Welcome to La Peña! Promoting social justice & intercultural understanding through the arts since 1975.
This is a 4-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! This class is taught by Venezuelan dance instructor Juliana Mendonca. Juliana’s teaching […]
Due to popular demand of our beginners series, we are adding a Salsa, Bachata and Merengue Dance Class series for INTERMEDIATE students! This is a 4-week series designed for students that already know their basic rhythm and steps, to go beyond the basic rhythms and steps. Please DO NOT sign up for this class if […]
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 Find them on Facebook!
Sliding Scale Donation: $5-$20 Series: Tuesdays, January 8th - July 30th All proceeds benefit La Peña Cultural Center's mission of promoting social justice through the arts! Join us in a friendly and supportive yoga class that encourages self-discovery, mind-body awareness, and community building. Taught by a certified yoga therapist, the class is designed to […]
Check out footage from last year's Bay Area Dance Week! What we teach Kizomba, derived from the traditional dances Semba (Angola) and Pasada (Cape Verde) among others, is a sensual partner dance coupled with music from Angola, Cape Verde and the Caribbean primarily sung in Portuguese or French Creole. Why we teach Our chief goal […]
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 […]
SPRING SCHEDULE: January 16, 23, 30 February 6, 2019 February 13, 20, 27 March 6, 13, 20 2019 April 3, 10, 17, 2019 May 1, 8, 2019 June 5, 12, 19, 26, 2019 All classes held in the community room unless otherwise noted. As part of the project Las Peteneras these last few classes […]
Beat the Blues Dance with Sundance Blues Sliding scale $6-$16 for practice, drop-in, and social dance Instructors: Rotating Instructors | Location: Theater Space 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, musicality, partnership and having […]
Series: Thursdays, January 17th-July 25th 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 […]
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! Our June 21 Fandango features special guests from Mexico, Patricio Hidalgo and Yaratzé Hidalgo Sandoval! Check them out at the Fandango and again in Las Peteneras! Enjoy a lively evening of son jarocho music, dancing, and zapateado– bring your dance shoes and instruments, or […]
Join us for an exciting all-ages kids class! Take your kids on a musical journey to Peru with cajon, dance and song! Instructors: Gabriela Shiroma and Peta Robles. Class is held in the community room. Other questions? Call or email the instructor Gabriela Shiroma: 510-688-9147 lunderomio@yahoo.com
$15 Drop in / 4 consecutive classes for $50 Instructors: Gabriela Shiroma and Peta Robles. Class is held in the community room. All levels are welcome. Students must bring a cajón to class. If you need to purchase one or rent one for a day, contact Gabriela.Shiroma@edd.ca.gov Other questions? Call or email the instructor Gabriela […]
$15 Drop in / 4 consecutive classes for $50 Instructors: Gabriela Shiroma and Peta Robles. Class is held in the community room. Learn to dance a varied repertoire of traditional dances from the coastal region of Peru such as festejos, landos, and zamacuecas. Other questions? Call or email the instructor Gabriela Shiroma: 510-688-9147 lunderomio@yahoo.com
Tuesdays at 7pm - 9pm Saturdays at 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, […]
Door Cover: $4.44 in advance online / $8 at the door ($9 with credit card) DJ José Ruíz is back at La Peña! Get ready to dance to a variety of rhythms from Latin America and around the globe in celebration of La Peña's 44th Anniversary! We'll be giving free La Peña sunglasses to the […]
This four week series introduces students to the basic rhythms of the plena percussion ensemble and to a few songs representative of the genre. Participants will learn to play panderos -- the seguidor and punteador patterns -- and the güícharo or güiro, and will study four plena songs in diverse styles. The workshops also introduce […]