Connecting Communities with Artists is a donation based program that connects local, national and international communities with accessible training and the opportunities to learn from Master Artists in different dance rhythmic traditions. This program is made possible by our funders the Mellon Foundation & California Arts Council, and our fiscal sponsor Brava Theater.
Connecting Communities with Artists 2023
Join us for our 2023 program of donation-based, online workshops! We are excited to include artists and percussive dance traditions in-person and over Zoom in our 2023 program. Take class at home or from Brava Theater Studios in San Francisco.
- Tap Dance with Sandy Vazquez: Sunday, Nov 12
- Beginning Tap 10-10:45am PST (No tap shoes required!)
- Int/Adv Tap 11-12pm PST
- All percussive dance styles welcome! (folk dancers, flamenco, zapateo, etc)
- Click here to register!
Bring your shoes and come ready to dance! We will be exploring tap dance fundamentals, history, and improvisation in both the beginner and int/adv workshops. Be prepared to do some drills, a combination, and end in a time honored tap dance tradition– a tap jam aka improvisation circle. All percussive dance forms (Flamenco, Mexican folk dance, Peruvian zapateo, etc.) are highly encouraged to join!
Sandy Vázquez is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Los Angeles and now based in Oakland. She has been dancing professionally for over ten years and is currently one of La Mezcla’s Lead Dancers and Artistic Associate.
- Open Rehearsal with Vanessa Sanchez y La Mezcla
- Cervecitas in the Mission with Vanessa Sanchez
- 6-7:30pm PST @ Limoncello
- Click here to register!
Connecting Communities with Artists is excited to bring together the community and offer more insight into La Mezcla’s upcoming work! Come watch La Mezcla’s open rehearsal for the world premiere of Ghostly Labor at Brava and pick up pre-ordered exclusive merch in preparation for the show! Afterwards, join Executive Artistic Director Vanessa Sanchez and members of La Mezcla for a cervecita in the Mission to learn more about the development of Ghostly Labor. At this informal meet and greet you can ask any questions you’ve wondered about the development of the show, dance film, and artistic process in preparation for the world premiere at Brava on December 15-17. Registration is required due to limited capacity! No host bar.
Stay tuned for more workshops this year!
Past Classes
- Afro Cuban with Susana Pedroso: Friday, Oct 27
- 10-11:30am PST
- Click here to register!
Join us for an Afro-Cuban master class with maestra Susana Pedroso at Brava Theater studio! Susana Arenas Pedroso is an internationally recognized Cuban Folkloric and popular (i.e. social) dancer. Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Ms Pedroso began her career in dance at age twelve, studying at La Casa de Cultura de Matanzas and at Cojunto Folklorico Nacional in Havana. She danced professionally for seventeen years in Cuba with popular, folkloric and theatrical performing groups, including Tierra Virgen, Alafia Ire, Oche Olorun, Oriki, Clave y Guaguancó, Oba Wemilere, Rumberos de Cuba, and Raíces Profundas. Since her arrival in the United States in 1998, Ms Pedroso has performed and choreographed numerous pieces that have been exhibited throughout the United States, Mexico, Cuba and Hong Kong with companies such as Omo Ache, Omo Oddara, Ban Rarra, Ire Ile, Alayo Dance Company, Las Que Son Son and Obini Ashe.
Our first workshop of the season is with La Mezcla performer Argelia Arreola teaching her first signature AfroKorp workshop in San Francisco following a teaching residency at Gibney Dance in New York City!
➪ About AfroKorp: In a contemporary way, using as a basis the language of African dance from Guinea and Senegal, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Mexican dance, AfroKorp proposes within each class to connect, explore, and work the body via rhythm and take it to its most organic and free state.
Explosive, rhythmic and dynamic, AfroKorp combines a variety of styles and energies where the body is the main resonator of everything it perceives and that surrounds it. This class focuses on rhythm, speed, agility, and quality of movement in a way that is accessible to dancers and movers of all backgrounds.
➪ Argelia Arreola, Bronx based Mexican dancer, choreographer and musician, passionate about rhythm and everything related to African influences within artistic expressions. She holds a Bachelor’s in Contemporary Dance from Universidad Veracruzana, México. Formally trained in traditional African Dance of Guinea for 19 years, Argelia has taught African dance workshops for more than 15 years in Mexico, United States, and Costa Rica. She seeks to make an artistic contribution to the field of contemporary dance by bringing to the fore the dynamic relationship between the music of percussion instruments and the language of African (Guinea & Senegal), Afro-Cuban and Mexican folk dance.
- Zapateado Jarocho with Fredi Naranjo Vega: Tuesday, February 14, 2023
- 11am-12:30pm PST
- Tap Dance with Max Pollak: Friday, May 12, 2023
- 10AM-11:30AM PST
- Son Jarocho with Laura Rebolloso: Monday, June 19, 2023
- 5:30pm-7pm PST
- Tap Dance with Dolores Sanchez: Saturday, July 23, 2022
- Beginner 12-1pm PST/3-4pm EST
- Int/Adv 1-2pm PST/4-5pm EST
- Zapateado Jarocho with Rubí Oseguera Rueda**: Saturday, August 27, 2022
- Beginner 1-2pm PST/ 4-5pm EST
- Int/Adv 2-3pm PST/ 5-6:30pm EST
- Afro Peruvian with Juan de Dios Soto: Saturday, October 1, 2022
- Zapateo Peruano 1-2pm PST/ 4-5pm EST
- Festejo 2-3pm PST/ 5-6pm EST
