La Peña Cultural Center

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Intermediate Salsa, Bachata & Merengue Dance Class Series

Following the success of our Beginners Dance Class Series, La Peña is excited to present the second round of our Intermediate Class Series: (4 Weeks) Mondays 7:30pm – 8:30pm. February 5 – March 4, 2024.

This is a 4-class series designed for beginner to intermediate students to expand their skills of three popular Latin dance styles: Salsa, Bachata and Merengue!

Join us and 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 as “leaders” and “followers” and is inclusive to folks of all genders, non-binary & LGBTQ+. Please see our Community Agreements below.

Classes are taught by Venezuelan dance instructor Juliana Mendonca (she/her). Juliana’s teaching style is not a traditional ballroom style latin dance class. She first teaches her students to connect to their body and to connect to the rhythms before getting to the steps and turns. This foundation will help you loosen up your hips, knees, shoulders and arms to allow each student to get their own authentic feel for each genre and its unique rhythm.

You haven’t taken the Beginners class yet? Register for that one first! HERE.

ENROLLMENT DETAILS

SERIES SCHEDULE (4 weeks) 02/05/2024 – 03/04/2024

  • Monday, February 5, 2024, 7:30pm – 8:30pm
  • Monday, February 12, 2024, 7:30pm – 8:30pm
  • Monday, February 26, 2024, 7:30pm – 8:30pm
  • Monday, March 04, 2024, 7:30pm – 8:30pm
  • **NO CLASS FEBRUARY 19**

Series Tuition Cost: $94 for entire series . (Please note: Drop-ins are NOT available, please purchase your registration in advance.)

BONUS PERK! Students get a FREE ticket to an upcoming BAILA! Community Dance Party. Promo code & details will be emailed after first day of class.

Beginners Salsa, Bachata & Merengue Dance Class Series

Our popular Beginners Salsa, Bachata & Merengue dance class series returns to La Peña on Mondays, starting Feb 05, 2024!

SERIES DESCRIPTION

Beginners Class Series (4 sessions) Mondays 6:15pm-7:15pm. February 5 – March 4, 2024.

This is a 4-week series designed for beginner students to learn and enjoy three popular Latin dance styles: Salsa, Bachata and Merengue! Join us and 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 as “leaders” and “followers” and is inclusive to folks of all genders, non-binary & LGBTQ+. Please see our Community Agreements below.

Classes are taught by Venezuelan dance instructor Juliana Mendonca (she/her). Juliana’s teaching style is not a traditional ballroom style latin dance class. She first teaches her students to connect to their body and to connect to the rhythms before getting to the steps and turns. This foundation will help you loosen up your hips, knees, shoulders and arms to allow each student to get their own authentic feel for each genre and its unique rhythm.

You already took this class? Try the Intermediate one HERE

ENROLLMENT DETAILS

SERIES SCHEDULE (4 sessions) 10/23/2023 – 11/13/2023

  • Monday, February 5, 2024, 6:15pm – 7:15pm
  • Monday, February 12, 2024, 6:15pm – 7:15pm
  • Monday, February 26, 2024, 6:15pm – 7:15pm
  • Monday, March 04, 2024, 6:15pm – 7:15pm
  • **NO CLASS FEBRUARY 19**

Series Tuition Cost: $94 for entire series . (Please note: Drop-ins are NOT available. Please purchase your registration in advance.)

BONUS PERK! Students get a FREE ticket to an upcoming BAILA! Community Dance Party.Promo code & details will be emailed after the first day of class.

Children & Youth Bomba y Plena Workshop

Mondays, 4:00pm – 5:00pm PST | January 23 – December 18, 2023
In person at La Peña Cultural Center.

Students will learn dance, songs, drum rhythms, and history. For those interested in staying healthy, connecting with the community or learning a rich musical tradition, Bomba is for you.

Bomba reflects the powerful forces that shaped Puerto Rico’s history, emerging from the African experience on the island before the 1700’s. Bomba music and dance originated in the sugar cane plantations and was played, danced and sung as a means to express daily hardships, cope with oppression, and escape captivity. Bomba is the oldest living musical tradition of Puerto Rico. The Bomba ensemble consists of “barriles” or barrel drums with goat skins, a “maraca” played by the lead singer, and a pair of “cuas”, or sticks traditionally played on the wooden body of the drum. Inspired and guided by songs and the drum rhythms, dancers improvise their movements in a dynamic communication with the “primo” or lead drum.

This class is open to all levels and drop-ins are welcome. Instruction is geared to different levels and skills from beginner to more advanced.

To register, contact bombaaguacero@gmail.com 

 

   

Adult Bomba y Plena Workshop

Sundays, January 28 – May 26, 2024. 11:30am – 1:00pm. In person at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost: Drop-in $35
Full Series: $30 per class or $240.

The Bay Area Bomba y Plena Workshop will be kicking off 2024 with a new Puerto Rican Bomba dance series led by Shefali Shah. The series will include live percussion by Bay Area percussionists Roman Ito Carrillo, Hector Lugo Forooza Baradar and Ali Choco Luna.

The series will include basic skills, improvisation techniques, choreography and developing skills to dance in a Batey or community jam. Teenagers with some dance experience welcomed (please email for info). Folks interested in practicing Bomba percussion during the class are welcome (some experience in playing Bomba is recommended).

IMPORTANT: To register to this class, please contact the instructors directly to bombaaguacero@gmail.com or text 510-681-1036.

Children’s Bomba Drumming and Dancing

Mondays, 4:00pm – 5:00pm PST | January 22 – May 20, 2024
In person at La Peña Cultural Center. Full trimester: $320 per child (16 classes). Drop-in: $25 per class.

This workshop offers a fun, safe, creative and dynamic environment for children and youth to learn centuries-old music and dance traditions from Puerto Rico. Through drumming, singing, dancing, and storytelling students learn about Bomba, and Plena, and explore their connections to other Latin and Caribbean music and dance forms. Activities are designed to develop musicianship, body coordination, expressiveness, bilingual literacy skills, and historical and cultural knowledge. Students are also invited to participate in Bombazos, community jams, performances and class recitals where they share what they have learned with friends, family, and the community at large. Drums, hand percussion instruments and dance skirts are provided by the teachers.

Bomba reflects the powerful forces that shaped Puerto Rico’s history, emerging from the African experience on the island before the 1700’s. Bomba music and dance originated in the sugar cane plantations and was played, danced and sung as a means to express daily hardships, cope with oppression, and escape captivity. Bomba is the oldest living musical tradition of Puerto Rico. The Bomba ensemble consists of “barriles” or barrel drums with goat skins, a “maraca” played by the lead singer, and a pair of “cuas”, or sticks traditionally played on the wooden body of the drum. Inspired and guided by songs and the drum rhythms, dancers improvise their movements in a dynamic communication with the “primo” or lead drum.

This class is open to all levels and drop-ins are welcome. Instruction is geared to different levels and skills from beginner to more advanced.

To register, contact bombaaguacero@gmail.com. Please register with your child’s name, age, and whether they will be dropping in or joining for the full trimester.