Yosakoi is often described as a traditional Japanese dance, but it’s actually surprisingly modern. Born in the southern prefecture of Kochi in the mid- 1950s, Yosakoi quickly spread around the country and is now performed at festivals and events across Japan. Blending traditional choreography with modern and folk music, the dance is usually performed by […]
Oakland percussionist Denise Solís founded one of the first ever all-female ensembles devoted to the Afro-Indigenous Puerto Rican tradition of bomba, Las Bomberas de la Bahia, and she’s been drumming down barriers for women in the art form ever since. Working with Julia Caridad Cepeda (Julia Danse), who hails from a venerated Puerto Rican family […]
Destani Wolf possesses a voice that inspires wonder. Her mesmerizing stage presence led Cirque du Soleil to design the show “BAZAAR” around her soaring vocals, a production that took the Berkeley-reared artist around the world. More recently, she’s a founding member of Bobby McFerrin’s improvisation-laced a cappella ensemble Motion, and the immersion into his supremely […]
A charismatic saxophonist who’s built an ardent following with a series of extended residencies at leading Bay Area night spots, Charles Unger is an award-winning jazz artist, bandleader and composer. Known for his extroverted, high-energy performances, he played a central role in turning Mr. Tipple’s into an essential San Francisco jazz club with a years-long […]