BAILA is back and stronger than ever: get your tickets for September 16th NOW and remember how fun life can be when you’re dancing! 

If you want to enjoy the night for FREE, you can VOLUNTEER! Each shift includes free food and drinks as a thank you. Click on the left button to choose the shift that fits you better.

The night will include:

• 7:30pm: Doors open
• 8:00pm: Ritmos Tropicales Dance Party with DJ Ron in our Lounge & Gender-inclusive Bachata & Salsa Dance Classes in our Theater (no partner or experience necessary!)
• 9:30pm: Dominican Bachata Party with DJ Ron in our Lounge & Dance Party with DJ Jose Ruiz in our Theater!
• 10:00pm: LIVE Salsa Concert with Orquesta N’Rumba on our mainstage!
• Party goes until 1:00am in our Lounge (Dominican Bachata), Theater (Salsa y más) and Community Room (fundraising bar and hang out)!

The vibe of this party will be like a spontaneous dance party that broke out in your kitchen, only if your kitchen had big wood floors, a great live band and sound system, and 200 of your friends, chosen family, and a few intriguing strangers… Like all events at La Peña, this gathering will be beyond inclusive of all cultures, ages, orientations and identities so you can bring your whole self to the dance floor and be properly celebrated.

PLEASE NOTE: We will require ID & Proof of Full Vaccination at the door. Booster shots and the use of masks inside will both be encouraged but NOT mandatory. See our most updated Covid-19 Policy here.

Our popular beginners Salsa, Bachata & Merengue dance class series returns to La Peña in September! Tuesdays 6-27 from 6:15 to 7:15 pm. This is a 4-week series.

Join us and explore the possibilities of your body and how to communicate with others through dance, rhythm and flavor! Partners are not necessary! This is a 4-week series designed for beginner students to learn and enjoy three popular Latin dance styles: Salsa, Bachata and Merengue!

Classes are taught by Venezuelan dance instructor Juliana Mendonca (she/her). Juliana’s teaching style is not a traditional ballroom style latin dance class. She first teaches her students to connect to their body and to connect to the rhythms before getting to the steps and turns. This foundation will help you loosen up your hips, knees, shoulders and arms to allow each student to get their own authentic feel for each genre and its unique rhythm.

This class is taught as “leaders” and “followers” and is inclusive to folks of all genders, non-binary & LGBTQ+. Please see our entire Community Agreements below.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR Juliana Mendonca (she/her) is a dance performer, choreographer and teacher. She graduated with a degree in dance from University Institute of Caracas, Venezuela in 2005, she also served as an instructor at the Performing Arts Department of the University of the Andes in Mérida, Venezuela (2012-2015). Juliana co-founded Raíz de Agua, a music and dance company. Juliana currently lives in Oakland, California with her husband and daughter, working as a dancer, choreographer and teacher.

ENROLLMENT DETAILS

SERIES SCHEDULE (4 weeks) 9/6/22-9/27/22

• Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm
• Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm
• Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm
• Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm

Series Tuition Cost: $94 for entire series .

BONUS PERK! Students get a FREE ticket to an upcoming BAILA! Community Dance Party (Sept. 13 or Oct. 21). (Promo code will be emailed after first day of class.)

Please note: Drop-ins to this series are NOT available.

COVID-19 POLICY: For classes at La Peña, it is up to each teacher to determine their safety requirements as long as they stay within the restrictions of the most updated City of Berkeley COVID-19 guideline. This specific class series will not require vaccinations and masks will be optional. However, if City of Berkeley health policies change at any given moment, we will be adhering to those requirements. If the class cannot be held in person due to new mandates, the class will be held online. In addition, we ask that you contact us if you exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. We also offer the following accommodations:

• If a student misses a class due to COVID-19 or another illness, they may request an additional BAILA! ticket.
• If a student misses 2 classes, they may request 25% off to register for the next series and an additional BAILA! ticket.
• If a student misses more than 2 classes, please contact us so we can find a solution on a case-by-case basis: Classes@lapena.org

Please visit our website for the latest COVID-19 Policy updates at La Peña. Thank you for your understanding!