La Peña Cultural Center

Last BAILA Community Dance Party - Don't Miss Out!

Join us TOMORROW night for the final BAILA event of the summer season! Experience the magic that keeps our community coming back for more!

Featuring: Eric Rangel y su Orquesta America on our main stage!
2 Dance Floors: DJ Ron spinning top Bachata, DJ José A. Ruiz with Salsa y más

Friday, July 19th, 2024, from 7:30 PM to 1:00 AM
at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA

Don't miss your last chance to dance in one of the most inclusive dance spaces in the Bay Area before our August break!

Get tickets at bit.ly/bailaparty or sign up to volunteer at bit.ly/bailavolunteer

Don't miss a rare opportunity to experience Bay Area percussion maestro Michael Spiro and his groundbreaking project, Spirology, at La Peña Cultural Center. This marks their second performance ever!

Spirology explores the intersection of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and Cuban popular music, featuring the sacred chants of the Lukumí bata drums combined with the traditional Cuban charanga. With a repertoire of Cuban jazz and sacred Afro-Cuban incantations, Spirology promises an unforgettable night. One you won't want to miss!

Join us on Saturday, July 27th, from 8pm to 10pm at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA.

Get your tickets now at bit.ly/spirology!

🎉 THIS Friday is the LAST BAILA of the season! 🌟 Don't miss out on our final summer dance party before we take a break until September. Join us at La Peña for a night of Salsa and Bachata!

🎟️ Early bird tickets are SOLD OUT, but you can still get group discounts at $20 per person (groups of 4+, online only) or pre-sale tickets at $25. La Peña members, use your member promo code to get your ticket! Tickets at bit.ly/bailaparty

8:00 PM - Beginner Salsa Bachata Dance Classes
10:00 PM - Eric Rangél y su Orquesta América

📅 Date: Friday, July 19th, 2024
📍 Location: La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA

📸: Aube.Fred

Last Friday, La Peña hosted what may be the first of many Sound of Solidarity Concerts, a profound intergenerational Encuentro that resonated deeply within our community. Elders and younger generations came together, filling the room with wisdom, medicine, and the transformative power of music and activism. It was a magical night, a true indication of La Peña's enduring role as a space where artists flourish, embracing vulnerability and complexity while shining brightly on our stage.

It was a celebration of solidarity, featuring cherished artists such as Holly Near, Tammy Hall, Jan Martinelli, Djérae Lucas, Mia Pixley, and Diana Gameros. Their presence underscored our collective journey toward the liberation of all people and highlighted the intergenerational responsibility of creating space for one another—supporting younger generations on their path and honoring elders who guide with wisdom and practice.

We extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us and contributed to this event. Your presence and support made this night a profound expression of community healing and resilience. Our hearts are full 🤍

Join us at BAILA this Friday and help create an unforgettable night at La Peña!

We're seeking volunteers for greeters, floaters, set-up and clean-up crew, coat check assistants, bar assistants, videographers, and La Peña booth managers. No experience is necessary for any role, and every role is essential to our event's success.

Volunteering is a chance to build skills and join a team of friends and community members. Volunteers enjoy free entry, food, and drinks.

Sign up now at bit.ly/bailavolunteer

📸: Photos of Staff and Volunteers at BAILA by .fred and

🌟 And we did it again! 🌟

Thank you for coming and being a part of the celebration! Special shout-out to all the vendors, artists, chefs, culture bearers, musicians, teachers, and dancers for sharing your amazing talents. We transformed our street into a vibrant marketplace bursting with color, culture, and creativity!

Here's to celebrating our incredible artists and vendors from the Bay Area, especially those who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), LGBTQIA+, multiracial, and migrants. 🌈✨

📸 Photos by Clara Pérez

Tonight! • La Peña • 7 PM PST! This evening, we will center the transformative power of music and storytelling across generations, promising to leave you inspired.

Celebrate change-making musicians with an intergenerational concert led by the iconic Holly Near. Joining her are fellow Bay Area artists Tammy Hall, Jan Martinelli, Djérae Lucas, Mia Pixley, and Diana Gameros.

Get your tickets: bit.ly/soundofsolidarity. Livestream available.

TOMORROW! Join us Friday, July 12, at 7 PM PST for an inspiring celebration of feminist musicians from the Bay Area. Led by the legendary Holly Near, a powerful voice for change, and featuring Tammy Hall and Jan Martinelli.

Experience the transformative power of music as artists from different generations come together to share their stories and showcase their incredible talents.

Tickets: bit.ly/soundofsolidarity. Livestream available.

Our Last BAILA of the Summer is Next Week 💃 - https://mailchi.mp/lapena/july_11

This Friday, join us for Diana Gameros's performance at The Sound of Solidarity: An Intergenerational Encuentro!

Diana, a singer, guitarist, pianist, composer, songwriter, music instructor, and social justice activist based in California has released albums in Spanish, English, and Mexican classics over the past decade in the Bay Area.

Celebrate feminist musicians of the Bay Area with the transformative power of music! Don't miss out, get your tickets now!

When: Friday, July 12th
Time: 7 pm - 10 pm PST
Tickets: bit.ly/soundofsolidarity

Livestream option available. More info at bit.ly/soundofsolidarity.

Be a part of this celebration, The Sound of Solidarity: An Intergenerational Encuentro, where we'll celebrate change-making, badass feminist musicians of the Bay Area through the transformative power of music as artists from different generations come together to share their stories and talents.

Meet Mia Pixley, a clinical psychologist, mother, composer, and musical artist who explores self, community, and the natural world through her cello, voice, and performances. Her latest work is Sound of the Reef: Coral Enneagrams (2024), a two-sided vinyl co-released with composer Sami Freeman.

When: Friday, July 12th
Time: 7 pm - 10 pm PST
Tickets: bit.ly/soundofsolidarity

Don't miss Mia Pixley's seamless mix of acoustic and electronic sounds, creating ethereal cello soundscapes and songs! Livestream option available. More info at bit.ly/soundofsolidarity.

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 We're offering a livestream option for The Sound of Solidarity: An Intergenerational Encuentro concert!

Purchase a livestream ticket to watch the concert live and re-watch it as much as you like for 48 hours after the stream. Access is via a private YouTube link, so you can enjoy it from anywhere!

When: Friday, July 12th, 2024
Time: :00 PM - 10:00 PM PST (10:00 PM - 1:00 AM EST)
Livestream Ticket: $10 🎟️ Get Tickets at bit.ly/soundofsolidarity (Link in bio)

Whether you join us in person or online, we can't wait for this unique musical experience!

Join us this Sunday, July 14th at La Peña Cultural Center 1pm - 6pm!

A day of political education, community building, ancestral medicine, and live music (bomba & hip hop) to raise funds for displaced families in Congo, Palestine & Sudan.

Details:
• Doors open at 1pm
• Sliding scale: $10 - $25
• Ticket Link in bio
• No one turned away for lack of funds
• All ages welcome

Featuring:
• Live drumming by
• Podcast Round Table: Zina’s Buqalah w/ , , , .ohloneland,
• Performances: , , , , .ari.b
• Food: Asúkar
• Vendors: , , ,

Flyer by .espejo
Hosted by & .buqalah

Thank you to everyone who joined us on June 15th to celebrate our 49th anniversary at La Peña Cultural Center! Even as we move into July, we are still basking in the glow of that incredible evening.

We are profoundly grateful to our vibrant community for keeping La Peña alive and thriving for nearly five decades. Whether you’ve been with us for years or just discovered us recently, your presence and support mean the world. Together, we honor the legacy of culture bearers who keep our traditions alive, bridging generations through the arts and culture of the Latin American diaspora.

La Peña has been a hub for countless gatherings, celebrations, concerts, and moments of both joy and solace. Here’s to 49 years of community, resilience, and love—and to many more years ahead!

Special thanks to Orquesta La Moderna Tradición for their incredible performance and .fred for capturing the night so beautifully.

Cheers to all of you! 🎉❤️✨

🌟 Join us for the final BAILA Community Dance Party of the season! 🌟

Don’t miss your last chance to experience BAILA before we return in September. More than just a party, we're transforming dance culture at La Peña into a safe, inclusive space that centers a culture of consent.

Mark your calendars for Friday, July 19th, and get your tickets in advance for our early bird price! 🎟️✨

The night starts with open Salsa Bachata dance classes at 8:00 PM, followed by live music from Eric Angel y su Orquesta América! 🎶

📅 Date: Friday, July 19th, 2024
🕢 Time: 7:30 PM - 1:00 AM
📍 Location: La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA

Get your tickets now at bit.ly/bailaparty

🌟 We are honored to host "The Sound of Solidarity: An Intergenerational Encuentro" next week at La Peña! 🌟

Join us for a unique opportunity to see the legendary Holly Near (she/her) perform live on our stage, along with friends and special guests from our community.

🎤 Meet Holly Near:
With over 50 years as a powerful voice for change, Holly's work is thought-provoking, funny, and rooted in global community. As a singer and peace ambassador, she blends world consciousness with self-reflection. Holly has received honors from the ACLU, NOW, Ms. Magazine's Women of the Year, and Grammy nominations.

📅 Date: Friday, July 12th
🕖 Time: 7 pm - 10 pm
🎟️ Tickets: bit.ly/soundofsolidarity

Don’t miss this chance to witness Holly Near's inspiring performance and impactful legacy of activism! Livestream option available. More info at bit.ly/soundofsolidarity.

Next Friday, July 12th: Come to The Sound of Solidarity: An Intergenerational Concert led by Holly Near 🎶 - https://mailchi.mp/lapena/july_4

🎵 The Sound of Solidarity: An Intergenerational Encuentro is coming up! 🌟 Join us for a night of powerful music and dialogue featuring incredible artists who uplift and inspire our community.

Meet Djérae Lucas (he/him), a dynamic artist exploring themes of love, identity, grief, and healing through his music. As a Black Gender Transcendent person, Djérae believes and supports in the holistic freedom of Black Q***r People. Through his organization, the Underground Rainbow Group, Djérae helps creatives reframe and embrace their creative processes. His performances at La Peña's Empowering People of Color Open Mics have moved us all with his profound lyricism.

📅 Date: Friday, July 12th
🕖 Time: 7 pm-10 pm
🎟️ Tickets: bit.ly/soundofsolidarity

Get your tickets in advance to ensure you don't miss out on this empowering evening!

📸:

✨ This is how we celebrate the Willka kuti: Año Nuevo Andino! What a beautiful gathering of cultural and historical roots through the depth of music, vibrant colors, and ceremonial dance. 🌟 As always, thank you to the incredible lineup of artists who graced the stage—AJAYU, Comunidad Anqari, Coraza —and to everyone who showed up and made this night so special. May the harvest in your life be abundant and whole 🌱

📸: Yuka Matsuno

🌟 Highlights of BAILA 🌟

Thank you to everyone who came out to BAILA! Your energy and joy made the night memorable. It's amazing to see our community come together, creating space for joy and movement, and prioritizing our well-being through dance.

Special thanks to:
🎶 VibraSÓN Latin Band for the amazing performance that brought everyone to the dancefloor!
🎧 and for keeping the energy going with music that kept us moving
🔥 Dance instructors Itzel Gabriela and Corey Raynor, Thank YOU!
🌿 Los Cilantros for nourishing us
📸 Aube.Fred for capturing the highlights

Our team of staff and volunteers are the backbone of BAILA. We’re proud to be shifting dance culture and creating a culture of consent, ensuring our community looks out for one another.

Save the date: July 19th, 2024 for the last BAILA of the season until September. Don’t miss out!

🎟️ Early bird tickets: bit.ly/bailaparty

🎶 Michael Spiro's Spirology in Concert at La Peña! 🎶

Join us for an evening of Afro-Cuban folklore and Cuban Charanga fusion with Grammy-nominated Michael Spiro and the Bay Area’s finest musicians!

📅 Saturday, July 27th
🕗 8pm - 10pm
📍 La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA

Enjoy the rhythmic interplay of Lukumí bata drums and the elegant melodies of Cuban danzón. This lively concert promises to delight both your ears and feet.

Get your tickets now at bit.ly/spirology!