Category Archives: Organizations
California summer postcards: Dancing at twilight on the Santa Monica Pier
A tradition continues in Los Angeles. With a dance floor large enough for five thousand people, the La Monica Ballroom once glittered atop the Santa Monica Pier like a crown jewel. It nurtured the early swing music and dance scene … Continue reading
California summer postcards: Samba in the middle of a redwood forest?
Oh, yes—at the annual California Brazil Camp! Dear Friends, It has been a busy yet utterly fulfilling spring with the launch of Apsara in April. I am just getting started with my summer writing projects, but undoubtedly June through September … Continue reading
Ashwin Batish: Music, family, Santa Cruz and “sitar power”
I think that we are very lucky to be in such a beautiful place, [and] to have such tolerance and such interest and depth of understanding . . . I find that people over here have this special connection with … Continue reading
Zé Manel: Singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music legend from Guinea-Bissau
I have spent half of my life outside of my country. I have spent a little bit of my life inside my country and all of the rest I have spent outside so it is very different. When you go … Continue reading
Saly Lee: Ceramic artist and arts educator at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum
You have to be creative to not just teach people about art, but also to teach people to make personal connections through art. . . . You have to have authenticity as well as content to connect people with the … Continue reading
Eddie Diaz: Artistic Director of the San Jose Flamenco Society
Then when I came to the United States I became very interested in the guitar. At that time I was more into the electric guitar, blues, rock, and jazz until I heard flamenco guitar. If you like guitar, flamenco guitarists … Continue reading