Welcome to La Peña! Promoting social justice & intercultural understanding through the arts since 1975.
The Latin American Songbook Mondays 6pm-8pm | 12 -week session | $350 | Last day of class and showcase is April 9th Instructor: Tregar Otten| Contact instructor for more information and to register! Welcome to the world of Latin American music and culture! This class offers a great variety of songs from the different countries in South […]
$54 for series, or $20 Drop-in Class is held in the Community Room (the room with the mirror)! This is the second part of a 4-week series designed for beginner-intermediate students to learn and enjoy 5 popular Latin rhythms: Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia & Samba! ALL LEVELS WELCOME! Explore the possibilities of your body and […]
This is an ensemble class for musicians and singers wanting to learn salsa music! Directed by Josh Jones. Come learn a variety of salsa favorites. The class perform 3-4 showcases per year! Email the instructor for audition times: joshjonesdrums@yahoo.com Cost: $15 per class
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 […]
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, […]
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 held during the regularly scheduled class time. Class fee is for two hours of class. For more information: mariadlr4@gmail.com The tradition of son jarocho music originated in Veracruz, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Donations are welcome at the door / No one turned away for lack of funds. 100% of the donations collected at the door benefit Chiapas Support Committee Oakland and La Peña Cultural Center to continue important community programming. This art exhibit and talk is to revitalize the relationships between local communities and the indigenous peoples […]
Instructors: Gabriela Shiroma and Peta Robles Cajón 10am-11am: Learn to dance a varied repertoire of traditional dances from the coastal region of Peru such as festejos, landos, and zamacuecas. Dance 11am-12pm: All levels are welcome. Students must bring a cajon to class. If you need to purchase one or rent one for a day, contact […]
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 […]
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 […]