Event Schedule
Friday, July 1
8-10pm Invoke your Dream: Opening Procession, Performance with all leaders
Saturday, July 2
2-3:45 Community Art Project
8-10pm Night of Improv with James Sherman
Sunday, July 3
8-9am Sunday Gospel Brunch with Vernon Bush
8-9pm Breath of the Ancestors with Esselen National Tribal Council
9-10pm Samba for the Soul with Airto Moreira & friends (Cida Vieira, Diana Moreira Booker, Krishna Booker, Carlinhos do Pandeiro de Ouro, Gibi and Sandro Feliciano) presenting Brazilian music & dance techniques
Monday, July 4
2-3:45 Afro-Latin lecture/demonstration with John Santos
8-10pm Celebration of the 4th with John Santos & Cuarteto Dos Alas
Tuesday, July 5
2-3:45 African Fashion Show with Gureje
8-9pm Justice, Inspiration and Praise, an epic poem by Hannibal Lokumbe
9-10pm Word! with West Coast Slam poets
Wednesday, July 6
Day of multicultural festivity
- Airto Moreira and Jam Band
- Jackeline Rago and the Snake Trio
- Vernon Bush of Glide Memorial Gospel Church
- Hannibal Lokumbe
- Miriam Peretz of Ballet Afsaneh
- Alli Starr of Art and Revolution
- Tandy Beal's Circus Troupe
- Selah Belly Dance
- Samba Dance and Drum troupe
- FIRE DANCING
Thursday, July 7
8-10 "Whose Esa-Line Is It Anyway?" with Jim Sherman & group
Film Festival with Fabian Redrovan & special guests
Friday, July 8
11-12pm Dreaming Beyond: a Closing Circle with all leaders
James Sherman is an award-winning playwright and Second City actor and director who has led workshops in improvisational theatre all over the world for colleges, universities, and corporations.
Vernon Bush, musical director and featured vocalist at the Glide Memorial Church (San Francisco), has worked with artists such as Whitney Houston and Gladys Knight. (www.vernonbush.com)
Join Poets Garland Thompson, Becky D, LostBoy, and others as they bring the power of the Spoken Word to Esalen in a fun interactive way known as the "Poetry Slam"! After last years succesful bash, the people clamored for more of the poetry slam and that's exactly what they're going to get. So come on down, and join us on the main stage for a 'slam-a-licious' time as we spit Poetry at the edge of the world!
Airto Moreira, a professional musician since the age of 13, has played and recorded with such musicians as Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon, and Carlos Santana. He has been voted Downbeat Magazine's percussionist-of-the-year more than 20 times.(www.airto.com)
John Santos, one of the foremost exponents of Afro-Latin music today, combines traditional and contemporary music, earning recognition as a record and event producer. He has performed, recorded and studied with masters Cachao, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri. (www.johnsantos.com)
Born in Ilesha Nigeria, Jimi Gureje has been an artist since birth. As a young boy, his talent manifested in the form of illustrating American action heroes, but it wouldn't be long before he'd channel that energy into original creations. (www.gureje.com)
Hannibal Lokumbe, Grammy nominated jazz trumpeter/poet, informed by Texas cotton field spirituals, plays at major jazz festivals, has collaborated with T. Bone Walker, Kronos Quartet and Chicago Symphony.
Jackeline Rago with the Snake Trio mix the Cuatro, Mandolin, Bandola, Percussion, Flute, Alto Saxophone and Bass to form "Latin Jazz with a cool Venezuelan Twist...." (www.thesnaketrio.com)
Miriam Peretz of Ballet Afsaneh, a featured soloist in the 2005 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, teaches and performs dances from Middle-East, Silk Road (Persia/Central Asia) and Roma "Gypsy" trail. (www.miriamdance.com)
Alli Starr of Cultural Links of Art and Revolution, a multi-city movement of artist-activists, revitalizing political action using nonviolence, street theater, dance, music, poetry and giant puppetry.
Tandy Beal's Circus choreographed by Tandy Beal, former artistic director of Pickle Family Circus. As a solo artist dancer, actress, comedienne, and dreamer, has performed in major cities and international festivals.
Selah is an all-local troupe of women who infuse the spirit of this sacred land with the ancient feminine art of belly dancing. Humbly borrowing from many styles--fusion, gypsy, folk and tribal -- we bow our heads to our many teachers spanning the globe.
The joyful expression of Samba Dance and Drum is of the African Brazilian soul and spirit. The music is largely based on the power of percussion, and the compelling and striking rhythmic beat lends itself to a multitude of dance forms.
Fire Dancing is by local performance artists from several troupes. We come together using specialized tools to spin, twirl and dance with fire. Originating from Island cultures, this art peaks at the mystery of the fire within us all.
Fabian Redrovan is a fine arts filmmaker/photographer, has been producing, directing, shooting, and editing films in the Bay Area. He wrote, shot, directed and edited the award-winning short film Nation of Stones (1999) and the distinctive Finding la Llorona (2004).