HBO Max Pa’lante! celebrates the history of bachata with an interactive one-of-a-kind New York City pop-up, “House of Bachata,” in promotion of the upcoming documentary and concert ROMEO SANTOS: KING OF BACHATA and ROMEO SANTOS: UTOPIA LIVE FROM METLIFE STADIUM, debuting FRIDAY, JULY 30 on HBO Max.
The documentary traces the ascent of the disenfranchised genre from the oppressed countryside of the Dominican Republic to its unprecedented international recognition—culminating in a record-breaking concert starring Romeo Santos, alongside the legendary bachateros that paved the way before him.
The week-long pop-up experience, “House of Bachata,” located in Washington Heights, the heart of the Dominican diaspora, will take place at 421 W 202nd St (10th Ave) from July 30 – August 6 (12pm- 8pm ET). The “House of Bachata” will transport you to a space that celebrates Dominican culture and bachata music featuring iconic fixtures such as a bodega, barber shop, and salon. In partnership with the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, the “House of Bachata” will showcase the history of the genre as well as highlight it’s greatest icons and their contributions, such as Romeo Santos. Programming and special events throughout the week will include an Opening Night VIP reception, Bachata dance class, documentary screening, children’s instrument class and much more. You can RSVP and see the complete list of programming on https://houseofbachata.rsvpify.com/
About Romeo Santos: King of Bachata
KING OF BACHATA, directed by Charles Todd and Devin Amar, and produced by Sony Music Latin, Chimby Productions and Scheme Engine, combines the making of and best moments of this ambitious concert with the travels of Dominican late-night host, writer and comedian, Joel “The Kid Mero” Martinez as he journeys to the Caribbean nation to find the soul of bachata. Mero’s journey takes us to the restaurants and bars of the countryside of the Dominican Republic, where the sound originated and retraces its rise to international recognition. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at Santos’ creative process, his inspirations, and his tireless work in the studio.
This documentary film and concert is a love letter to the genre, inspired by Romeo’s Utopia album. Featuring surprise performances from Cardi B and Aventura, the concert is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of Latin culture and a defining moment in the history of Latin music.
Other HBO Latino concert specials available to stream on HBO Max include “Juan Luis Guerra 4.40: Entre Mar y Palmeras” (2021), “Piano y Mujer” (2021), “Havana Street Party Presents: Beatriz Luengo” (2021), “Diego Torres Sinfónico” (2020), “Shakira in Concert: El Dorado World Tour” (2020), as well as “Havana Street Party Presents: Orishas” (2019) and the “En Letra de Otro” series featuring Farruko (2019), Gente de Zona (2018), and Pedro Capó (2017).
About Romeo Santos
The singer, songwriter, mogul, actor, and producer rose from humble beginnings in the Bronx, NY to worldwide renown over the course of his career. “The King of Bachata” fueled the success of Aventura as chief producer and songwriter before going solo. In addition to selling over 100 million singles and 40 million albums, he has won 17 Billboard Latin Music Awards, 8 Premio Lo Nuestro Awards, 2 Premios Juventud Awards, 4 ASCAP Awards, 1 BMI Award, and 1 MTV Award. Throughout the past decade, Romeo has collaborated with the likes of Drake, Usher, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Lil Wayne, and more. An accomplished visionary, Santos has also appeared in films such as Furious 7 and Angry Birds.
About HBO Max Pa’lante!
HBO Max Pa’lante! is a social-first audience initiative breaking down barriers for new voices and driving awareness to culturally relevant programming across HBO Max for Latinx audiences. Founded on the vision of empowerment, resilience, and hope, Pa’lante! (Forward) is a celebration of the ambicultural movement that elevates Latino stories and voices from across HBO Max.
About Sony Music US Latin:
Sony Music US Latin, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, is the leading Latin music company overseeing the U.S. and Puerto Rico and home to the most prolific artists in the Latin genre.
About Sony Music Entertainment:
Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a current roster that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre, including Arista Records, Arista Nashville, Beach Street Records, Black Butter Records, BPG Music, Bystorm Entertainment, Century Media, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Day 1, Descendant Records, Disruptor Records, Epic Records, Essential Records, Essential Worship, Fo Yo Soul Recordings, House of Iona Records, Insanity Records, Keep Cool, Kemosabe Records, Legacy Recordings, Masterworks, Masterworks Broadway, Ministry of Sound Recordings, Monument Records, OKeh, Polo Grounds Music, Portrait, RCA Inspiration, RCA Nashville, RCA Records, Relentless Records, Reunion Records, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International, Syco Music and Verity Records. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.