: General Info
La Peña offers free and low-cost classes in Latin American music, dance and other art forms taught by some of the best local artists and instructors. Currently, our free classes are offered with the generous support of The Mid-Size Presenting Organizations' Initiative implemented by the Nonprofit Finance Fund and funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The James Irvine Foundation. Other classes are supported by participant fees. Enrollment is limited, and instructor permission is required. Students may seek permission from instructor by speaking with them at their first class. All Classes are currently open except where it indicates that you must contact instructor for an audition. To register for classes, click here to see the listing of classes or call (510) 849-2568 x20 Born in Lima Peru in 1974, Rosales began a passion for percussion at a young age. At 14 he discovered the Cajon and began taking classes with Master Ernesto Sandoval at the Art Museum in Lima. Since then he has played with many influential artist and ensembles. In 1995 he helped co-found Cultural Association “De Rompe y Raja”. He is currently working on “De Rompe y Raja’s” 2nd CD entitled “Diaspora Negra”. Lugo is a versatile percussionist, singer and composer, and an experienced teacher. A native of Puerto Rico, Héctor has performed, toured and/or recorded with a variety of local and international artists. He leads Son Borikua, an eight piece ensemble that performs original music inspired in the Puerto Rican musical folklore, in particular the "Bomba" and the "Plena". Shefali has been studying and dancing Bomba since 1999. She has trained and performed with members of the legendary Cepeda family, at “Maestros de Bomba en la Bahía” (2005 and 2007) featuring masters from Puerto Rico, at the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival with Grupo Folclórico Paulé (2004), and at the West Wave Dance Festival August 2008. For four years she served as Artistic Director and Choreographer for performing group Cacique y Kongo. She currently performs with Hector Lugo and La Mixta Criolla and directs Aguacero, a performance and education project focusing on the traditions and contemporary creative expressions of Afro Puerto Rican Bomba music and dance. Shefali also trains in Odissi, a classical Indian dance form from Orissa , India with Guru Sri Vishnu Tattva Das, and performs with Bay Area’s Odissi Vilas. In Bomba, Shefali performs and teaches various regional styles including those from Santurce and Loíza, Puerto Rico . As an instructor, choreographer and artistic director in Bomba, Shefali leads dance workshops and performance rehearsals teaching basic steps, and techniques and strategies for executing “piquetes” (improvised movements marked by the lead drummer) and creating music through rhythmical and precise body and skirt movements. Lichi is a multi-instrumentalist known for her strong voice and commitment to social justice. She is an important voice in the Bay Area's Latin American new song scene who has been described as a natural vocalist whose "commitment to social justice is a tangible force in her music" (SF Bay Guardian). Chilean-born Lichi, was the founder and lead vocalist of the group Altazor. Currently musical director of La Peña's Community Chorus, Lichi also teaches music at elementary schools in Oakland and Berkeley. Virtuoso Chilean singer Rafael Manriquez is a songwriter and musician. Inspired by the voices of Violeta Parra and Victor Jara from his homeland of Chile, Rafael expresses through his songs the profound desire of his people for peace, freedom and self-determination. Combining extraordinary musical talent with heartfelt commitment, his music captures the essence of the transforming power of song. He has performed as a solo artist and with groups for over thirty years, bringing the music of Latin America to audiences all over the world. Josh Jones has been an integral force in the Bay Area music scene since the early nineties. In addition to playing, he is a dedicated teacher and mentor to many musicians and drummers on the rise. Josh is also recognized internationally from his touring with such jazz greats as Don Cherry, Steve Coleman, Dave Murray, and Chico Freeman. Currently, he tours and records with Peter Apfelbaum, Omar Sosa and Jacqui Naylor. Josh continues to perform with his various ensembles at clubs and festivals in the Bay Area and remains an influence on and supporter of jazz in the community. Cons Certified dope MC Rico Pabon mixes contemporary consciousness with vintage hip-hop production. It's a soul-drenched recipe frequently employed by stalwarts like KRS-One & Mos Def. It's clear throughout the album that he's orbiting a few universes past standard. Polished gem of an album." -- SF Guardian Ramon "Sandy" Perez is a master Batalero/Conguero, and principal/lead percussionist for 12 years with Grupo Afro-Cuba de Matanzas, is widely known for his expertise as a percussionist and instructor. SandyPerez, who is a direct descendant from the legendary Villamil family, brings an encyclopedia of knowledge and continues the legacy of Afro-Cuban folklore from the cradle of African Culture in Cuba: Matanzas. Sandy joined Grupo Afro-Cuba de Matanzas at age 17, andwithin a few years he earned the position of principal drummer and soloist; a privilege he maintained until his move to the US. GrupoAfroCuba is a legendary folkloric group from Matanzas, Cuba. They areknown as the originators of "Bata Rumba," and famed for their mastery of the full spectrum of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and dance. Sandy was a featured artist at the 1996 Havana Jazz Festival and was invited to perform at the 1996 Afrocubanismo! festival in Banff, Canada. Although the roots of his techn
Current Instructors' Brief Bios
Pedro Rosales 
Héctor Lugo 
Shefali Shah 
Lichi Fuentes
Rafael Manriquez
Josh Jones
Rico Pabón 
idered by most, as the Mecca of socially conscious Hip Hop, the Bay Area is also home to legendary MC Rico Pabón. One major factor that distinguishes Puerto Rican rapper Rico Pabón from many of his Reggaeton and Hip Hop peers is his lifelong mission.
"Through my words and music, I seek out righteous action, raising a fist for activists and challenging oppression and injustice everywhere." This outlook may be unique in Hip Hop, but for Rico, his activism and art go together like red rice and beans.
Rico Pabón's own experiences have proven fertile ground for exploring human truths -- and for crafting diverse soundscapes. Rico's mother was 15 years old when she had him. Rico was born into a family of Salsa musicians in Queens, NY and was constantly shuttled between the East Coast and the San Francisco Bay Area. Each new home had two things in common: financial tribulations and music. He soon understood that hardship and art were two sides of the same coin.
"The most beautiful music has come out of those periods of time when we were enslaved, or our condition of living had just changed from bad to worse. Maybe it's because song is our survival during the hardest times. It's not something we do for money, fame or recognition. Music is really, truly an expression of our emotion, and pain is one of those energies that, if you don't let it out, can destroy your soul."
Rico Pabón has kept his soul intact through music as the lead member of Prophets of Rage (POR) and as MC for San Francisco Bay Area Afro-Latin Hip Hop band Agua Libre (formerly O-Maya).
Rico's 3rd album, My Power, was dedicated to Puerto Rican freedom fighters and featured Puerto Rican poet Piri Thomas. During this time, Rico also joined Afro-Latin Hip Hop band O-Maya to record their self-titled album. In 2003, O-Maya was voted Best Latin Band in the Bay Area at the SF Weekly Music Awards. Rico still performs with founding members of O-Maya in a new group called Agua Libre.
No matter which musical configuration Rico finds himself in - whether Salsa or Hip Hop -- his poetic lyrics are bound by the theme that struggle feeds beauty. This theme combined with his rhythmic delivery make him one of the Bay Area's most dynamic MCs. Rico's international flavors have allowed him an opportunity to share the stage with other international artists such as Damian and Stephen Marley, Ozomatli, Buju Banton, Femi Kuti, John Santos, Zap Mama, Meshell N'degeocello, Maxi Priest and Sizzla. Rico has also performed with Hip Hop icons such as Run DMC, Wu Tang Clan, Zion I, dead prez, Big Daddy Kane, and Kurtis Blow.
After a year in the studio, Rico has released his 4th and most powerful album to date, “Louder Than Fiction” on revolutionary-label, Hard Knock Records. Listen to what the critics say about it.
Ramon "Sandy" Perez 
iques are founded in Afro-Cuban folkloric styles, his open-minded approach has enabled him to adapt to styles ranging from Cuban popular (Salsa) to Latin fusion and avant-garde jazz.
