Welcome to La Peña! Promoting social justice & intercultural understanding through the arts since 1975.
This is a 6-week series designed for beginner-intermediate students to learn and enjoy three popular Latin dance styles: Salsa, Bachata and Merengue! Explore the possibilities of your body and how to communicate with others through dance, rhythm and flavor! Partners are not necessary! Dance latin rhythms class with juliana This class is taught by Venezuelan […]
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, […]
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!
$5 Dollar Suggested Donation to support La Peña's community programming! NO ONE TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF FUNDS! MAY 17th: BEYOND LA BAMBA (Mexico) Directed by: Marco Villalobos Run time: 45 mins. Followed by Q&A! Through the compelling story of a young musician who leaves home to follow his dreams, Mexico’s 300-year-old Son Jarocho tradition […]
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 […]
This event is free for Berkeley Chamber Members or $10 for non-members. Join the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce at La Peña for a Networking Mixer! Enjoy music, sips, bites and socializing with other business owners and organizational leaders! This event is open to all business owners, non-profits, city officials, etc. Looking forward to seeing […]
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 […]
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 […]
Doors open at 7:30pm / Performances at 8pm Admission: $15 Advance / $20 at the Door La Peña presents: Big Band Jazz Night! The Morchestra Jazz Ensemble, with special guest, Nicolas Bearde The Morchestra is a Berkeley-based jazz orchestra that plays big band jazz filtered through the mind of arranger and composer Tony Corman, a […]
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 […]