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March 22, 2012 @ La Peña Cultural Center  7:30PM Tix $12-$20 sliding scale. ALL AGES!  TODAS EDADES!

Adrian Arancibia is a poet, writer, and educator. He, along with Adolfo Guzman-Lopez and Miguel-Angel Soria, founded the seminal Chicano spoken-word collective the Taco Shop Poets in 1994. Adrian Arancibia was born in Iquique, Chile in 1971. Since 1980, he has resided in San Diego, California. Arancibia is the co-editor of the Taco Shop Poets Anthology: Chorizo Tonguefire, and currently writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune and for national magazines like The Green Magazine.

Bocas Radioactivas is an evening of Bilingual Spoken Word about Race, Latin America and Hip-Hop/La poesia y politica del Hip-Hop to benefit the first delegation of North American Spoken Word poets traveling to the Havana International Poetry Festival in Havana, Cuba.

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Thursday March 22, 2012  $12-$20 sliding scale – 7:30pm @La Peña Cultural Center

Bocas Radioactivas is a special benefit event celebrating Afro-Latino culture, immigrant rights and Spanglish spoken word and hip-hop. Featuring: Los Rakas with HBO Def Poets: Paul S. Flores, Mark Gonzales, Emanuel Xavier and special guests Sandra Garcia-Rivera, Adrian Arancibia and DJ Leydis. A benefit for U.S. based Latino spoken word poets seeking support to travel to Cuba to participate in the Havana International Poetry Festival.

Feedbacks.- International Women’s Day Performance.  La Peña, Berkeley. March 10, 2012.

“The evening performance was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I learned things about women’s history that made me proud to be a woman, the music was incredible, and the singers had the voices of angels. Being able to participate in our group’s performance was an incredible experience in the power of what women of any age can do… the sisterhood involved was an incredible joy.” —Lynn mc Kinney

“It was a privilege to perform at La Peña on the important Int’l Women’s Day evening in such illustrious company. The mutual respect and appreciation between the performers, the humans, coming together to celebrate justice and creativity and connectedness between generations is the best lift for the spirit.” —Diane Bloom

“Thank you one and all at the La Peña Cultural Center for inviting us to your Women’s Revolution in Latin America. I love the fabulous energy, the culture, and the incredible singing and music. I experience inspiration in the history  of many cultures in such an inclusive light. May I say bravo to all the women at Stagebridge who are Movers and Shakers, each one of you are special and without you this could not have happened.” —Linda Moore

I was honored to be included in a program where powerful and accomplished women were sharing their art. The slide presentation opened my eyes to aspects of women’s history that I had never known–and I’ve been a feminist since the 70’s! I felt a renewed sense of the importance for us as women to bond together, to declare our rights and show our strength. Both singers inspired me with their passionate performances. This is the first time I have witnessed a pregnant diva (Maria) and she was unforgettable. Thank you, Mamakoatl for curating an inspiring evening as well as singing your heart out.

For our movement group, this was our first public performance. I am so proud of the work we are doing together. This experience at La Peña feels like the beginning of something much bigger–who knows where it will lead? We were thrilled to debut at La Pena and now feel a special connection to this venue. I am hoping that we will be able to make an annual tradition of sharing a piece in celebration of International Women’s Day. Very special thanks are due to Nina Serrano who invited us to perform with her.”  —Greacian Goeke. Instructor, Rhythm and Moves class at Stagebridge, home of the Movers and Shakers

“It was a joy and an honor to read my poems amidst such a talented group of artists, curated by Mamakoatl. I have read poetry before with musical accompaniment, but this was the first time I was accompanied by moving dancers echoing my words. I deeply appreciate their collaboration. It was thrilling.  The opening presentation of women’s history by Max Dashu inspired me for the rest of the night, as did the fabulous music of the band and the songs of MamaKoatl and Maria Loreto. I felt the creative forces unleashed in the theatre of which the big beautiful pregnant belly of Maria Loreto was the symbol. –Nina Serrano

Eyewitness Report: by Nina Serrano

“Mujer, Te Han Crecido Las Ideas / Woman, Your Ideas Are On The Rise”  March 10, 2012   La Peña, Berkeley, CA

Performing in “Mujer, Te Han Crecido Las Ideas / Woman, Your Ideas Are On The Rise” was a groundbreaking experience for me as a poet and performer. I’ve worked over the last six years with the incomparable healer, poet /musician and cultural promoter, Mamacoatl. But, this time she guided me into another zone.  Never was I so engulfed in women’s creativity. The beautiful sight of creation itself in the bare, round pregnant belly of musician Maria Loreto made this more visible. The big red heart painted around her belly button awed both performers and audience.

Nor, had I ever read one of my poems accompanied to movement and the dancers echoing my words. Their participation was a thrill for me. Diane Bloom, Linda Moore, Lynn Mc Kinney, our teacher/director Greacian Goeke and I entered the stage filled with inspiration as women elders instilled by Max Dashu’s opening presentation of “Women’s History From Ancient Times To The Present.”  The women-themed Latin American music sung by Mamacoatl and Maria Loreto were solidly supported by the band of male musicians: David Emhe, guitar, Rafa Turincio, bass, Axel Herrera, drums, and Miguelito Martinez, flute. They demonstrated an awesome improvisational approach, musical skill, and applause-raising solos.

Mamacoatl’s bilingual narration underlined the “curing” in both her curation of the event and the presentation of the performances. She offered the audience a healing from the oppressive patriarchal bruises that our society suffers. Then, singing a closing duet with Maria Loreto and the marvelous band she left us dancing in the aisles. The evening reinforced our awareness of the need to preserve the feminine energy of Mother Earth/Pachamama, herself.

Special events during the Blues Dance classes:

First up, African dance and live drumming with Carrie Staller. This event will take place on Wednesday, March 21, at La Peña Cultural Center.  Check out the Facebook event page for more information.

Next up, a two day dancing workshop with Mike “The Girl” Legett and Dan Rosenthal. For more information about the content and details of the workshop check out the Facebook event page.