Tara Dalbo has been an invaluable member of the La Peña team since she joined us last year, and in recognition of all the work she does here, she has been promoted to Deputy Director!
A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College in NY, Tara was a student of the arts, studying abroad for a year in Florence, Italy. Tara is of Spanish, Italian and Lebanese descent. She is a painter and illustrator.
Her father was a jazz guitarist and her mother, an art therapist. Her diverse professional experience includes grant writing for the UC Berkeley School of Public Health nonprofit, Health Initiative of the Americas and consulting in the realm of business and public health. Tara has managed two noteworthy restaurants in San Francisco, Delfina and Pizzeria Delfina, located in the Mission. In addition, she has served as a case manager for developmentally disabled adults with Easter Seals El Mirador in Santa Fe, NM. While in Santa Fe, she worked for a hospital-run detox center, aiding recovering alcoholics and addicts. Her work reflects her interests in the arts, health, food and wine. Dance, theater, poetry, writing, music, culture and intellectual debate were at the heart of her upbringing and she is truly honored to aid the La Peña team in providing access to the arts within the East Bay community.
La Peña is also saying goodbye to Manuel Alonso, who is now the Executive Director of EarthTeam! Manuel started working at La Peña in January 2011, serving as the Development & Finance director until 2014 when he became our development consultant. Manuel held it down through 3 executive staff changes during his time here, helping ensure the longevity of La Peña. Thank you for everything, Manuel!
Classes are taught by Sergio Bitencourt Ferreira, the long-time director of Project No Balanço de Angola at La Peña Cultural Center. Sergio is a capoeirista from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, with 25 years of practice and 15 years of teaching experience. He has coordinated Capoeira Angola theatrical performances, berimbau orchestras, and classes for children and adolescents. He is currently the director of the Project No Balanço de Angola, which offers Capoeira Angola classes for adults every Tuesday and Saturday at La Peña Cultural Center.