La Pena 35th Anniversary Series Presents: Street Carnival & Fair

Culture + Art + Education + International solidarity + Community = 5 Reasons to Celebrate June 5!

35 years later, La Peña Cool-tural Center's mission of creating a welcoming & affordable space to promote cultural understanding, peace, solidarity, and community action through the arts & education remains as vital as ever: Like Brand New! The City of Berkeley will proclaim June 5th as La Peña Day in Berkeley while the Street Carnival & Fair will take place on Prince St. and Shattuck Ave.

La Peña 35th Anniversary Street Festival Booth Application Form

Would you like to inform the community about the work of your organization? Or sell your handmade art, jewelry or clothing? We invite you to join us for La Peña's 35th Anniversary Street Festival on June 5, 2010 from 12-6pm on Prince Street at Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley. To be considered for participation PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM AND RETURN BY MAY 15. You can fill out the form online: CLICK HERE.

For additional information, please call Sophia at 510/849-2568 ext. 20. We will be in touch with you soon!

Street Festival during La Peña Day in Berkeley

Like Brand New! La Peña Celebrates its 35th Anniversary
Saturday, June 5. Noon - 6pm. Free
La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley
510-849-2568 http://www.lapena.org/index.php?s=141

For its 35 Anniversary Street Festival on June 5, La Peña showcases the talents and treasures of its diverse community, young and old, with a showcase of students and faculty who will perform Afro-Cuban, Afro-Peruvian, Puerto Rican, African, Chilean and other Latin American dances on the stage of Prince and Shattuck streets, beginning at noon. Artists and community organizations will share their work as part of the celebrations.

The performers are:

Danza Azteca

Danza Azteca performing traditional ceremonial dances. A living, cultural tradition filled with the artistic and spiritual traditions of the Pre-Columbian Aztecs, their neighbors, and their post-conquest Mestizo descendants. It is a form of prayer, individual, and yet communal.

Latin Jazz Ensemble. Instructor: Josh Jones

In this popular class/ensemble, vocalists, and percussionists students learn with horns, percussion and string instruments to perform great Salsa and Latin Jazz arrangements. Josh Jones is recognized internationally from his touring with such jazz greats as Don Cherry, Steve Coleman, Dave Murray, and Chico Freeman. He is an important influence and strong supporter of jazz in the community.

Osvaldo Torres

Imprisoned, harassed and blacklisted from commercial venues during the US-backed military dictatorship in Chile, Osvaldo songs hold poignant lyrics and enchanting melodies. He is known for his storytelling talents and for his work with and about the Aymaran culture of northern Chile.

Carnavales De Mi Pueblo!

To celebrate La Peña's 35th Anniversary, folklorist Gabriela Shiroma assembled a troupe of dancers and musicians to celebrate with Carnavales (farewell to the flesh) La Peña. The Carnavales have always been a motif for celebration; however, this Spanish religious tradition was in many ways used to control slaves in Spanish colonies. Carnivals have taken different meanings and styles in Latin American culture. De Rompe y Raja’s Carnaval Limeño presents the Son de los Diablos, group Hatunmarka with Carnaval Boliviano performing sikureadas & tarkeadas, and Aguacero presenting the bomba of Carnaval de Puerto Rico.

Afro-Puerto Rican Adult and Youth Bomba Classes

Instructors: Shefali Shah & Hector Lugo. The bomba is a uniquely Puerto Rican musical genre for dance. It is derived from West Africa, through the importation of slaves. The bomba flourished wherever the slaves and their descendants lived and worked. In Puerto Rico, this was typically on the colonial plantations that were common along the coastal plains.

Afro-Peruvian Adult Dance, Cajon & Youth Ensemble Classes

Instructors: Gabriela Shiroma & Pedro Rosales. Afro-Peruvian music has its roots in the communities of black slaves brought to work in the mines along the Peruvian coast. Because slaves were forbidden from playing instruments, percussion instruments developed out of the simplest household appliances. The cajon is a wooden-box in which the player sits on to play. The seminal performer Nicomedes Santa Cruz and the group Peru Negro popularized this music and dance.

West African Djembe Drum Class

Instructor: Jesse Servin. A skin-covered hand drum shaped like a large goblet. According to the Bamana people in Mali, the name of the djembe comes directly from the saying "Anke dje, anke be" which literally translates to "everyone gather together" and defines the drum's purpose.

Araucauria w/ Rafael Manriquez

Araucaria shares a distinct sample of dances representing Chile's diverse geography and culture. Araucaria is the name of a native tree found in southern Chile and Tierra del Fuego. A leading exponent of Latin American music in the Bay Area for over 30 years. Rafael brings us the gift of both his exquisite voice and remarkable skill on Latin American string instruments.

La Peña Community Chorus

Singing songs of peace and justice since it began in 1978. The Chorus’ music includes styles based in the world’s folk and social justice movements and performs in nursing homes, elders’ residences, hospitals, migrant labor camps, juvenile halls, rehabilitation centers, and public schools.

Willard Middle School/La Peña Latin Jazz Ensemble

Instructor: Chus Alonso. ith over 25 years of experience performing, composing, and leading musical projects, Chus is a flutist director of the flamenco and Cuban music group Potaje. The Willard Middle School/La Peña Latin Jazz Ensemble is a collaborative project between the school, La Peña and the SF Community Music Center.