Astrid La Holandesa

Astrid Pulles “La Holandesa” was born in Vlijmen, The Netherlands in 1966. At the age of 6 she started to study classical piano. During her childhood and adolescence she participated in a lot of cultural activities, performing piano concerts. In 1986 she moved to the city of Amsterdam where she studied “Spanish Language and Literature” y “General Linguistics” at the University of Amsterdam. From 1987 till 1992 she participated in the organisation of the multicultural musical festival “5th of May Bevrijdingspop” in Haarlem, with an audience of 60.000 persons. She also worked at the opera theatre “Muziektheater” and the comedy theatre “De Kleine Komedie” in Amsterdam. Thanks to her passion for salsa and her talent to speak Spanish, she starts her singing career in 1990. She sings with bands like “Rumbata”, “Perfume de Salsa”, “Salsa Macamba”, “Bilongo”, “Coupe Cubana”, “Rumbadama”, “Cha Charanga” a.o. Astrid studied with three great singers: jazz singer Astrid Seriese, opera singer Marjo Ingen – Soet and Venezuelan folk singer Israel Pérez. He invited her to sing in the choir of the University Central of Venezuela. In 1993, percussionist and producer Gerardo Rosales discovers Astrid and baptizes her like “La Sorpresa Holandesa”. From now on people from all over the world get to know her as the first salsa singer given by the land of tulips. From 1995 till this moment, she is the vocalist of the orchestra of Gerardo Rosales, with whom she has participated in multiples tours, recordings and concerts in theatres and festivals all over Europe, Venezuela and New York. In 1998 Astrid “La Holandesa” participates in a special project organized by Dutch Latin magazine “Oye Listen”, with the special participation of Alberto Naranjo, director of Venezuelan band “Trabuco venezolano” and musical arranger of the successful movie “Mambo Kings”. In April 2001 she travels to New York, to record the salsa cd “La Salsa es mi Vida” with Gerardo Rosales. According to the Latin magazine “Latin Beat”, the theme “Sorpresa Holandesa” reaches nr. 5 in New York in September 2002. From 2000 till 2003 Astrid participates with the mobile visual street theatre group Close Act. In 2002 Astrid acts and sings in the band of the Dutch movie "Madamme Jeanette", directed by the director Paula van der Oest, with the musical production of Gerardo Rosales. In 2004 Astrid works as vocal coach for the Spanish show of the musical Jeans 14. In Oktober 2006 she did three special performances for children in Vredenburg, Utrecht with the Metropole Orkest and Samba Salad.Astrid "La Holandesa" is one of the most pleasing surprises that the Latin American public can receive. Many have seen her and cannot believe it: “What, a Dutch woman singing salsa, dancing and playing the guiro?” With responsibility she assumed to sing with flavor and feeling like one of them born in the ‘tierra caliente’. Astrid "La Holandesa" inspired by the great Latin American singers of all times such as: Celia Cruz , Omara Portuondo, Canelita Medina, Yolanda Rivera, Cecilia Todd, Lilia Vera, Mercedes Sosa, Susana Baca, Graciela etc, continues ahead growing, learning, enjoying and above all diffusing the Latin American music.At this time Astrid "La Holandesa" is recording her first cd as soloist under production of Gerardo Rosales. This cd promises to be another great surprise for the audience.http://www.sorpresaholandesa.com

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