Who loves dancing?
If you do, then the first-ever Old Pasadena Cultural Dance Festival taking place on night 3 of Pasadena’s ArtWeekend is for you. Not only can you enjoy dances from around the world, but you will also have the opportunity to learn new moves and participate in the experience.
When: Sunday, October 10, from 1pm to 6pm
Where: Memorial Park and Lineage Performing Arts Center in Old Pasadena
This free festival of multi-cultural costume, music and movement will feature dance troupes performing traditional Mexican, Russian, African, Irish, Spanish Flamenco, East Indian and Chinese dance, amongst others.
Over 50 dancers grace the stage during the Old Pasadena Cultural Dance Festival, spotlighting a unique range of traditional cultural dances. The grand finale to Pasadena Art Weekend, the inaugural year’s program kicks off with a dynamic flamenco performance by Mojacar Flamenco. Other exciting performances taking place at Memorial Park include the world-renowned Nigerian Talking Drum and Dance Ensemble, the vibrant East Indian classical folk dance of Ramya Harishankars Arpana Dance Company, and the Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian dance of Ensemble Barynya, amongst others. The festival will conclude with a very special performance celebrating the Mexican Bicentennial by the oldest existing professional Mexican folk dance troupe in Southern California, the 22 member Danza Floricanto.
The Old Pasadena Cultural Dance Festival is one of the few dance festivals in the world where the audience is encouraged to participate in the show. Following each performance, the dancers will teach movements from that culture, so audience members can get moving too!
You are also encouraged to visit the Lineage Performing Arts Center for free dance workshops throughout the day. All-ages and levels are welcome to take part in learning traditional Korean, West African, and Rumba/ Tango dance. The Lineage Performing Arts Center will also host two performance showcases featuring a variety of unique cultural dances.
Complete Schedule at Memorial Park, 85 East Holly Street, 1:00pm-6:00pm
1:00pm Mojacar Flamenco
Mojácar Flamenco is a dynamic group of flamenco artists led by guitarist Stephen Dick and dancer Katerina Tomás. Mojácar offers exciting, passionate, and creative contemporary flamenco music and dance.
1:40pm Ramya Harishankar’s Arpana Dance Co.
Southern California based Arpana Dance Company has had the honor of performing in the US, Europe, and India. Under the guidance of Ramya Harishankar for over 25 years, the internationally known and award winning dance troupe presents the classic Indian dance of Bharata Natyam with origins dating back 2000 years.
2:20pm Ensemble Barynya
The Russian music, dance and song ensemble Barynya, established in1991 in New York City, is a world renowned group that enjoys exalting stature as the premier Russian folk ensemble outside of Russia. Barynya presents Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Jewish and Russian-Gypsy traditional dancing.
3:00pm Shining Star Dance Academy
Shining Star Dance Academy is under an umbrella of the El Monte Education, which is a nonprofit organization since 1993. El Monte Education Center provides after school programs including Chinese language and culture classes on Saturdays. Cultural awareness is taught through educational activities. The Shining Star Dance Academy offers a variety of performance arts classes such as, Chinese Classic and Folk dance.
3:40pm Francis Awe and the Nigerian Talking Drum and Dance Ensemble
The world renowned Nigerian Talking Drum and Dance Ensemble was founded in 1985 by Master Drummer Francis Awe, in response to the growing international interest in the Talking Drum. Since its inception, the Ensemble of drummers and dancers has educated and entertained audiences worldwide, including the Celebration for Nelson Mandela at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
4:20pm Clearly Irish Dance Ensemble
Founded by Margaret Clearly, Clearly Irish Dance Ensemble is a championship traditional Irish dance academy. The group performs regularly at events throughout the Southland, and has appeared many times on local and national television. Members of the group have performed with the Chieftains, the Irish Rovers, and other notable Irish entertainers, and at the Hollywood Bowl with the Disney Young Symphony Orchestra.
5:00pm Danza Floricanto USA with music by Mariachi Mexicapan
Danza Floricanto/USA, founded in 1975, is the oldest existing professional Mexican folk dance troupe in Southern California. From an Aztec ritual to the vibrant fiestas of today’s Jalisco, from the Spanish-influenced tropics of Veracruz to the conflictive realities of the Chicano experience, Danza Floricanto/USA presents the bold, colorful panorama of its Mexican heritage as it interacts with its American reality.
Complete Schedule at Lineage Performing Arts Center, 89 South Fair Oaks Ave. 1:00pm-4:00pm
1:00pm West African (Ghana Technique) with Frit and Frat Fuller
Graduates of California Institute of the Arts, acclaimed dancers Frit and Frat Fuller have performed around the world with such notable artists as Janet Jackson, and Ice- T, and provided the stage choreography for the play Shreek. Frit and Frat will lead a special class of the vibrant dance of West Africa.
1:30pm Korean with Juli Kim
Join the renowned dance instructor Juli Kim for a free class of traditional Korean dances. The class also includes a very special performance by the Korean Classical Dance youth group who will perform the Korean flower and fan dance.
2:00pm Performance Showcase
Acclaimed Lineage Dance “teachers showcase”, featuring multiple dance troupes performing a variety of dances from around the world.
2:30pm West African (Guinea technique) with Frit and Frat Fuller
Graduates of California Institute of the Arts, acclaimed dancers Frit and Frat Fuller have performed around the world with such notable artists as Janet Jackson, and Ice- T, and provided the stage choreography for the play Shreek. Frit and Frat will lead a special class of the vibrant dance of West Africa.
3:00pm Performance Showcase
Acclaimed Lineage Dance “teachers showcase”, featuring multiple dance troupes performing a variety of dances from around the world.
3:30pm Rumba/Tango with Katerina Tomas
Katerina Tomas has over 30 years of training as a dancer, dance teacher, and choreographer, and is a recognized scholar of Spanish studies in the United States and in Spain. Katerina will be leading an exciting class of Rumba and Tango.
All performances are free and open to the public, for more information call 626-356-9725 or visit www.oldpasadena.org
Put this fun dance festival on your schedule Pasadena and make it one of your 365 Things To Do!
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