Aventura was awarded the El Soberano at the end of the Casandra Awards that honors the best of show business in the Dominican Republic. Upon winning the top, overall prize for most outstanding performance in 2010, Aventura’s song composer and lead singer Anthony Romeo stressed that he is proud of being a Dominican, and a bachatero, a beat he described as one “full of feeling”. He dedicated the award to all those who mistakenly thought bachata was a beat that was only played in brothels and danced by drunks. Aventura won in the categories of Most Outstanding Group Abroad, Bachata of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best Arranger of the Year.
A long list of outstanding Dominican and foreign artists participated in the awards ceremony that was characterized by a diversity of music genres. There were posthumous tributes rendered to Luisito Marti and Luis (Terror) Diaz. There were performances by Rita Indiana, Magic Juan, Vladimir Dotel, Roy Tavare and Omega, Chichi Peralta, and Martha Heredia. Former Miss World, Mariasela Alvarez, Dominican top model Arlenis Sosa, and Dominican Olympic medalist Felix Sanchez presented award categories. And comedians Raymond Pozo and Miguel Cespedes were the masters of ceremony.
Special guest Haitian candidate Wyclef Jean was recognized with an International Casandra and took advantage of the award to thank Dominicans for their solidarity with Haiti.
The show is sponsored every year by Presidente beer (Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana).
The winners were:
Classics & Theater:
Best Actor of the Year: Kenny Grullon (Violinista en el Tejado, El Cartero)
Best Actress of the Year: Olga Bucarelly
Best Theater Director: Waddys Jaquez (La Cabeza del Rey)
Best Drama Production: La Cabeza del Rey (Waddys Jaquez)
Dance, Music and Shows:
Best Classical Dancer: Stephanie Bauger (Cascanueces/Carmen)
Best Classical/Modern Choreographer: Carlos Veitia (Elementos/Cascanueces)
Best Classical/Modern Performance: El Violinista en el Tejado (Guillermo Cordero)
Best Classical Vocal: Juan Cuevas
Most Outstanding Dominican Artist Abroad: Zoe Saldana
Best Classical Artist Abroad: Michel Camilo
Best Popular Group Abroad: Aventura
Best Merengue Orchestra: Hector Acosta
Best Salsa Musician: Sex Appeal
Best Pop Rock: Bocatabu
Best Contemporary Religious Music: Tercer Cielo
Best Orchestration and Musical Arranger: Lenny Santos
Best Songwriter: Anthony Romeo (Aventura)
Best Music CD: The Last (Aventura)
Merengue of the Year: Como Diabloes (Eddy Herrera/V De Leon)
Bachata of the Year: Dile al amor (Aventura/Romeo)
Concert of the Year: Travesia (Juan Luis Guerra)
Best Show: Cascanueces (National Theater)
Best Female Vocal: Jacqueline Estevez
Best Male Vocal: Issa Gadala
Best Bachata Group: Luis Miguel del Amargue
Best Grassroots Music Group: El Prodigio
Best Street Merengue: Omega
Newcomer of the Year: Tito Swing
Best Comedy: Llegando (Raymond and Miguel)
Television & Radio:
Best Investigative Journalism or Special Program: Nuria en el 9 (Colorvision)
Best Daily Variety TV program: Super Exitos (Digital 15)
Best Weekly Variety TV Program: Divertido con Jochy (Telesistema)
Best Weekly TV show: Gianni Espectacular
Best Children’s TV program: Kankimania (Teleuniverso)
Best Youth TV Program: Iandra Full (Teleantillas)
Best Comedy Program: A Reir (Raymond and Miguel)
Best Comedian: Raymond Pozo
Best Radio Broadcaster: Frankie Arias
Best Presenter: Michael Miguel (Super Exitos)
Best TV Special: Tiempo para Cosechar (Fernando Baez)
Best Music Video: Dime si lo ves (Pavel Nunez)
Best Dominican Film Production: Bosch Presidente (Rene Fortunato)
Best Film Producer: Rene Fortunato
Best TV Series: Juanita Gran Salon & Spa
International Casandra: Zoe Saldana, Sergio George and Jon Secada.
For information on upcoming events in the DR, see http://www.dr1.com/calendar