LUNA NEGRA 2008, poster, info & images

SAVE THE DATE: WEDNESDAY MARCH 26, 6:30pm


Our special guests in LUNA NEGRA 2008:
OJALA Percussion women´s group
ALJIBE flamenco dance company
JACKELINE RAGO venezuelan music
NINA SERRANO & MAMACOATL
& VIDEOS

- - - OJALA - - -

Ojalá is a talented, multi-cultural group of women whose musical celebration inspires and uplifts. Infuenced by the African Diaspora, Ojalá wraps you in its special blend of percussion, vocals and dance.
Groundbreaking percussionist Carolyn Brandy has combined her extensive knowledge of rhythm with the soulful vocals of Elouise Burrell and Regina Wells, the drumming and back-up vocals of Annette Acosta and Sue Matthews, and the high energy dance of Ava Square-LeVias.

- - - ALJIBE - - -

"Aljibe" is a word that originates from Arabic. It was the place in ancient cultures where rain water was gathered to quench thirst. La Tania has created the flamenco group "Aljibe" to unite emerging talents in the Bay Area to show the richness and fluidity that Flamenco art has in this part of the World. "Aljibe" will perform "Agua" a work in progress which wil be performed for the first time in Luna Negra.
Dancers:
Anna Ciacchella, Lea Kobeli, Gina Giammanco, Sandra Gabas
Singer: Roberto Zamora
Guitarist: David Mclean
Choreography by La Tania
www.latania-flamenco.org

- - - JACKELINE RAGO - - -

Jackeline Rago was born in Caracas, Venezuela, she is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer and educator who specializes in Venezuelan Folk-Music.
Jackeline is the artistic and musical director of the "Venezuelan Music Project", www.venezuelanmusicproject.com
and a founding member of the"VNote Ensemble" www.vnotensemble.com

- - - MAMACOATL & NINA SERRANO - - -

Nina Serrano is a Bay Area poet, translator, storyteller, and independent media producer. She conducts storytelling and poetry writing workshops in schools, libraries, and community centers and was a co-founder of the Mission Cultural Center. She recently completed a video/DVD telenovela "Grand Cafe" about immigrant women. She hosts and co-produces radio programs on KPFA-fm Nina focuses on making the arts an everyday experience in the public schools and community. Serrano is serving as the artistic director for Ecocity World Summit 2008 to be held in San Francisco in April 08. After many decades of social justice and cultural activism campaigns, Nina Serrano does not give up hope.
“From seductress to revolutionary to Earth Mother San Francisco-based singer MamaCoAtl is a performer unafraid to sing and speak about our turbulent times. Her sharp lyrics are social commentary laced with poems and prayers. She brings the altar to the kitchen and cooks a multicultural stew, fusing songs made out of spoken word, bilingual blues, and the secret ingredient; "jazzmientos." At her outstanding debut at La Peña's Hecho en Califas Festival in 2006, MamacoAtl’s stage presence mesmerized the audience who responded with a spontaneous standing ovation.”
-LA PEŇA Cultral Center-

- - - VIDEOS - - -


Las Fruteras: A Fruitvale Tale (Manijeh Gonzalez Fata, 2005, 12 min)
The daily ritual of two Latina women, a young prostitute and middle-aged fruit vendor, who share the same street corner in East Oakland produces a heartening outcome.