H2OMBRE, an enthralling, multi-sensory experience filled with exciting aerial acrobatics. (Courtesy: Adrienne Arsht Center)

If you are looking for an enthralling, fun and wet experience this summer, H2OMBRE is the performance you need to see.

VOXXI talked to one of the creators of the show, Pichon Baldinu, one of the most daring and original directors in Argentina. He is recognized for creating new forms of expression by transforming a show into a theatrical experience.

Using 6,000 gallons of water per show (the water is recycled from each show), state-of-the-art projection screens and monstrous inflatables, H2OMBRE is a multi-sensory experience filled with exciting aerial acrobatics, heart-pumping music and over-the-top visuals.

Q & A with Pichon Baldinu, the director of H2OMBRE

VOXXI: What inspired you to create this show?

Baldinu: In 2008, Ojala Entertainment was tasked with creating a show for 3,000 people to debut at Expo 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain, an international exposition that had the theme of “Water and Sustainable Development.”

We created a 30 minute show utilizing a theater concept, water pump system and rigging system all designed by our team, and audiences loved it.

A few years later, we decided we wanted to expand on the concept and create a new version that takes audiences into the mind and creative process of an Artist, the main character in H2OMBRE.

This allowed us to expand the plot, add more music and scenery, and include even more acrobatics, stunts, and, of course, water.

This is the version of the show known as H2OMBRE that had its world premiere at the Arsht Center on July 18 and will be playing through August 31.

VOXXI: Tell us who is behind and involved in the creation of the show?

Baldinu: The original creators of the show are Gabriella Baldini and myself, Pichón Baldinu, through our company Ojala Entertainment.

The composer Gaby Kerpel developed electronic music especially for H2OMBRE that really highlights each scene and makes a huge impact on the overall experience.

Sergio Trujillo was also involved in the creation of the show, he is known for his acclaimed choreography for Broadway hits including Jersey Boys, Memphis and the Addams Family, lent his talent as choreographer and creative director.

And last but not least, Scott Shiller, executive vice president of the Arsht Center, is also credited as a Special Artistic Advisor for the production, as he played an integral role in helping us develop the version of H2OMBRE.

VOXXI: Talk to VOXXI about the different Latin sounds that the show uses during the performance.

Baldinu: We love to immerse the audience in a “landscape of sounds,” and tried to create a musical repertoire that guides how the audience will experience the show.

I worked closely with composer Gaby Kerpel to develop the music pieces by sharing with him my thoughts on what is happening in each scene.

Due to our long-standing relationship from working together for so many years, Gaby was able to interpret my explanation of the show into a compelling, electronic musical score, which uses Latin sounds and some verses in Spanish throughout.

VOXXI: What does water symbolize in the show?

Baldinu: Water can symbolize so many things, creation, life, and creativity. It’s an amazing element to play with, and we’ve incorporated it into the show, as it’s beautiful to watch what can be done with the water. It’s also a lot of fun for the audience.

In the show, water is the main element that gives the Artist life, but it is also a force to be reckoned with – one that can harm the Artist if he loses control.

Members of the band from top left going right and down: Stanley Behrens plays the Harmonica- David Urquidi plays the saxophone and flute- Marcos Reyes is the percussionist, Stuart Ziff is the guitarist, Sal Rodriguez is the Drummer, Lonnie Jordan is the founding member, lead vocalist and plays the keyboard and Franciso “Pancho” Tomaselli – is the Bassist of the band “WAR.”(Courtesy of Rogers & Cowan )

Lonnie Jordan, the founding member and lead singer of the legendary band WAR, talked to VOXXI about the random places where the band has found its inspiration, and the upcoming expectations for their new album “Evolutionary.”

How the band WAR started and how everyone came together?

In 1961 we were called The Creators and were teenagers who knew each other from the neighborhood and through school. We evolved and started changing members at about 1968. That’s when we changed our name to WAR.

“Low rider” was a huge success how did you guys came up with this legendary song ?

The song came up by seeing actual Low Riders on the streets. At the time, they were only on the West Coast – from Los Angeles to Albuquerque.

What was the inspiration for “That LA Sunshine”?

My inspiration for the song is as simple as it sounds: ‘I woke up this morning to a beautiful day, pulled back the shades and felt the sun on my face!’ It really is about the beautiful Los Angeles sun.

Can you give a little bit of background about the Latino members in the band?

Sal Rodriguez, the drummer, is from Tijuana, Mexico. Marcos Reyes is our percussionist and he is from Chihuahua, Mexico. Our saxophonist David Urquidi is from Montebello, CA. Bassist Pancho Tomaselli is from Ecuador.

Tell VOXXI about the collaborations with Cheech & Chong, Joe Walsh, and the USC Marching Band?

Cheech & Chong joined us on “That L.A. Sunshine” by writing a comedy skit to incorporate into the song. It was great to reunite with them after they used ‘Low Rider’ in ‘Up In Smoke.’ That was the very first movie to use any of our music! As for Joe Walsh, we have so much respect for him and The Eagles, so it was a natural choice to use him on “Mamacita.” The USC Marching Band is an iconic Los Angeles band,and the song wouldn’t have that L.A. feel without them. Plus, the melody line in the song sounds like a marching band, so it was a great fit.

Do you have a Latin Beat song in this new album?

Yes, we do! It’s “Just Like Us.”

What to expect from the new album “Evolutionary”, especially after 20 years of not releasing a new album.

Our expectation is to release a new album to make sure people know we’re still here and creating new music for our fans. We always want to make and keep our fans happy with new music as well as our old.

The album also includes a re-mastered of their 1976 Platinum certified “Greatest Hits” album and for the first time it will be available digitally.

Natalia Rodriguez founded JIVA, instant Colombian coffee cubes and hot chocolate cubes sweetened with raw cane sugar.(Courtesy photo)

With a tight student budget and little spare time in between classes, Natalia Rodriguez founded JIVA Cubes.

Rodriguez, 23, created organic coffee and hot chocolate instant cubes that only need to be mixed with water or milk. JIVA now offers 100 percent Colombian instant coffee and organic coffee– in only 30 seconds.

The company, founded by Rodriguez and her partner Allen Gomberg, takes high-quality Colombian coffee beans, freeze dries them and mixes them with all-natural unrefined cane sugar known in South America as panela. Their secret is that there are no added preservatives in their product.

Rodriguez came up with the idea when her mom returned from a trip to Colombia with small panela cubes that dissolved in water to make “aguapanela,” a traditional and popular Colombian drink made of sugar cane that can be served hot or cold. Rodriguez and Gomberg wanted to make a product that was fully organic and nutritious for everyone as they became more conscious and aware about their eating habits.

Natalia Rodriguez funds JIVA through Kickstarter campaign

Rodriguez and Gomberg confessed that when they started JIVA they didn’t know what they were doing with their Kickstarter campaign, and that the social media and branding world was new to them.

The young entrepreneurs got to experience first hand what it was like to fail and pick up the pieces, work and try harder for their own business in order to produce a better product that people were going to fall in love with.

“We kept on failing, but we never gave up, ” Rodriguez said. They managed to receive more than $82,000 from nearly 3,500 backers for their Kickstarter campaign to get their company started.

The coffee and hot chocolate cubes are currently sold online. The name behind the creation has a strong meaning.

“JIVA is a Hindu word that means life force, spirit, basically it is your essence,”  Rodriguez said.

“We came up with this name because every morning you need coffee to start your routine. We wanted to be the inner force and the fuel for people’s life and because we are a to-go product, we always fuel activity.”

The dream of these two young entrepreneurs seems to be taking off. They  have customers, followers and fans all around the world purchasing their JIVA coffee cubes. Rodriguez and Gomberg want to encourage innovation to the new generation and they want to empower people to create something on their own so that they can be leaders in their own community.

Time magazine cover.

In front of many Latino students at Florida International University, Jose Antonio Vargas shared his experience about being an undocumented immigrant who came to the U.S. when he was just a kid.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist lives in legal limbo like many young immigrants because his legal situation depends on the Dream Act.

When he was 16, he rode his bike to the D.M.V. office to get his driver’s permit. When Jose handed the clerk his green card as proof of U.S. residency, the clerk looked at the document and said. “This is fake,” she said “Don’t come back here again.”He went back home and he confronted his grandfather asking if the green card was fake and with shame on his face his grandfather confessed that it was. At that moment he learned he was an undocumented immigrant.

VIDEO: Students from FIU (Miami, Florida) spoke to VOXXI on Deferred Action and dreamers

Jose continues to fight for immigration reform talking about Define American, a non-profit organization that seeks to elevate the conversation around immigration and the activist has a new cause to fight for, he is discouraging news outlets everywhere from using the word “illegal immigrant.”

Jose Antonio Vargas has become the most recognized face of Dreamers  since appearing in the Time magazine cover with fellow undocumented immigrants  “WE ARE AMERICANS” in bold, red, capital letters. An asterisk underneath says “Just not legally.”

VOXXI had the opportunity to interview Jose Antonio Vargas at the FIU event.

VOXXI: Define what it is to be an American?

Vargas: Thank you for asking this question, I define American as somebody who calls this country their home, I define American as someone who wants to work hard and contribute to this country.

VOXXI: Why do you support immigration reform?

Vargas: Why do I support immigration reform, I support immigration reform because it actually is not just about immigration you have to be tied to the very nature of how America is changing and you also have to be tied to.When we are talking about immigrant rights we are also talking about citizenship rights and I think it is so interesting that we can probably talk to a lot of undocumented people who proved to American citizens—what it is like to be an American like work hard, want to contribute, respect other people.

I think undocumented people are actually showing Americans why America is special, why America is great, that’s why I believe in this cause.

VOXXI: What do you think about President Obama and Mitt Romney’s immigration policies?

Vargas: Well I think President Obama’s immigration policies are much more married to reality than Mitt Romney’s. I just kind of tune out when Mitt Romney talks about self deportation, it sounds almost comical. It sounds like you push a little button somewhere and you just get ejected or something. It seems completely unrealistic and I think its incredibly disrespectful to many people. Again, people like me who is not like I’m the only undocumented person in my family. I’m actually the only one everybody else is an American citizen so can you imagine what they think when they hear Mitt Romney says you should self deport what is my grandma going to say, she is American citizen tax paid since I been here in the 1980’s.

VOXXI: What do you think about the future of the dreamers?

Vargas: I am optimistic that immigration reform its going to happen that means that the Dream Act goes first maybe by next year. I think it will, whatever it is I think the dreamers have completely pushed this issue. I mean they are the ones as far as I’m concerned the undocumented youth the people that have been coming out, I was late to the party they been showing up far earlier than me. I just showed up last year unannounced they been doing the hard work for years. They really deserve the credit for what’s happened here the fact that the dream act is completely tied to immigration reform.