Welcome to La Peña! Promoting social justice & intercultural understanding through the arts since 1975.
Vocals for Kids! Mondays 6-7:15pm | $10/class | Ages: 10 and up Instructor: Gail Dobson | Location: Lounge To sign up email Gail at: galeygrl@earthlink.net Class meets year round. Let’s sing and increase our self-esteem! With the help of instructor Gail Dobson students will work on how to sing, learn to breathe properly, learn how to sing in a microphone, […]
* Teacher Shu Jon will be out of town Feb. 6 and 13 - these classes will have an excellent substitute instructor so don't fret! Due to popular demand La Peña is proud to announce a new weekly Beginners-Intermediate Salsa Class every Monday at 8pm with our talented and friendly “salsaholic” instructor Shu-Jon! Classes are […]
Come to La Peña's lounge to extend your weekend. Enjoy live unscripted music featuring the Bay Area’s Best musicians every other Monday at La Peña in Berkeley! Bring your instrument, your mic, talent and free spirit to experience this exciting adventure and challenge yourself to express your unique talent in a comfortable and positive space. […]
FREE Mindfulness Yoga Tuesdays 10:30-11:45am| FREE! Instructor: Pamela Perry For more information: pperry0855@gmail.com Students will be guided through asana (postures), breathing techniques, and meditation designed to rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit. Benefit from increased focus, reduced stress, increased strength, flexibility and balance, injury prevention, and pain reduction. Perfect for students of all levels interested in deepening mind-body awareness! […]
$15 p/ class, or $10 with student ID or teacher ID Drop-ins welcome! Tuesdays at 7pm Join instructors Christopher and David Epperson for a beginners-intermediate Kizomba class! Kizomba is both a music genre and a partnered dance originating in Angola. Kizomba has also been described as the “African Tango.” The dance is known to be slow […]
Tuesdays 7pm-9pm & Saturdays 2pm-4pm Instructor: Sergio Bitencourt For more information: sergiobitencourt81@gmail.com Capoeira Angola, a martial art and ritual combat dance, is one of the major expressions of an African, specifically Kongo-Angolan, continuum in Brazil. It is believed that its origins may go as far back as the 16th century, when Africans from western Central […]
La Peña Community Chorus Founded in 1978 by Chilean refugees and community supporters, La Peña Community Chorus has been performing Latin American New Song—Nueva Canción—for over 35 years. Accompanying themselves on guitars, flutes, drums, and a large assortment of Latin American instruments, the Chorus has sung for schools, churches, homeless shelters, retirement homes, drug rehab […]
Wednesdays: 2:30pm – 4:30pm | $13 per hour or $25 for 2 hours, it includes all arts and crafts material. Ages: 6 and up Instructor: Juliana Romano | Location: Back Classroom For more information & enrollment: jromano131@gmail.com This class is a fun space where we learn and practice Spanish through arts, crafts, song and movement and […]
Blues Dance with Sundance Blues Sliding scale $6-$16 for practice, drop-in, and social dance Instructors: Rotating Instructors | Location: Theater Space 7 – 8 - Intermediate class 8 – 9 - Drop in beginner class 9 – 11 - Social dance to blues music Director: Victor Lane For more information: http://www.sundownblues.com/contact.html Blues dancing is all about connection, […]
What does the Trump presidency mean for farmworkers? What does it mean for the food justice & food sovereignty movements? How can people support the struggles of farmworkers under these new conditions? Everyone is welcome to attend Food First's monthly community meeting the third Wednesday of every month at 6:30pm in La Peña's lounge! Join […]
Son Jarocho classes are limited this summer. We will have 3 classes: June 20 July 11 July 25 For more information, email the instructor at mariadlr4@gmail.com. Instructor: María de la Rosa with occasional invited guest master artists. $25 drop in or $200 for 10-week full session Full session price includes pricing for visiting master artist workshop […]
Children’s Bomba y Plena Workshop: Dance, Percussion and Song Thursdays at 4pm $15 Drop-in class / $12 per class for trimester (13-15 classes) / Sibling discount available! Instructors: Shefali Shah & Hector Lugo | Location: Theater Space For more information email: bombaaguacero@gmail.com or visit www.bomba-aguacero.org Students will learn dance, songs, drum rhythms, and history. For those […]
Youth ages 17 and younger can present their music, poetry, dance, theater, comedy, special talent in a safe and fun environment. Each night will feature a different Bay Area kid performer. Anyone can sign up for an open mic spot before and after the main performer. We hope to see you and bring your friends!
Rockin’ Kids Sing Along Fridays 10:30-11:30am | Sliding scale $10-20 per family/class Instructors: Stephanie Pepitone | Location: Theater Space For more information: stephaniepepitone@gmail.com Class meets year round. A musical play group for kids of all ages. Hosted by Stephanie Pepitone, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and former punk rock singer/guitarist. Stephanie plays acoustic guitar and leads families in about an […]
FREE - Donations of any size are welcome and greatly appreciated! Enjoy a lively evening of son jarocho music, dancing, and zapateado– bring your dance shoes and instruments, or just come and enjoy the music and dance! There is no entrance fee, but any monetary donations are accepted in support of programming at La Peña. Son […]
Adult Afro-Peruvian Dance and Cajon Class DANCE: Saturdays 10am-12pm | CAJON: 12pm-1pm | $10 ea with bundle of 5 or $15 drop-in Instructors: Gabriela Shiroma (Dance) and Peta Robles (Cajon) | Learn to dance a varied repertoire of traditional dances from the coastal region of Peru such as festejos, landos, and zamacuecas. This is a […]
CAJON for Adults: 11am-12pm $10 ea with bundle of 5 / or $15 drop-in Instructor: Peta Robles, master percussionist All levels are welcome. Students must bring a cajon to class. If you need to purchase one or rent one for a day, contact one of the instructors: Gabriela.Shiroma@edd.ca.gov
Tuesdays 7pm-9pm & Saturdays 2pm-4pm Instructor: Sergio Bitencourt For more information: sergiobitencourt81@gmail.com Capoeira Angola, a martial art and ritual combat dance, is one of the major expressions of an African, specifically Kongo-Angolan, continuum in Brazil. It is believed that its origins may go as far back as the 16th century, when Africans from western Central […]
$10 Advance / $15 at the Door Oakland-based The Source Trio uses Afro-Latin rhythm, spoken word in English and Spanish, funk, hip-hop, soul and jazz to lift and unite the culturally diverse Oakland and greater Bay Area working class community. Featuring veteran artist/activists John Santos (percussionist), Rico Pabon (lyricisist/MC) and Melecio Magdaluyo (saxophonist/flautist). More information about The Source Trio musicians: JOHN […]
$15 per family This educational event for children and their families is based on folk songs, tales and popular games based on cultural traditions from various regions in South and Central America. "Mariela’s Music Time is an educational, energetic and interactive bilingual performance for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and their families. It’s filled with rhythms […]
Adult Bomba y Plena Workshop: Dance, Percussion and Song Sundays 1-3pm | $15/class- All Levels/Drop-ins welcome Instructors: Shefali Shah & Hector Lugo | Location: Theater Space For more information: bombaaguacero@gmail.com During these classes series, students will learn dance, songs, drum rhythms, and history. Classes culminate in student performances. For those interested in staying healthy, connecting with the community […]