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Beat the Blues Dance

Sliding scale for practice, drop-in, and social dance:

DJ Nights: Sliding Scale $6-16
​Live Music: Sliding Scale $10-20

Instructors: Rotating Instructors | Location: Theater Space

For more information: https://www.bayareabluesdance.com/

Blues dancing is all about connection, musicality, partnership and having fun! It can range from sensual to sad to gritty to soulful and anything in between. Our DJs play a variety of vintage and modern blues music in many styles and tempos, suitable for many styles of blues dancing.

A drop-in class is the perfect opportunity to figure out if blues dancing is right for you. Every Wednesday at 8pm , we offer a drop-in class for new dancers. Just show up and join us! You will learn some basic footwork and a few new moves to bust out on the social floor.

Stick around for the social dance to try out your new moves. If you admire someone’s dancing, ask them to dance! We all started out as beginners too, and everyone can learn a lot from dancing with people of all levels.

The classes cover new material each week. Show up for several weeks in a row, and you’re guaranteed to learn something new every class!

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, when Africans from western Central Africa were enslaved and taken to Brazil, specifically Salvador and the surround Recôncavo region.

In its history and practice, Capoeira Angola reflects the philosophy and aesthetics of its origins. Similar to many traditional African traditions, there are no clear-cut distinctions between the sacred and secular, work and play, fight and fun. Capoeira Angola integrates music, movement, theatrics, play, martial arts, philosophy, and spirituality. In the past, Capoeira Angola has been passed down from master to student orally.

Similar to the teachings of Mestre Pastinha, one of the central figures to the preservation and transmission of Capoeira Angola, I teach Capoeira Angola as a path to self-knowledge and a way of life. Central to my teachings is the shared belief that Capoeira Angola is more than physical confrontation and can serve as a vehicle for the development of ethnic pride and the fight for human rights. Within Capoeira Angola is the history of the political and cultural resistance and struggle of Afro-Brazilians and their role in the formation of Brazilian society.

Different from other traditions of martial arts, music is essential to play Capoeira Angola; without it the game is unimaginable. The intimate relation between music, movement, play, and spirituality facilitates the integration of the body and mind of the capoeirista while contributing to the playful character of the game. The traditional orchestra of Capoeira Angola as it has come together in Brazil, consists of three berimbaus of different pitches, two pandeiros (tambourines), one agogô (double bell), a reco-reco (a notched bamboo scraper), and an atabaque (tall drum). The berimbau is the most important instrument in the orchestra, serving as the musical heart of Capoeria Angola. The berimbau is a musical bow with a single string and a gourd resonator which has come to symbolize the authority of the capoeira mestre (master).

From an outlawed practice associated with criminality, Capoeira Angola has expanded throughout Brazil and the world. Capoeira Angola is an artform in which all can participate, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexuality, etc.

Series: January 13, 2020 – April 6, 2020

Mondays 6pm-8pm in the Lounge

Instructor: Tregar Otten| Contact the instructor at tregaro@danzon.com for more information and to register!

The class is dedicated to performing Cuban dance music, much of it comes  from the Charanga/Típica tradition incorporating strings and woodwinds  into the traditional Cuban dance music ensemble with congas, timbales, piano, bass and vocalists along with brass instruments.

In the class, we will play various genres of Cuban music and Salsa, including Danzón, Cha-Cha-Chá, Bolero, Son-Montuno, Guaracha, Guajira, and the more modern styles of Salsa, Songo and Timba. Everyone learns not only their piece of the puzzle, but also has opportunities to improvise, learn about clave, what the rhythm section is doing and how each instrument fits into that, the form of each genre, and the historical context of each piece that we learn and perform.

The class is comprised of a group of very dedicated students, most of which have been participating for more than 3 years. The level of musicianship is mostly advanced, but intermediate students are also
welcome. The class is open to most all instrumentalists and vocalists, with approval from the teacher. Class is held on a quarterly basis, usually comprising of 12 classes with a performance on the 13th week where the public is invited to dance, listen and have fun!

About the instructor Tregar Otton:

Tregar Otton (Violin, Composer, Arranger, educator), born in the Marshall Islands and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas and California. Otton began his classical music training at the age of four. He has been a part of the Bay Area Latin music scene since 1990, working primarily with Orq. La Moderna Tradición (Cuban), Los Cenzontles (Mexican), and the Potaje (Flamenco). While living in New York in the 90’s, he played as a regular member of Virgilo Martí y sus Majaderos with Cuban legends Chocolate Armenteros and Patato Valdez. He also worked closely with Juan Carlos Formell, and with the celebrated New York Charanga groups Orquesta Broadway and La Típica Novel.

Tregar founded Orquesta La Moderna Tradición with Roberto Borrell in 1995. Orq. la Moderna Tradición is a Cuban Charanga orquesta dedicated to playing popular Cuban music that incorporates violins and woodwinds (Danzón, Cha Cha Cha, Son Montuno, and more modern genres). The group has toured extensively in the United States and internationally.

Tregar has been on the faculty of the Community Music Center of San Francisco for over 15 years, teaching both individual and group classes to youth and adults. He teaches a performance oriented class in Cuban Charanga at the Center.

www.danzon.com

All body types, physical abilities including chronic conditions, and levels of experience with yoga are heartily welcome and accommodated!

Sliding Scale Donation: $5-$20

Drop-ins welcome!

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 help students increase their physical, mental, and emotional strength, flexibility and balance through postures, movement, breathing techniques, and mindful attention.

Don’t have a yoga mat?  No worries—we have some to share!

Instructor: Pamela Perry

For more information: pperry0855@gmail.com

Pamela is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and teacher (RYT-500) who has been a supporter and member of the La Peña community since 1982.  Her teaching style combines over 25 years of experience as a yoga practitioner with in-depth training in anatomy, physiology, and therapeutic applications of yoga postures, breathing, and meditation.  It is with great love and enthusiasm that she is bringing the rejuvenating effects of yoga to the La Peña community.