www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 24-30, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 37 CULTURE Seaside-based Palenke Arts is bringing a big stage celebration of immigrant communities to the stage. The program consists of three parts: a performance by Grammy-nominated band Los Cenzontles, a screening of Ghostly Labor: A Dance Film by La Mezcla and Palenke’s own ballet folklórico. Just as Palenke Arts, with its mission of social inclusion, is much more than an arts organization, both La Mezcla and Los Cenzontles are about more than classes and performances. San Francisco-based La Mezcla is a music ensemble built around Chicana, Latina and Indigenous traditions, as well as social justice. Los Cenzontles, from San Pablo, has been uniting Mexican and American voices for over 30 years. CSUMB’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts hosts. Ghostly Labor, a 2022 film, tells the story of the Mexican-American borderlands and the region’s labor reality. The hardships and social issues are told via music and movement—tap dance, Mexican zapateado, Son Jarocho music and Afro Caribbean rhythms, performed in fields at the border. According to Vanessa Sanchez, La Mezcla’s founder, the performance is rooted in the history and dynamics of the grassroots labor movement, people coming together to fight for decent wages. That energy inspired the drum pattern at the core of the film’s performances. Los Cenzontles, both as a band and an arts organization, has been praised around the world for its work with children ages 5 and up, working on movement, rhythm and coordination, offering dance, arts and crafts and poetry as after-school programs. “Our work is rooted in Mexican music,” says Verenice Velazquez, who has been with the group since she was 7 years old and is now on staff. “We come from many places, but we combine and amplify our voices.” Los Cenzontles means “mockingbirds,” a mockingbird being a bird of 400 voices. A book by Eugene Rodriguez on the organization’s history and mission will be available for purchase during the upcoming event. “We are bringing 17 songs with a variety of rhythms and styles,” Velazquez says. “We believe that connecting through culture is one of our greatest powers and we want that to come through in the performance.” Un Poema De Amor - A Love Poem for Our Community 7pm Saturday, April 26. CSUMB World Theater, 5260 6th Ave., Seaside. Free upon registration. bit.ly/palenke2025. ROSA ANGELICA AND ANTONIO SARABIA Raising Voices In three distinct performances, Palenke Arts uplifts one voice—that of the immigrant population. By Agata Popęda Los Cenzontles is a band composed of ever-changing performers. Some of them are staff members from this educational organization; others are current students. Supporting Indigenous Communities Group Presents RED DRESS DAY RAISING AWARENESS OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE This year’s focus is prevention utilizing traditional Native-Indigenous ways of mediation, reconciliation and healing. Presented by teachers and counselors from Bakersfield American Indian Health Project. SATURDAY, MAY 3RD Time: 11am - 3:30pm Location: Oldemeyer Center 986 Hilby Ave, Seaside Scheduled Events Memorial Ceremony Speakers Red Dress Day Presentation Drummers, Singers & Dancers Red Dress Art Exhibit SPONSORS:
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==