La Mezcla seeks sf-Bay area based tap dancer(s)!
We’re seeking tap dancers in the SF Bay Area to join us in the development of Ghostly Labor.
Connecting communities with artists is back for 2023!
Join us at the Brava Theater Studio! Click here for more info and to register!
Just ANnounced- Pachuquísmo 2023!
We’re bringing the show back twice this March! Visit the Calendario page for ticket links.
upcoming “Ghostly labor: A dance Film” screenings 2023!
Catch a screening of the award winning “Ghostly Labor: A Dance Film” near you! See the Film Screenings page for more info about each festival!
“GHOSTLY LABOR: A DANCE FILM” WINS BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT AT DANCE CAMERA WEST 2023!
Felicidades to the cast, crew, and everyone who was awarded by the jury!
Check out photos of Co-Directors Vanessa Sanchez and John Jota Leaños from Dance Camera West 2023!
Join us for an in progress showing of “Ghostly Labor”
We’re excited to hold a week long development residency at Brava Theater where we’ll be focusing on the training and development of our new project “Ghostly Labor.” Join us for an in progress showing 1/14 @ 7pm. Click here for more info.
Vanessa on the cover of “American Artscape” Magazine!
We are excited to share that Vanessa Sanchez is featured on the cover of the National Endowment for the Arts Magazine, with an interview article by Paulette Beete! Check out the magazine and Vanessa’s article in English- Dancing Outside the Box, or in Español- Bailar de Forma Original. Photo by Danica Paulos, Courtesy of Jacob’s Pillow.
November 2022 Bay area events
Click here for more info on our upcoming local events and performances! See link below for info on 11/3 screening and talkback.
Screenings of “GHostly Labor: A Dance Film”
Catch us on theater screens and computer screens throughout 2022-23 at festivals including SF Latino Film Festival, SF Dance Film Festival, and Capitol Dance & Cinema Festival in Washington DC! Click here for the full list of screenings and panel discussion info!
2022 Pachuquísmo Tour Dates 2022
RESCHEDULED– Due to wild fires and air quality, our Reno Tour date has been rescheduled for December 8th. Sending lots love to those affected by the fires. Go to Calendario page for full tour dates!
New Articles & Interviews!
Checkout these new articles & interviews on La Mezcla: A new interview with Executive Artistic Director Vanessa Sanchez by Mellon Foundation, Dancing Through the Lens Podcast interview, and a full review on Pachuquísmo by Onstage North Texas! Go to our Press Page for more articles, podcasts and interviews.
Connecting Communities with artists 2022 announced!
Click here for more info and to register.
Jacob’s Pillow PillowTAlk interview with Vanessa Sanchez!
A Conversation with Vanessa Sanchez on “Pachuquísmo”
Una Conversación con Vanessa Sanchez sobre “Pachuquísmo”
“Ghostly Labor: A Dance Film” has been selected for the San Souci festival of dance cinema 2022!
We are excited to announce that “Ghostly Labor: A Dance Film” has been selected for the Docs Without Borders Film Festival, Wild Sound Film Festival (winner of best Film), the San Souci Film Festival of Dance Cinema, the Experimental Dance & Music Film Festival (winner of Best Sound & Music), International Music Video Underground Festival & Encontre Internacional de Videodansa in Valencia, Spain! See the film in person at the San Souci Festival Premiere at Museum of Boulder 9/2-9/4 & in Virtual Screening I during Hispanic Heritage Month 9/15-9/25. Congrats to the whole film team!
We’re on a podcast!
Listen to “Ghostly Labor: a Dance Film” co-directors Vanessa Sanchez & John Jota Leaños in a podcast with the Experimental Film festival director where they discuss the meaning behind each piece and the process of creating the work and the film. The podcast is dated August 5th, 2022.
Become La Mezcla’s next Company & Costume Intern
La Mezcla is seeking a positive, organized, and community-oriented Company & Costume Intern to join our team July through December 2022. This internship offers paid, hands-on experience in costume management, the ins & outs of producing a dance theater production and national tour, and using art for social change & community engagement. Accepting applications through July 8th. CLOSED- THANK YOU
“Ghostly Labor: A Dance Film” featured in Fresh Meat Festival & Paseo Artistico June 2022!
Go to Calendario for more info!!
PAchuquísmo in San Jose June 11th!
Tickets now available for our show in San Jose on June 11th at 8pm. Click here.
Don’t miss the world premiere of “ghostly labor: a dance film!”
Go to calendar page for more info!
Pachuquísmo returns to Brava theater!
Go to our Calendar page for more info!
La Mezcla’s debut a jacob’s pillow august 2022
In their Jacob’s Pillow debut, the company will perform selections from Pachuquísmo, a multi-disciplinary, rhythmic performance with a live band that unveils a forgotten history of Mexican-American female youth, and explores the struggles that communities of color continue to face today, through a blend of tap dance, Mexican zapateado, Son Jarocho music, and jazz. Wednesday, August 17 at 6pm | More Info Here
Lincoln Center presents the taller “Ritmos & Movements with La Mezcla” 3/13/22, 2-3 pm ET (Ages 8+)
Check out our ShowCase @ the NPN Virtual Conference 1/31
Check out our ShowCases @ APAP Conference 2022!
Attending APAP? Don’t miss our virtual showcases, including the first sneak peek at our newest work, Ghostly Labor!
Make a tax-deductible donation to La Mezcla!
Go to our donation page to make a tax-deductible donation through our Fiscal Sponor Brava Theater!
Check out Vanessa Sanchez’s first published piece!
Click here to check out the piece “Pachuquísmo: La Mezcla Brings Pachuca Culture Forward” in Ecotone Magazine. Order a copy today!
We MAde a Dance Film!
Congrats to our amazing cast and crew! Stay turned for more information on our film premiere date in 2022.
Join us for an in-progress showing!
Go to Calendario page for more info!
FARM WORKER DONATION DRIVE
ACE Dance Academy
1825 Mount Diablo Blvd,
Walnut Creek
Join us for Dia de los muertos at hummingbird farm
See Calendar for more info!
Vanessa Sanchez Featured as Choreographer, Dancer and Actor in “History Matters in the Mission”
A new article in SF Chronicle’s Datebook talks about the process and history of Paul Flores’ new show, which features new choreography by Vanessa Sanchez! Click here to read the article, and click here for more info about the premiere in La Mision Oct 23rd!
Join us for Trolley Dances Oct 16 & 17
Check out Calendario for more info for live and virtual viewing info! Missed it? Click here to watch the video!
Upcoming Performances in September & October!
Check out the Calendario page for more info on a virtual interview in August, La Mezcla’s performance in Trolley Dances and Vanessa Sanchez’s work and performance with Acción Latina’s “History Matters in the Mission!”
La Mezcla is hiring a Manager (CLOSED)
We are looking for a Company and Project manager to support the administrative management of La Mezcla. This position is 9-11 hrs per week with increased hours during production periods. Seeking someone with experience in arts administration who has day time availability. SF Bay Area-based preferred. Click here for full job description and info on applying. Apply by 9/6.
Vanessa Sanchez teaching in the UCSC Dance program
Excited to announce that Vanessa Sanchez will be joining UCSC’s Theater Arts Department as a Dance Lecturer for the 21-22 school year! Check out one of her dance warm up videos made for UCSC’s online education.
Dancer’s Group interview with Vanessa Sanchez!
Dancer’s Group’s “In Conversation” is a series of interviews exploring exchanges about dance and different folks’ relationship to dance. Vanessa Sanchez was happy to chat with Andrea Spearman about the Bay Area dance scene, the national dance landscape and the challenges of funding for traditional dance artists of color. Click here to listen or read!
Vanessa Sanchez & La Mezcla received The npn Creation fund for “ghostly labor!”
We are so honored to announce that our new production “Ghostly Labor” has received the National Performance Network’s Creation fund with co-commissioners MACLA (San Jose), Brava Theater (San Francisco), The Yard (Martha’s Vineyard), Su Teatro (Denver), and Pregones Theater (Bronx, NY). Stay tuned for a formal announcement on the show’s development! Click here for a full list of awardees and info on each project. Congrats to everyone!
Vanessa Sanchez is Featured in Dance Magazine!
Vanessa Sanchez is honored to be featured in Dance Magazine’s “30 Over 30” article alongside some amazing artists! Check out the article in this month’s issue. Click to see the article online!
“Selections of Pachuquísmo” will be part of the Virtual Fresh Meat Festival 2021!
Friday, June 18th @ 5pm PST: We are so excited to be a part of the 20th Anniversary of the Fresh Meat Festival of Transgender and Queer performance alongside so many amazing artists! Tickets are FREE! Click here to register, and click here to check out the festival announcement in Dance Magazine (check the cover photo)!
Join us at the Bay Area Dance on Film Drive In!
June 3rd @ 9pm PST, our KQED “If Cities Could Dance” mini-doc will be featured at the Fort Mason Drive In Theater! Click here to get tickets!
World Arts West hosts “Living Traditions,” a Virtual interview with Vanessa Sanchez
5/18/21, is 7:30pm PST- Join us for this FREE virtual conversation about the dance traditions that influence Sanchez and her work with La Mezcla. Click here to join on Youtube or Facebook Live.
The premiere of Vanessa Sanchez’s New Piece set on Arizona State University Students!
Vanessa has had the privilege of working with the amazing students at ASU for a 10-day virtual residency intensive. Check out her new Afro-Caribbean dance piece, “Lxs Ancestrxs,” inspired by our earth ancestors and the Orixa as elements of nature. This piece brings together Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban traditions and premieres in live and virtual performances 4/16-4/18. Original score by Pedro Gomez and poem by Sandy Vazquez. Click here for tickets.
The Yard Presents “An Afternoon with La Mezcla,” an interactive, family friendly virtual concert!
May 8th 12pm PST/ 3pm EST- Tune in to this virtual event that features a live host, live movement workshops with La Mezcla and pre-recorded performances! Click here for tickets!
Vanessa Sanchez and La Mezcla are featured in Dance Magazine!
Check out the March 2021 issue of Dance Magazine for a short interview with Vanessa Sanchez about dancing outdoors and a photo of La Mezcla! Click here to read the article.
Selections of pachuquísmo will stream Dec 7th- Jan 3rd!
We’re on New York’s Joyce Theater online stream!! Check out selections of our show. Click here!
COnnecting Communities with Improv
Join La Mezcla for a virtual improv session for percussive dance forms! Go to the Calendario page for more info.
Vanessa Sanchez shares her Dance Picks for the Joyce Theater!
Vanessa Sanchez was asked to curate virtual Dance picks for the week of December 6-12. Click here to see her picks!
New Dance/USA Article featuring Vanessa Sanchez and Her work with La Mezcla
Haga clíc aquí para leer el articulo en Español Click here to read the article in English
Vanessa Sanchez debuts a new piece honoring ancestors in Dance Mission Theater’s event “Lifting the veil!”
November 2nd- Come down to the corner of 24th st and Mission in SF and look up! You’ll see some amazing performances in honor of Dia de los Muertos! Click here for details!
Check out Lincoln Center Virtual COncert for Kids!
This concert is geared towards 5-10 year olds, but we think everyone will enjoy it! Please share far and wide with students, teachers and parents! Click here to see their full roster of concerts for kids!
Vanessa Sanchez’s Maestra and Musical MEntor needs our support to recover from Covid-19.
Laura Rebolloso is an amazing musician, composer, leonera and teacher in Xalapa, Veracruz. Vanessa Sanchez has had the great privilege of training with Laura in Veracruz over the years and plans to bring her on to La Mezcla’s next full length project. She contracted covid-19 over the summer and needs financial support for medical treatment. Click here for link to donate.
Our KQED Episode of “If Cities COuld Dance” Will be featured in the SF Dance Film Festival!
Our Episode entitled “Zoot Suits and Zapateado” will be part of the Raising Voices program of the SF Dance Film Festival, available October 18th- October 25th. Click here for more info on all of the films and for tickets! Felicidades to the KQED Arts team!Check out the festival trailer below.
Connecting Communities to Funders!
La Mezcla presents a FREE grant outreach series! Click here for more info and to register.
Zapateado Jarocho Workshop!
Guest Artist Violeta Romero from Mexico City will be teaching a Son Jarocho Zapateado workshop on Friday, September 4th @ 6:30pm! Click here to register for this workshop!
Check Vanessa Sanchez featured in this article by SF/Arts!
Click here to read the article! Big thanks to SF/Arts weekly and The Hewlett Foundation for the feature!
La Mezcla will perform in their first Livestream presentation!
La Mezcla will perform for Paseo Artistico, a community art walk that will be livestreamed via Facebook Live on July 16th @ 7pm! Go to the Calendario page for more info.
Vanessa Sanchez and Brava Theater have been awarded the Hewlett 50 Arts Commission Grant for Dance and Movement-based performances!
We are proud to announce today that we have been selected as one of 10 recipients of this year’s Hewlett 50 Arts Commissions by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Vanessa Sanchez will work with Brava Theater to create “Ghostly Labor,” a rhythmic piece about the legacy of exploitation of Latina and Indigenous female labor in the US-Mexico borderlands. With La Mezcla, the work will premiere in 2022. Click here for a full list of the Hewlett 50 recipients and more info on the Hewlett Foundation!
Vanessa Sanchez and La Mezcla will be featured in “Nuestra Fuerza!”
Vanessa Sanchez and La Mezcla will be featured in “Nuestra Fuerza,” a virtual presentation that celebrates the voices of domestic workers and laborers in the fight for dignity and social justice. Join us June 26th, 4:30-6pm. Click here for more info!
Vanessa Sanchez will be teaching a free tap workshop as part of MACLA’s “Stories from la Sala” series!
Join us Friday, June 12th at 4pm for a free 45-min tap demo and workshop!
Happy National Tap Dance Day!! La Mezcla has released a social distancing performance video!
Check out our episode of KQED’s “If Cities Could Dance!”
Article features from KQED and Mission Local!
Click here to check out the KQED article
Click here to check out the Mission Local article
Online Tap Classes with Vanessa Sanchez!
This workshop is for tappers with some experience- a tap dance foundation is necessary to get the most out of it. While this workshop will include a warm up and technique building exercises to get us going, most of the time will be devoted to learning rhythmic choreography. Tap shoes are not required, but preferred is possible.
Absolute Beginner Tap Class, Wednesday 3:30-4:20
No Tap dance experience required! An introduction to Tap dance, this class will focus on basic elements of Tap including vocabulary, musicality and technique. Drop-ins welcome, all sessions are suggested to begin developing a Tap dance foundation. Tap shoes not required (hard-soled shoes will be fine for this series). If you have never Tap danced before, please take the Absolute Beginner Tap Class.
Beginner Tap Class, Wednesday 4:30-5:20
Do you know what a Shuffle is? How about a flap? Then this class might be for you!
This class is geared towards people with some basic Tap dance experience. Taught at a slow pace, this class will focus on the fundamentals of Tap dance. We will build on basic movement vocabulary, musicality and technique through warm up sequences and rhythmic choreography. Content can be adapted for advanced beginner students. Drop-ins welcome, all sessions suggested.
Due to the current global pandemic, all Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 shows and tour dates have been postponed!
AUDITION!
Vanessa Sanchez and La Mezcla are seeking trained Womxn Tap dancers with performance experience for weekly rehearsals, paid performances, understudy roles for award-winning show “Pachuquísmo,” and the development of a new rhythmic work!
Sunday, 2/23/20 @ 2:30-4:30 at Brava Theater, San Francisco (2781 24th st.)
The audition will consist of a warm up, tap technique, rhythmic exercises and choreography. If you have any questions, please email LaMezclaSF@gmail.com. Please click here to register for the audition!
If you are unable to attend the audition, please contact Vanessa Sanchez @ LaMezclaSF@gmail.com and fill out the registration form linked above.
Vanessa Sanchez has been awarded a CA$H Grant!
Thank you to Dancer’s Group for supporting the development of a new work! “Ghostly Labor,” a multi-disciplinary dance performance that explores the experiences of migrant farmworkers in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, will be shown in collaboration with Baile Colectivo May 8th, 2020 in San Francisco. Click here for the full list of grantees!
Pachuquísmo won an Izzie Award!!
In its 34th year, the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards has named “Pachuquísmo” the 2019 honoree for Special Achievement Award for Outstanding Production! This new award is presented to a production that has exhibited exceptional integration of choreography, performance, music/sound/text, and visual design and was created during the period of eligibility by or for a Bay Area individual or organization. Click here for a full list of awardees and nominees and stay tuned for info on the Award Ceremony!
Vanessa Sanchez has been announced as an Artist-in-Residence @ Brava Theater!
Sanchez and La Mezcla will continue this year working out of Brava Theater! Click here to see the artist-in-residence page!
Vanessa Sanchez and La Mezcla will hold a Technical Residency at World Theater in Seaside January 2020!
With support from New England Foundation for the Arts Production Residency Grant and CSU Monterey Bay, “Pachuquísmo” will have a weeklong residency at World Theater January 6-10th, 2020. An extension of the NEFA National Dance Production Grant, with funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the PRD grant will allow Vanessa Sanchez and Technical Director Justine Fernandez to focus on the technical needs of the work before it goes out on tour. A big THANK YOU to Circuit Network & CSU Monterey Bay for making this happen and New England Foundation for the Arts for their support!
Tickets for Pachuquísmo on sale now!
Get your tickets for Brava presents “Pachuquísmo” 10/18 & 10/19 now! Click here!
“Pachuquismo” was awarded the New England Foundation for the Arts National Dance Production Grant!
We are so excited to be on this amazing list of Grant Recipients! Stay tuned for more info on upcoming tour dates! Click here for more info and for a list of all 20 grant recipients!
We got a California Arts Council Grant!
Brava for Women in the Arts received a California Arts Council Artist in Communities Grant for the development and presentation of “Pachuquismo” in Fall 2019! The funding will provide Vanessa Sanchez a residency at Brava Theater from June to August 2019 that will include rehearsal time, free community workshops and panels featuring Chicana Historians and Artists! Get all the details in the CAC’s latest press release: http://tiny.cc/CACGrants2019
Vanessa Sanchez is a 2019 Dance/USA Artist Fellow!
Vanessa is thrilled to be one of the 31 US artists who has received the fellowship to support the practice of working through dance to address social change! The fellowship was made possible by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. For a full list of the fellows and info on their practices, click here!
CALL FOR UNDERSTUDIES
La Mezcla is seeking understudies for the theater performance “Pachuquismo” to be performed in San Francisco and Southern California in October 2019 with additional tour dates to follow. “Pachuquismo” is an all-female production that tells the Pachuca perspective of the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943 through Tap Dance, Zapateado, Son Jarocho and live Jazz Music. While understudies may not perform in this run of the show, there are opportunities for performances and future touring dates in 2020.
Understudies needed include Tap dancers, Mexican Zapateado dancers with experience in Son Jarocho, Son Jarocho musicians with strong vocal abilities and Jazz musicians. Rehearsals begin August 2019. Understudies will be paid a stipend and will not need to attend all rehearsals.
Please send a description of your dance or music training, performance experience and a performance video to LaMezclaSF@gmail.com
Vanessa Sanchez received a San Francisco Arts Commission Individual Artist grant for 2018-2019!
Vanessa Sanchez and La Mezcla received a 2017 NALAC Fund for the Arts Grant from the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures!
