GRAND OPENING PERFORMANCE EVENTS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2011 - 6:00PM cocktail reception, 7:00PM dinner
PREMIERE GALA DINNER
An elegant and intimate evening of fine wine and food by Chez Panisse, featuring a sampling of the vibrant talents from East Bay Center. Performances will feature chamber music, Mexican son, choral and African music and dance invocations.
Tickets start at $500 per person.
Honorary Co-Chairs: Alice Waters and Stanley Clarke.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2011 - 6:00-10:00PM
COMMUNITY LAUNCH PARTY
The Center opens its doors to Richmond and beyond for a community benefit celebration of our new home. Featuring international food, beverages and entertainment. The evening will include a very special performance by Edgardo Cambon and Candela (the Premiere Bay Area Salsa Band!), the Richmond Jazz Collective (with special guest Valerie Troutt), the Richmond Bloco Steel Band, Kpanlogo Drumming, and special guest DJ Joshua Hollander. Performances will feature all-star faculty, alumni, and special guests in both theaters.Tickets start at $50 per person.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 - 10:00AM-4:00PM
IRON TRIANGLE LEGACY FAMILY DAY
An in-door and out-door day of entertainment, family activities, and presentations honoring the history and legacy of the Iron Triangle neighborhood. Program will include music and dance performances by Center faculty and students, spoken word from Richmond youth, dedications by local residents and civic leaders, workshops in steel pans, African dance, capoeira, and Mexican dance, for children and parents. Free Event
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9 - 3:00-8:00PM
ENCUENTRO DEL SON, A MEXICAN RURAL FANDANGO
East Bay Center’s son jarocho community hosts a California-style Mexican rural Fandango celebrating the opening of the restored Winters Building. The Fandango (an event at which people compose/recite poetry, sing, play and dance son jarocho, a traditional Mexican art form) will feature guests from Mexico and provide an atmosphere of rural familial culture and shared joy. Suggested donation: $10.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 - 7:00-10:00PM
HIP HOP INTERNATIONAL
East Bay Center presents a night that celebrates urban youth and hip hop culture of the Bay Area and around the world, featuring a surprise Bay Area hip-hop musical titan (to be announced September 29), East Bay Center’s Urban Ballet, and a stellar line-up of local spoken word and movement artists. Suggested donation: $10.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 - 8:00PM & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 - 3:00PM
KONYIFAFA (WORLD PREMIERE)
Konyifafa is a full length commissioned dance theater work weaving together Classical West African Dance Drumming and Brazilian Capoeira. Created and Choreographed by two world renowned artists, Ghanaian Master Drummer and Dancer CK Ladzekpo and Brazilian Capoeira Master Ubirajara Almeida aka Mestre Accordeon. Tickets are: $25 per person, $15 Students and Seniors.
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Primary funding for the commission and production of Konyifafa was provided by the Creative Work Fund, the East Bay Fund for Artists at the East Bay Community Foundation, and the Kenneth Rainin Foundation.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 - 8:00-10:00PM
JAZZ HERITAGE CONCERT
East Bay Center welcomes back its own jazz alumni all stars featuring tenor saxophonist Howard Wiley for a unique presentation of his original work. Wiley is a recipient of the Thelonious Monk Scholarship, MVP award for the Grammy All-American Jazz Band, and the Downbeat Blues/Pop/Rock Instrumentalist award for best soloist. The Richmond Jazz Collective, an East Bay Center resident company, will open for Wiley. Tickets are: $15 per person, $10 Students and Seniors.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 - 6:00-10:00PM
MIEN CEREMONIAL FEAST AND CULTURAL FESTIVAL
East Bay Center honors the vibrant local Mien/Southeast Asian community with an evening of authentic music, food, drink, and entertainment. The night will feature East Bay Center’s Mien Legends, and a special screening of the Lao Community Project documentary, which is a commissioned work of the Center’s Iron Triangle Legacy Project (a project which received major funding from the Koshland Program of the San Francisco Foundation and the Columbia Foundation). Suggested donation: $10.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23 - 4:00-7:00PM
IRON TRIANGLE LEGACY FILM SCREENING
A special screening of short film works commissioned by East Bay Center, through the Center’s Iron Triangle Legacy Project. This film screening bears witness to the cultural renaissance that is currently taking place in Richmond. Live music and discussions following the films. Suggested donation:$10.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 - 7:00-8:30PM
LA COLMENITA
La Colmenita, a childrens’ theater group from Cuba, will be performing “Abracadabra” as part of their national tour in the United States. With their interdisciplinary focus, La Colmenita, weaves music, dance, and theater together to explore Cuban folkloric and universal themes of humanity and generosity. Suggested donation: $10.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 7:00-9:00PM
IRON TRIANGLE LEGACY THEATER SHOWCASE
East Bay Center premieres two original theater pieces commissioned through the Center’s Iron Triangle Legacy Project. Actor/comedian/writer Luis Santiago Juárez, along with the Center’s Iron Triangle Theater, will present a piece that explores race relations in Richmond. East Bay Center alumnus and renowned actress/comedian, Side 2 Side, will present a one-woman show that explores the history of the Iron Triangle neighborhood. Suggested donation: $10.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 - 7:00-9:00PM
WORLD MASTER ARTIST SERIES
Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) master, Masayuki Koga, one of Japan’s national music treasures will be joined by guest artists in a rare program of traditional Japanese music and new works. Suggested donation: $10.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 4:30-6:30PM
YOUTH SYMPHONY CONCERT
As a closing event for East Bay Center’s grand opening month, the 100-member Young People’s Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro David Ramadanoff, will present an open rehearsal of classical master works along with East Bay Center's Richmond Chamber Ensemble. Suggested donation: $10.
VISUAL ART EXHIBITS –a retrospective of artists’ work (photos, paintings, posters) from the Iron Triangle will be on display the entire month of October in the Winters Building.
Special Open Classes and Center Resident Company Open Rehearsals will also take place throughout the month. See Class schedule on Web site (www.eastbaycenter.org).