OSAKA -- Fukuoka is the place to be this weekend for those who love all things Latin, as Ianimate 2000, a celebration of Latin American dance, music and art, takes place on Saturday.

The one-day event is sponsored by Tiempo Iberoamericano, the Fukuoka-based culture center, and takes place at Zepp Fukuoka, which is located next to Fukuoka Dome.

The event kicks off shortly after 5 p.m. with a series of music performances, including Aztec dancers, Spanish flamenco, Andes folk music and music from the Caribbean. Tiempo Iberoamericano instructors of salsa, tango and guitar will also take part.

In addition, the singer Nora, formerly the vocalist of Orquesta De La Luz, will be performing. A performance by the orchestra itself will be the finale. The orchestra spent 11 weeks atop Billboard's Latin chart a couple of years ago and was nominated for a Grammy.

Music is the main aspect of Ianimate 2000, but there will also be an art exhibition, as well as a photo exhibition of the Galapagos Islands.

Ianimate 2000 is the first major event of the year for the center, which has grown rapidly over the past several years, and the fourth Ianimate. Santiago Herrara, director of Tiempo Iberoamericano, says that this event, along with a dance and music festival that the center organizes each summer, continues to draw Japanese and foreigners from around the country.