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Ezequiel Torres (m) receiving the Florida Folk Heritage Award, flanked by Florida Governor Charlie Christ (r) and Secretary of State Kurt Browning (l). (2008)

Ezequiel Torres (center) performs at an event in Miami, FL (part of 2006 IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance & Music Festival)

In April 2008, Ezequiel received the prestigious Florida Folk Heritage Award, given annually by the Florida State Department (see the press release). At the beginning of the year, he performed in Madrid, Spain and as always has had a very busy schedule.

In 2007, Ezequiel performed at numerous festivals including the annual IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance & Music Festival organized by his sister, choreographer and dancer Neri Torres (director of IFE-ILE).

In 2007, for the first time, the festival was held in Boulder, Colorado as well as Miami, FL. Ezequiel's bata drumming workshops in Colorado were so popular that his students invited him back later that year.

In 2006 and 2007, one of Ezequiel's beautifully beaded bantés was on exhibit in Washington, DC at the National Bead Museum, as an example of sacred beadwork from around the world. Ezequiel was also the subject of a chapter in "Just Above the Water: Florida Folk Art," by Kristin G. Congdon and Tina Bucuvalas (published in 2006).