An Intergenerational Celebration for Día de los Muertos

This Sunday’s celebration will open at 1pm with a rumba by well-renowned Bay Area rumberos, hosted by Afro-Cuban percussionist Miguelito Leon. This rumba serves as both a celebration of life and to express resistance to oppression and cultural violence. An open jam continues from thereafter, featuring local members of Taraf de Locos and La Familia Peña-Govea as they share the music of Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Turkey, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Spain, and downhome United States – as a reflection of the different ways we honor and remember the lives of our antepasados. We close the day’s event with two short performances by Moving Beyond Productions youth dance group and dance/theater by Dance Generators from San Francisco’s Department of Performing Arts and Social Justice.

“Dia de los Muertos. . . means remembering and expressing gratitude for those that came before us and who made it possible for us to lead the lives we do, but it is also about acknowledging and showing appreciation for the collective cultural practices that connect us to our roots and communities.” ~ Cecilia Peña-Govea

1:00pm: Rumba
2:00pm to 5:00pm: Taraf de Locos and La Familia Peña-Govea
6:00pm: Moving Beyond Production (youth dance group)
6:20pm: Dance Generators (intergenerational dance/theater)

This is an important day in our community and we hope to see many family and friends. Please bring yourself, your instruments! In addition to being a free and public event, we invite you bring food and drink to share, so as to better enjoy this expression of exuberance for life!

Taraf de Locos features Aya Safiya on violin and vocals, Cecilia Cassandra Peña-Govea on trumpet, guirra and vocals, Miguelito León on percussion and vocals, and Tano Brock on guitar, saxophone and vocals.
http://locotesmusic.com/ 

The joyful music making of La Familia Pena-Govea began over 30 years ago as a simple family pastime. Mother and father and two daughters have since brought their gift to venues as varied as Davies Symphony Hall and San Quentin Prison, from the streets of Bakersfield to the pubs of Donegal, and to countless festivals, weddings, baptisms, funerals, libraries, classrooms, hospital wards, and backyard barbecues. Their infectious music raises the spirits, and creates an irresistable urge to dance and sing and join in the fun.
http://miguelgovea.com/

Moving Beyond Productions is a dance-based arts organization dedicated to providing high quality arts education to underserved and economically disadvantaged kids throughout San Francisco. Their Día de Los Muertos theme this year is “Matters of LIFE & DEATH” where they will honor the connections shared with loved ones who have passed away. Their memories are carried in our hearts, minds and bodies and they will be celebrated through the performance of favorite stories and dances.
http://www.movingbeyondproductions.org/

Dance Generators is a part of the University of San Francisco’s Department of Performing Arts and Social Justice, and is directed by Natalie Greene and Kristen Greco. Through performance, the company shatters commonly held stereotypes about ageing, and creates bridges between people of all ages. Company members range in age from their teens through their eighties, and come together through a shared interest in creating innovative works of dance/theater.
http://dancegenerators.org/

Susana Aragon is a Peruvian visual artist whose has been internationally exhibited, will offer an alter inspired by personal luggage, something that we all carry throughout life: the memory of those we will always love. People are encouraged to write about their personal luggage and bring small pictures or photocopies of their loved ones to add to this altar.

Admission is Free! All ages welcome!