Son Fandango is a traditional music group from southern Veracruz, Mexico. This group was formed in the Bay Area by Claudio Vega and Lolis García. The son jarocho they perform is a mix of the countryside and the city. Claudio’s main project is to invite renowned traditional son jarocho musicians…
I started learning when I was 8 years old and by the time I was 12 I already knew how to weave. I was taught by my parents and grandparents in my hometown called Teotitlán del Valle, in Oaxaca. This tradition has always been a family tradition and is very…
Dr. Ellorin is the leading expert on maritime Southeast Asian gong-chime music in Southern California. He is also a master of the Filipino banduria (a version of the Spanish bandurria, a plucked string instrument similar to the mandolin) and the associated rondalla music. He is versed in the percussion music…
Nitya Narasimhan is a skilled dancer whose passion for bharatanatyam began at the young age of 4. Currently based in California, USA, Nitya regularly travels to India to hone her craft and showcase her talents through performances. As the Founder and Artistic Director of “Prayukti Arts,” Nitya has…
Francis is a performer and educator from Ghana, West Africa. Born and raised in the melting pot neighborhood of New Town, Francis grew up in an environment bursting with the sights and sounds of Ghana’s many ethnic groups. During his almost two decades as an instructor at the University…
Reaksmey “Mea” Lath is a professional Cambodian classical dancer and instructor based out of Southern California. As a refugee in an underserved community in Long Beach, she uses this sacred art form to connect to her Cambodian roots and empower her to continue the rich tradition through performing and teaching.
Terry Nguyen, known as “tsugaruterry,” is a musician and educator specializing in minyo (folk) and traditional music of Japan as performed on the Tsugaru shamisen and taiko drums. Terry began playing the Tsugaru shamisen in 2006. Initially self-taught, in 2010 she started her training with instructor Mitsuru Sasaki of the…
Makeda Kumasi (MFA / M.Ed) is the founder of WE 3 PRODUCTIONS, as well as the co-founder and artistic director of The Umoja Ensemble of the Inland Empire. Along with being a featured performer on stage and T.V., Kumasi has danced for two prominent Southern California based African dance ensembles,…
Surabhi Bharadwaj, Artistic Director of Siddhi Creative and Siddhi Dance Academy, is a seasoned Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher, and choreographer trained under eminent Gurus including – Guru K M Raman, Guru Radha Sridhar, Guru B Bhanumati, and Mavin Khoo. She learnt the Karana movements under Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and Guru Nirupama…
Jon has over twenty years experience creating theater in the San Francisco Bay Area and NYC. Since 2006, he has pursued classical Chinese drama (opera) and how to make this art form accessible to Western audiences and performers. Directing credits include the West Coast premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play,…
