La Peña

Los Mapaches

Sat, 10 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Saturday May 10, 2008 7pm
in Concert

Come join Los Mapaches for another fabulous evening of music from Latin America for the whole family. We dance with the drums on the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia, and bring you high into the Andes mountains with parading zampoñas. With slides from our 2007 trip to the Andes!

Los Mapaches was founded in 1998 as a spontaneous after-school class with teacher and Latin American musician Lydia Mills. One day, Lydia brought zampoÃ±as (panpipes) to school and began teaching traditional songs of the Andes. Children and parents alike were drawn to the music, and Los Mapaches enrollment soared. Over time, the group began performing at schools, libraries, retirement homes, and cultural centers around the Bay Area.

Today, Los Mapaches includes more than forty young musicians, ranging from kindergartners to high school students, who study and perform locally with Lydia. The group's focus has expanded to include traditional music not only from the Andes, but from other regions of Latin America as well. Members of Los Mapaches are proficient on a variety of panflutes, including the paya, antara, and zampoña. They also play the tarka (a wooden flute from the Andes), the quena (bamboo flute), and percussion instruments from the Venezuelan and Colombian coasts. Vocal numbers are sung in Spanish, with some bilingual arrangements as well.

More info here

A Mothers Day Concert!

Sun, 11 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Sunday May 11, 2008 4:30-6pm
The Decker Family Band

Eleanor, Eve, and Ben, the Deckers, are charismatic performers who bring a sense of authenticity, kindness, and joy to their brand of family music. The Deckers are a musical family with a long history of performance for both children and adults. Eleanor (mom) who leads children's music classes in the Sonoma Valley has released three CDs of children's music; Eve (daughter) taught elementary school music in the East Bay for over 20 years and performs with the acclaimed trio Rebecca Riots; Ben (son) plays guitar, bass, and mandolin and has been active in the East Bay musical scene for over 20 years and now writes songs for both Leap Frog Toys and his two young daughters. This joyful, participatory concert will celebrate moms and families. It's a wonderful and fun way for the whole family to come together in song and dance on this special day!

For advance tickets click here.

South Berkeley Youth Arts Summit

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Wednesday May 14, 2008 7pm
Youth from Berkeley schools
Longfellow Middle School’s Dance Envisions (salsa, hip hop, tango), Ballet Folklórico (Mexican folkloric dance), Malcolm X Elementary School’s Bhangra Dance (Folkloric dance from Punjab, North India), Kids Bomba workshop (Puerto Rican folkloric music & dance) & Circus Arts Classes.

Cafe Lesbian-Identified Women's Poetry

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Wednesday May 14, 2008 7pm

Lesbian poetry followed by open mic. 7-9pm. Takes place in Cafe Valparaiso lobby.

Hip Hop Theatre

Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Thursday May 15, 2008 8pm
Paul Flores & Xago Juarez

Def Poet, Hip-Hop artist & USF teacher Paul S. Flores directs a performance featuring students from his Performing Arts class.

Aliso in Workerland. Written and performed by Luis “Xago” Juárez. Stand witness to the chaos of a minority everyman, an anti-hero spilling over cultural, commercial, and generational borders.

Hip-Hop Theater

Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Friday May 16, 2008 8pm
Las Manas Tres, Delina Brooks & El Teatro Campesino

Las Manas Tres are hybrid poetas bringing the fuerte flava, heating the heart and melting the mind. Delina Brooks “Beauty, The Beast”, a biographical dance-theater play of poetry, song, & dance. Guerrilla Radio by El Teatro Campesino is an acto tackling media reform and the National Association of Broadcasters.

Las Manas Tres (Maya, Milta and Cruz) are hybrid poetas bringing the fuerte flava, heating the heart and melting the mind from the Bay to L.A. Their stilo is characterized by a mixture of theater, spoken word and movement, centered around themes of social justice, sexuality, motherhood and the relationship between first and third world women. Born from the Las Manas Sisterhood Circle, individually these women are accomplished in their own right. As a trio they take their creativity to new heights using sisterhood and storytelling to inspire collaborative pieces that delve into pain, injustice, love, family, community, and identity, which conjure a potent potion to fend off the plague of self-sabotage. Their newest work pokes fun and peels back the layers of community building and relationships, speaking from the in between spaces as hi-tech aztecs, cyber mamas and spiritual beings. LM3 are always ready to bring the hotness. Yaddamean?

Opening Reception

Sat, 17 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Saturday May 17, 2008 5:30-7pm
Chatismo
Opening reception for Chatismo Exhibit. Music by dj chee-bo. Reception will be taking place in Cafe Lobby.

Free*Style

Sat, 17 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Saturday May 17, 2008 9pm
YMR All-Stars & DJ Cool-Hand Luke

Youth Movement Records presents Free*Style. CD release party for YMR's 5th Compilation! Featuring performances by: YMR All-Stars & DJ Cool-Hand Luke.

For more information on Youth Movement Records click here.

Caf� Rumba

Sun, 18 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Sunday May 18, 2008 3:30-6pm
Afro-Cuban drumming, dancing, and music
Community participatory event. The Afro-Cuban folkloric drums, dances, and songs of rumba. Rumba is the word used for a group of related, community-oriented, musical and dance styles in Cuba. Rumba developed in rural Cuba, with strong influences from African drumming and Spanish poetry and singing.

Benefit Film Screening

Sun, 18 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Sunday May 18, 2008 6pm
Banished

Is your community about to be banished? Banished (Dir. by Marco Williams, 102 min., 2007), followed by a panel and speak out on today's Black communities threatened with banishment. Benefit for SF Bay View and Block Report Radio.

For more information on this film click here.

Book Release

Tue, 20 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Tuesday May 20, 2008 7pm
State of Exile
Book release celebration for State of Exile. Translated and with an introduction by Marilyn Buck, poet and U.S.political prisoner. The poetry of exiled Uruguayan lesbian poet & novelist, Cristina Peri Rossi. Speakers & guest poets: Cherrie Moraga, Graciela Trevisan, Mitsuye Yamada, & Maisha Quint. Event is sponsored by Friends of Marilyn Buck.

Caf� Poetry

Wed, 21 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Wednesday May 21, 2008 7:30pm
Paradise
Cafe poetry hosted by Paradise. Richard Moore AKA Paradise Freejahlove Supreme, is the President of the International Black Writers & Artists, Inc. Local #5, in Oakland. Poet of A Thousand Poems and dozens of books, Paradise has four CDs: Art of Living Black, JazzFunkHipHoPoetry, Beloved, and I Love Everything About You, But You.

Latin Groove Sensation

Wed, 21 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Wednesday May 21, 2008 8pm
Benito Cereno

The Bay Area's newest Latin Groove sensation Benito Cereno. With Manny Martinez, Sandra Garcia Rivera, Hector Lugo, Ayla Davila, Javier Navarrette, Dave Flores, Camilo Landau & Peter Meredith. Poets: Alfonso Texidor, Avotcja, Sandra Garcia Rivera, Freddy Gutierrez, Alejandra Mojica.

Vibrant Independent Music

Thu, 22 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Thursday May 22, 2008 8pm
Akosua

Oakland based singer-songwriter brings the fresh new sound of jazz inspired folk to sweeten the jaded ear. Recently awarded a matching grant from the East Bay Community Foundation in support of her Debut Album Project, Akosua will give this fundraising concert to help make her grant match. Come out and support vibrant independent music!

For more information on this artist click here.

Fundraiser

Fri, 23 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Friday May 23, 2008 8pm
Eagle Flies With Condor
A Kenosis Spirit Keeper's Fundraiser. Support a cultural exchange between Hopi and Q'ero, from Peru. Enjoy an evening of poetry, theater, music, silent auction, live art, and a healing circle.

Benefit Concert

Sat, 24 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Saturday May 24, 2008 8pm
Berkeley Liberation Radio

Benefit Concert for Berkeley Liberation Radio. Groups to be announced. Spon. by Berkeley Liberation Radio.

For more information on Berkeley Liberation Radio click here.

Informational Meeting

Wed, 28 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Wednesday May 28, 2008 6:30-8pm
Alliance for California Traditional Arts
Come and learn about funding opportunities for folk and traditional artists and organizations. For information, contact Lily at (415) 346-5200 or actaonline.org.

Support Beatboxing

Thu, 29 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Thursday May 29, 2008 8pm
Speak the Music
Are you ready for Beat Boxing like you never knew existed?! This show will move you and blow you away with it's ever changing variety of showcases, group performances, DJ mimic, live looping, scratch guitar, open mic, special guests, and slam poets. Speak the Music is the craziest and most awesome expressions of sound you will ever hear or see. Performers include but are not limited to: Butterscotch, Soulati and Infinite from Felonious, Syzygy, Eachbox, Monkstilo, Constant Change, Cornbread, D.C., Icebox, Tim Barsky, The Genie, Maximillion and more. You have to see it to believe it!

Canto, Fulia, y Tambor

Fri, 30 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Friday May 30, 2008 8:30pm
Venezuelan Music Project

Venezuelan Music Project Presents Canto, Fulia y Tambor. An evening with the Venezuelan Music Project, directed by Jackeline Rago, celebrating Cantos de Fulia as part of La Cruz de Mayo festivities. Dance to the Tambores de San Juan! We'll have Arepas, traditional Venezuelan food, at the Café Valparaíso.

For advance tickets click here.

For more information on this group click here.

CD Release Concert & Party!

Sat, 31 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Saturday May 31, 2008 8pm
La Pe�a Community Chorus

CD Release Concert & Party! La Peña Community Chorus proudly announces the completion of their 2nd CD! Come and help us celebrate its release and pick up a few of them for your friends & relatives! Featuring songs in Spanish, English, & Tzotzil that come from Cuba, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, and the U.S., plus a couple of surprises as well!

http://www.lapenachorus.org

For advance tickets click here.

Spring Arts Celebration

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Thursday June 05, 2008 5:30pm
Oasis High School
Oasis High School Spring Arts Celebration premiering two original student-written plays, music, and poetry.

Rare Musical Duo!

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Friday June 06, 2008 8pm
Omar Sosa & John Santos

Reunited in a rare duo presentation for the first time in over six years Omar Sosa & John Santos in a live demo/lecture, they will share the spiritual/political/musical elements that drive their music. Their debut recording, Nfumbe: For The Unseen, was recorded live at La Peña in 1998 and they will once again bring their highly-acclaimed collaboration to La Peña.

For advance tickets click here.

For more information on Omar Sosa click here.

For more information on John Santos click here.

Benefit

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Saturday June 07, 2008 2 shows (10am & 11:15am)
Jose Luis Orozco

The two shows are a benefit for Centro Vida.

For more information on Jose Luis Orozco click here.

33rd Anniversary Show

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Saturday June 07, 2008 6pm-midnight
La Pe�a Open House
33rd Anniversary La Peña Open House. A full evening of performances featuring students from La Peña's music and theater workshops. Come see the performers of today and tomorrow! La Peña is a vibrant community cultural center with a national reputation and a global vision that promotes peace, social justice and cultural understanding through the arts, education and social action. As a welcoming gathering place, La Peña provides opportunities for artists to share diverse cultural traditions, to create and perform their work, and to support and interface with diverse social movements. Annually, La Peña presents over 200 events with emerging and established artists; organizes an arts education program; produces new works by local artists, presents internationally and nationally renowned artists, and houses the La Peña Community Chorus and Cafe Valparaiso, a Latin American café which complements the organization's mission. 6pm-midnight free donations happily accepted to support La Peña's work.

Wednesday Poetry

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Wednesday June 11, 2008 7-9pm (sign-ups begin at 7pm)
Lesbian Identified Poetry/Open-Mic
Come to hear lesbian-identified women read their poetry the 2nd Wednesday of every month.

B.A.R.S.: Break.Art.Rap.Scratch

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Thursday June 12, 2008 7:30pm
Company of Prophets & DJ TreatUNice

Zephyr Productions Presents B.A.R.S.: Break.Art.Rap.Scratch featuring
Company of Prophets. 7:30pm dance with DJ TreatUNice; 9pm poetry and Freestyle Battles; 10pm routine and one-on-one dance battles. Live graffiti and open canvases with provided markers. Free stuff all night long.

For more information on Company of Prophets click here.

Noche de Bomba!

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Friday June 13, 2008 8pm
Bomberas de la Bahia
An evening of Bomba Music & Dance. Bomberas de la Bahía. Founded in 2007, this collective of Bomberas has actively contributed to the growing of the tradition of Bomba; Puerto Rico's oldest community & dance tradition. Highlighting the important role women play in these traditions, Las Bomberas de la Bahía will be performing their arrangements of traditional Bomba songs.

33rd Anniversary Show

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Saturday June 14, 2008 8pm
La Pe�a - Ayer, Hoy y P'alante

La Peña's 33rd Anniversary Celebration! A work in progress music suite La Peña - Ayer, Hoy y P'alante -- A work in progress of a musical suite about La Peña, created by renowned composer Wayne Wallace, with Aya de Leon (librettist) and the talented La Peña International Orchestra. Opening by Samora & Elena Pinderhughes & special guests. For the past 33 years, LA PEÑA CULTURAL CENTER, a nationally recognized cultural institution, has helped to raise the social and cultural consciousness of our community with cultural projects that bring people together to work towards a just future. La Peña's mission is the belief that artists and cultural workers contribute to positive social change by creating understanding among us, by stimulating discussion, by empowering us to work for change, and by presenting a powerful vision of the future.

Wayne Wallace

For advance tickets click here.

La Pe�a's Hybrid & Experimental Performance Ensemble Presents:

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Tuesday June 17, 2008 8pm
PARADOX
Combining movement, video, text & guerrilla theatre, PARADOX presents a journey into the collective unconscious. An original work of metaphysical musings that explores the power of performance to heal the spirit. PARADOX is both story and non-story, theatre and non-theatre, teaching and non-teaching, being and non-being. It is the space beyond the logical or rational where opposites coexist and simultaneous truths converge. All is One. Directed by Marc Pinate.

La Pe�a's Hybrid & Experimental Performance Ensemble Presents:

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Wednesday June 18, 2008 8pm
PARADOX
La Peña's Hybrid & Experimental Performance Ensemble presents PARADOX, Combining movement, video, text & guerrilla theatre, PARADOX presents a journey into the collective unconscious. An original work of metaphysical musings that explores the power of performance to heal the spirit. PARADOX is both story and non-story, theatre and non-theatre, teaching and non-teaching, being and non-being. It is the space beyond the logical or rational where opposites coexist and simultaneous truths converge. All is One. Directed by Marc Pinate.