STATEWIDE —NJN Public Television’s Hispanic Youth Showcase winners will perform on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in front of the Showboat Casino on Sunday, August 8, from 11 am to 11:45 am . The performances will precede the 8 th Annual Atlantic County Puerto Rican Parade and Latin Music Festival that begins at noon on Albany Avenue and the Boardwalk. This year’s Puerto Rican Parade and Latino Festival is sponsored by Univision. They are bringing headline stars from Latin America including Venezuela ’s outstanding vocalist and band leader Oscar De Leon.

The young dancers, musicians and vocalists, who range from 5 to 16 years old, will demonstrate the exceptional talent that won them scholarships and honors at the 2004 NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in May. The Showcase is the longest running Latino children’s program on PBS and has received an Emmy Award and multiple Emmy nominations. Past and present participants have appeared in Hollywood movies and international commercials, and on Broadway, Star Search and the Apollo. The Showcase winners are one of the primary acts to appear at the Show Boat Stage. Scheduled to appear on stage are:

• Kids Dance Champion Alejandra Urgiles, age 5, Newark
• Junior Dance Champions Natali Cruz, age 9, Ridgefield Park
• Omarys Casado, age 9, West New York
• Teen Dance Champions Amanda Marie Batista, age 13, Wallington
• Sasha Herrera, age 16, West New York
• Junior Instrumental Champion Dana Ramirez, age 10, Teterboro
• Junior Vocalist Champions Teresa Torres, age 12, Haskell
• Blaine Aponte Morris, age 11, Secaucus
• Daniel Murillo Sanz, age 12, Union City
• Edward Perry III, age 11, Cookstown.