that he would have given anything for his father to have been there to witness his success. Despite strong criticism from women’s groups, fans voted to award Omega the Casandra for best “Street Merengue Artist.” Though the category itself has provoked controversy in artistic circles, it was Omega’s 2007 trial for domestic abuse that raised the greatest concern. During the ceremony, Rhina Ramirez received a special award and Jose Manuel Calderon was honored for being the first “bachatero.” Other highlights included Jose Pena Suazo who was awarded three statuettes. Performers at the silver anniversary of the Casandra awards included Karina Pasian, Alih Jey, Hector Acosta, Frank Reyes, Fernando Villalona, Rafa Rosario and Bonny Cepeda among others. Another high point of the evening was a salsa medley by stars Tito Nieves, Jose Alberto El Canario, Michel and Sexappeal. Special guests at the ceremony were Mexico’s Cristian Castro, David Bisbal and Paloma San Basilio from Spain, and Daddy Yankee from Puerto Rico. The winners at the 25th Casandra Awards are:
El Soberano: Johnny Pacheco
Classics & Theater:
Best Actor of the Year: Ivan Garcia (Requiem para una noche de viernes)
Best Actress of the Year: Maria Castillo (Tres mujeres altas)
Best Theater Director: Maria Castillo
Best Drama Production: Tres mujeres altas
Dance, Music and Shows:
Best Classical Performer Abroad: Aisha Syed Castro
Best Classical/Modern Dancer: Victor Ramirez
Best Choreographer: Waddys Jaquez
Best Classical/Modern Show: Estrellas de la danza dominicana
Best Musical: Les Miserables (Carolina Riva)
Best Classical Vocal: Marianela Sanchez
Most Outstanding Dominican Artist Abroad: Juan Luis Guerra
Best Popular Group Abroad: Aventura
Best Merengue Orchestra: Hector Acosta (El Torito)
Street Merengue: Omega
Best Salsa Musician: Sexappeal
Best Pop Rock: Calor Urbano
Best Religious Music Performer: Jose Luis Reyes
Best Orchestration and Musical Arranger: Jose Pena Suazo
Best Songwriter: Jose Pena Suazo
Best Music CD: Mitad, mitad (Hector Acosta)
Merengue of the Year: Una cosa que amarra
Bachata of the Year: Donde estan esos amigos (El Chaval)
Concert of the Year: KOB (Aventura)
Best Show: Hermanos Rosario Anniversary, 30 Years of Swing (Waddys Jaquez, producer)
Best Female Vocal: Cristal Marie
Best Male Vocal: Wason Brazoban
Best Bachata Performer Group: Anthony Santos
Best Grassroots Music Group: El Prodigio
Revelation of the Year: Issa Gadala
Television & Radio:
Best Investigative Journalism: Nuria en el 9
Best Daily Variety TV program: Show de Nelson (Channel 25, Santiago)
Best Weekly Variety TV Program: Divertido con Jochy
Best Variety Show: Noche de Luz (Channel 7)
Best Children’s TV program: El Campamento de Robert Luis (Channel 11)
Best Youth TV Program: Iamdra Full (Channel 2)
Best Comedy Program: Con Miguel y Raymond (Channel 5)
Best Comedian: Raymond Pozo (Channel 5)
Best Radio Broadcaster: Reynaldo Infante
Best MC: Jochy Santos
Best Presenter: Jatnna Tavarez
Best Music Video: Amor Samurai (Chichi Peralta)
Best Dominican Cinema Production: Ladrones a domicilio (Angel Muniz)
Best Cinema Actor: Manolo Ozuna
Best Cinema Actress: Sonia Silvestre
Best Cinema Director: Angel Muniz
Best Specialized Program: Las Sufragistas (Martha Checo, Jatnna Tavarez)