Downtown San Jose Farmers' Market Kicks off Tomorrow

Every Wednesday from 9 am to 1:30 pm, the Downtown San Jose Farmers’ Market transforms the city’s heart with fresh, local vibes. This certified gem offers a colorful array of produce, artisanal goodies, and tasty bites—perfect for a midweek pick-me-up. Expect farm-fresh fruits, veggies, handmade crafts, and food truck delights, all brought to you by passionate local vendors.

It all starts tomorrow, April 23rd at the Hammer Theatre Plaza (Paseo de San Antonio between 2nd and 3rd Streets). You can enjoy 90 minutes of free parking at the ParkSJ garage with entrances located on both 2nd and 3rd Streets. While you're in the area you might as well pick up a $2 burger from locally-owned Campus Burgers as well.

Opening Day Vendor List

• Farmers
• Nuno Family Farm – Conventional veggies
• Castellanos Farm – Conventional fruits
• Bay Fresh – Strawberries
• Ken’s Top Notch – Organic fruits
• ALD&Y – Organic veggies
• EcoGrow Hub – Hydroponic microgreens
• Packaged Food
• California Bakeshop – Artisanal bakery, cookies, empanadas
• Brother’s Products S.F. – Hummus, yogurt
• Hurno – Specialty pastries
• Mango Blossom Apiary – Honey
• Hot Food
• Thai Street Food – Chicken satay, papaya salad, thai teas, more
• Dumpling King – dumplings
• Chiken’s Tamales – Tamales, vegan empanadas
• Coming Soon!
• Fox Tale Fermentation Project
• Valley Toffee

Unveiling Creativity: Content Magazine's Issue 17.3 "Perform" Pick-Up Party in San Jose!

Mark your calendars for Content Magazine’s Pick-Up Party for issue 17.3, themed “Perform”! This can’t-miss event is happening on May 16, 2025, at West Valley College in Saratoga. It’s the perfect chance to celebrate the city’s artistic pulse and connect with fellow culture enthusiasts.

For years, Content Magazine has been a beacon for San Jose’s creative scene, spotlighting the talent and innovation that make our city special. Each issue explores a fresh theme, and “Perform” is all about the magic of the performing arts—think theater, dance, music, and spoken word. This release promises to capture the energy and emotion of live expression, making it a must-have for anyone who loves the arts.

The event’s venue, West Valley College, adds its own flair to the evening. Known for its strong arts programs, this educational hub is an ideal spot to celebrate performance and creativity. The college’s welcoming campus in Saratoga sets the stage for a night of inspiration, brought to life through a partnership with Filco Events and published by SV Creates. Together, they’re crafting an experience that blends art, culture, and community seamlessly.

One standout feature of the night will be the artwork by Hana Lock. Her pieces, featured in issue 17.3, reflect the spirit of “Perform” with stunning visuals that tie the theme together. It’s a beautiful reminder of how art can move us and bring us closer as a community.

Ready to join in? RSVP now to secure your spot at this unforgettable gathering. You can pre-order your copy of the magazine by May 3 for free shipping. Content subscribers also receive a complimentary adult beverage and Hors D'oeuvres to toast to their support of the local arts community.

So, come out to West Valley College on May 16 and immerse yourself in the best of San Jose’s artistic soul. We’ll see you there!

Opportunity Now lists favorite San Jose reading spots

Hey, San Jose bookworms—get ready to fall in love with our city all over again! Opportunity Now has put together a fantastic guide to the coziest, most inspiring reading spots around town, and it’s a must-see for anyone who cherishes a good book. From the peaceful vibes of our local parks to the charm of hidden gardens and the adventure of little-known trails, there’s a perfect spot waiting for you to crack open that novel or dive into a new nonfiction fave. 

These places aren’t just about reading—they’re about soaking in the beauty and spirit of San Jose while you’re at it. Want to explore them for yourself? Head over to https://www.opportunitynowsv.org/blog/-from-parks-to-gardens-to-little-known-trails-all-your-favorite-san-jose-reading-spots for the full list. Let’s keep celebrating the magic of San Jose—one page and one amazing spot at a time.

MACLA Presents: Esto No Tiene Nombre Performed by Denice Frohman

San José, CA – January 15, 2025 – MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana is proud to present the West Coast debut of the full-length version of Esto No Tiene Nombre, a one-woman show written and performed by the acclaimed poet and performer Denice Frohman. The performances will take place from March 21–23, 2025, at MACLA’s Castellano Playhouse in downtown San José.

Esto No Tiene Nombre is a powerful tribute to the oral histories of Latina lesbian elders, brought to life through a series of poignant, vivid vignettes. Denice Frohman, known for her electrifying storytelling and lyrical depth, brings to life voices gathered as part of I See My Light Shining: Oral Histories of Our Elders, a project curated by MacArthur Fellow Jacqueline Woodson.

These narratives, curated under Woodson’s visionary guidance, serve as the foundation for Frohman’s powerful exploration of identity, love, and survival. The show spans stories of resilience, connection, and joy, from pre-Stonewall police raids in Philadelphia to the intimate moments of first kisses. Frohman intertwines her own personal journey with the voices of Latina lesbian elders, including activists, barbers, lovers, and chefs, to offer a moving and multidimensional portrait of their lives and legacies.

About Denice Frohman

Denice Frohman is an award-winning poet, performer, and writer from New York City whose groundbreaking work explores culture, identity, queerness, and social justice. As a queer Nuyorican and the daughter of Puerto Rican and Jewish parents, Frohman uses her craft to challenge power structures and preserve cultural heritage. A former Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion, she has performed on iconic stages like The Apollo, MoMA PS1, and The White House during the Obama Administration.

Her poetry has been featured in The New York Times, Poem-A-Day by the Academy of American Poets, and anthologies like Nepantla: An Anthology for Queer Poets of Color and The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 4: LatiNext. Supported by organizations such as The Pew Center for the Arts and Baldwin for the Arts, Frohman’s work continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Website: www.denicefrohman.com

Instagram: @denicefrohman

About MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana

MACLA is an inclusive contemporary arts space grounded in the Chicano/Latino experience that incubates new visual, literary and performance art in order to engage people in civic dialogue and community transformation.

Founded in 1989, MACLA emerged from a broad community mobilization in San José and across the nation advocating for multicultural arts. Since its inception, MACLA has envisioned arts programming as a powerful vehicle for civic dialogue and social equity serving over 38,000 people annually and produces 50 programs each year in three core program tracts: visual arts; performance and literary arts; and youth arts education.

MACLA is located at 510 South First Street, San José, CA 95113

For tickets, additional photos, media opportunties or more details about Esto No Tiene Nombre and other MACLA events, visit www.maclaarte.org, email info@maclaarte.org, or call (408) 998-ARTE.

Don’t miss this unforgettable performance that celebrates Latina lesbian history, love, and resilience. Join us for Esto No Tiene Nombre, March 21–23, 2025, at MACLA’s Castellano Playhouse!

Performance Dates:

Friday, March, 21, 2025 – Doors: 7:30 PM | Show: 8:00 PM

Saturday, March, 22, 2025 – Doors: 7:30 PM | Show: 8:00 PM

Sunday, March, 23, 2025 (Matinée) – Doors: 1:30 PM | Show: 2:00 PM

Tickets available at macla.eventbrite.com

$45 Reserved Seating

$30 General Admission

$10 Students

Run time: Approximately 75 minutes

February cultural events in San Jose

The Silicon Valley Business Journal has a list of notable cultural events in San Jose this month.  MACLA gallery is hosting a figure drawing on Feb 12th starting at 6:45pm. Opera San Jose is kicking off their season with "Bluebeard's Castle" on Feb 15. Works/San Jose has a new exhibit. The San Jose Improve is hosting open mic nights on Feb 12th at 8pm. A lot's going on! Check out the source link below for all of the details.

Source: SVBJ

Lunar New Year Celebrations at Valley Fair in San Jose

Celebrate the Year of the Snake at Valley Fair with a community day that is free and open to the public. They welcome all to come enjoy the family-friendly performances today from 12pm-4pm.

• Enjoy performances of Traditional Lion Dances, Ribbon Dancers, Folk Dance, and so much more. Traditional red envelopes containing chocolate coins and retailer promotions will be passed out during the Lunar New Year performances.
• The traditional lion dance will open the celebration at Grand Court, on Level 1 near Gucci.
• The dragon dance and main stage performances will be held from 1pm-4:15pm at Grand Court.
• Plus, shop the Luxury Collection on Saturday, February 1, 2025 then stop by the redemption lounge from 11am-6pm with your receipts to receive an American Express gift card up to $800. 

SCHEDULE OF MAIN STAGE EVENTS (Located near Gucci, Level 1) *schedule of events subject to change

• LION DANCE | 12:00PM - 12:20PM | by Rising Phoenix
• DJ/MC + ambient performers | 12:20PM – 12:30PM
• CHINESE FAN DANCE | 12:30PM – 12:40PM | by Fengye Dance Studio
• CHINESE OPERA | 12:45PM – 12:50PM | by Cathy Pan
• DRAGON DANCE | 1:00PM - 1:20PM | by Rising Phoenix
• DJ/MC + ambient performers | 1:20PM – 1:30PM
• VIETNAMESE DANCE GROUP | 1:30PM – 1:40PM | by Viet Steps
• DJ/MC + ambient performers | 1:45PM – 2:00PM
• BLESSED SNAKE WELCOMES SPRING | 2:00PM – 2:10PM | Full Ensemble
• DJ/MC + ambient performers | 2:15PM – 2:30PM
• GUZHENG SOLOIST | 2:30PM – 2:40PM | by Bei Bei
• TAEKWONDO | 2:45PM – 3:00PM | by Team M
• KOREAN DRUMMING ENSEMBLE | 3:00PM – 3:20PM | by Urisawe
• DJ/MC + ambient performers | 3:15PM – 3:30PM
• MONGOLIAN DANCE | 3:30PM – 3:35PM | by Fengye Dance Studio
• FASHION SHOWCASE | 3:45PM – 3:55PM 
• BLESSED SNAKE WELCOMES SPRING | 4:00PM – 4:10PM | Full Ensembl

DJ & MC: Tigermom Toy

TIGERMOM TOY, Allyson Toy, is a Bay Area born DJ and music tech professional who came of age between NYC and Shanghai. Toy is a classically trained pianist and has been DJing for 15 years, lending her skills to brands including W Hotels, Alexander McQueen, Nobu, and Samsung and performing globally in Tokyo, Paris, Bangkok, Shanghai, and many more. Toy is the co-founder of LIONS SHARE, a creative community and music podcast on a mission to empower emerging Asian artists, and by day works at Twitch leading music community initiatives and the company’s Asian employee resource group. Toy’s greatest passion is bringing people of different backgrounds together through music. 

Source: Westfield Valley Fair

What local artists and writers have to say about Silicon Valley

Opportunity Now has a four-part series on what Silicon Valley means to local artists and writers. There are a lot of interesting perspectives in there, many of which highlight things that we take for granted every day. I shared some of my thoughts in Part 4 below.

What makes Silicon Valley so distinctive? Reflect with local artists, writers, and performers (1/4)

“There’s a way past any obstacle”: Artists praise the steadfast Silicon Valley spirit (2/4)

A window into so many different worlds”: Why Silicon Valley resonates so strongly with local artists (3/4)
Local artists and writers celebrate Silicon Valley’s unique, tenacious, “daring” culture (4/4)

Source: Opportunity Now

Top San Jose Blog posts of 2024

Below are the most popular posts on The San Jose Blog this year. The general theme appears to be food🍔!

#1 Santana Row has a Speakeasy now! (April 12)

#2 Raising Cane's is opening their first San Jose location in Evergreen (Feb 4) 

#3 San Jose's fanciest movie theater shuts down (July 12)

#4 Campus Burgers will offer $2 Hamburgers and $3 Cheeseburgers in Downtown San Jose (Apr 28)

#5 Augustine will be Santana Row's newest high-end restaurant (Oct 17)

Content 17.1

The latest issue of Content Magazine is about to drop and as is tradition it will be launched with a party for subscribers on Friday, November 22nd from 6-9pm. This time it will be at Fiesta Hall at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds (344 Tully Road). 

The event will include food trucks curated by Feast Mode such as Chicken Bros, Road House 48, and Veros Kitchen. Beer will be provided by the excellent Foxtale Fermentation Project. They will actually be doing a special Fall beer release featuring artwork from Fabricio Ponce. There will ben be an onsite mural and gallery exhibition presented in partnership with 1CLTURE as well as DJ and breakdancing.

Parking is free at Gate C and guests are welcome. The first 150 Content members to check in will get a complimentary beverage and Hors D'oeuvres. 100 Content members will also receive a unique holiday gift.

Here are some of the people featured in the upcoming issue:

DJ - Brotha Reese | Muralist - Cameron “Camer1” Moberg | Breakdancer - Vicki “La Vix” chang | Painter/muralist - Scotty Greathouse | Textile Artist - Jaya Griscom | Grafitti Legend - King157 | Mural - “The Grand Strike,” Analyn Bones, Juan Velazquez, Miguel Machuca, Jordan Gabriel, Eddie Romo, and Melissa Manuel | Grafitti Legend - Nexus | Painter/Illustrator - Fabricio Ponce | Graffiti Primer - Joey Reyes | Shades of Brown Collective - Joey Castaneda, Jade Castaneda, Louie Andrade, Edward Valdez, Isaiah Kittles, Angelica Jimenez, Desiree Villescaz, Taylor Cherry, Itzayana Silva, Julian Torres, Sarah Cassandra Guizar Retana, Darlene Cordova

To learn more or subscribe, head over here.

African American Cultural Center with housing proposed in San Jose

The African American Cultural Center is being proposed at 2001 The Alameda, right before San Jose turns into Santa Clara as you head away from Downtown San Jose. The project raised $3 million in funds August last year and another $4.1 million in federal funding this March. In total they have already raised $30 million.

The center is designed to serve as a hub for education, music, theater, dance, science, athletics, and business. The building itself will have meeting halls, banquet facilities, youth development facilities, a library, museum gallery, senior and youth programs, child care, a theatre, and even some retail.

Now there is also a major housing component to this project as well. EAH Housing is planning to build about 150 units, 135 of which would be affordable. 12 to 15 of the units would be for-sale condos. EAH Housing is a nonprofit that has already developed 107 properties and 8,700 residential units.

There is no ETA as a bit more fundraising needs to be completed, but this looks like a great mixed-use project for San Jose.

Source: SiliconValley.com

Busy weekend with theater openings and a food festival in San Jose

There is too much going on this weekend, but Sal Pizarro provides a nice summary. Click the source link for the details.

• MACLA is presenting an immersive theatrical concert called "Riding the Currents of the Wilding Wind"
• City Lights Theater has it's opening of "An Inspector Calls" tonight
• The San Jose stage Company is opening it's season today with "The Smuggler"
• The inaugural Tully East Festival takes place outside Eastridge with 150 makers, artists, and food trucks (not to mention an outdoor kitten lounge).

Source: The Mercury News

San Jose Downtown Association TownHall at the SAP Center

The SJDA hosted a TownHall meeting focused on professional sports and arts in Downtown San Jose last month. It's worth watching the whole 60min session below, but there were three tidbits that were news to me:

• There is interest in doing another "fiberglass shark" artist collaboration. This was a very successful program years ago where 100 shark statues were decorated by local artists and then auctioned for charity. Many you can still find throughout San Jose today.
• There was a push to have a restaurant week coincide with the Super Bowl. Thousands of people will be staying in the South Bay, not SF during that week. We need to make sure they patronize local restaurants and this would be great timing for a foodie event.
• Postgame concerts after the World Cup. There will be six World Cup games at Levi's and plans are forming to have a major concert/party after each one in Downtown San Jose.

You can watch the full recording below.

San Jose's Little Saigon now has a Night Market

San Jose has the largest Vietnamese population of any city in the United States, which helps explain why we have the best Vietnamese food in the country. Little Saigon in East San Jose consists primarily of both an indoor and outdoor mall with dozens of and restaurants, many of which specialize in very specific Vietnamese dishes. Now you can add a monthly night market to a list of attractions there.

Officially called the "Story Road Night Market" it will be a Vietnamese-focused event in the Grand Century Mall parking lot. It'll features multiple food and retail vendors along with cultural performances. Not all of the vendors will be Vietnamese, they'll also have Mexican birria tacos, Nashville hot chicken, and Portuguese/Asian fusion egg tarts.

If you've never been to Little Saigon, this is the perfect opportunity to explore the area. The night market takes place today from 4-10pm at 1111 Story Road. Parking and Admission are free. The next events will be on Sep 6, Sep 7, Oct 11, and Oct 12.

Source: KQED

LOOPKICKS 20th Anniversary

I have to come clean and say I've never heard of LOOPKICKS or Tricking before this week. However, all you need to do is watch the 36 second video below to see exactly how crazy this new sport is. Tricking is a mix of combining kicks, flips, and twists. It was created in San Jose by 12-year-old Isiah Flores in 1999.

LOOPKICKS is the longest running tricking team, camp, and gathering. This year is their 20th anniversary and tomorrow, July 19, is their coveted Nightshow where they feature the best domestic and international trickers with battles, exhibitions and performances. 

The LOOPKICKS Nightshow starts at 7:30pm at 2790 El Camino Real in Santa Clara. Tickets are $10 at the door. There is also a whole weekend of classes and workshops over here.

BollyBE: Uniting Communities and Overcoming Barriers through Dance

There are so many excellent resources, events, and free classes offered by San Jose libraries. I'm starting to take advantage of them myself with a toddler running around. 

Below we have a guest post from Anusha Upadhyayula. The library played a crucial role in shaping her identity as an Indian American. Inspired by all of the great multicultural events local libraries host, the author founded BollyBE, a community-driven initiative that uses Bollywood dance to promote cultural understanding and inclusivity. BollyBE workshops at the Morgan Hill Library have been well-received, with attendees praising the multicultural environment and the fun, easy-to-follow dance routines. Anusha's goal is to spread the joy of Bollywood dance and create a welcoming space for all to learn and celebrate South Asian culture, aiming to break down cultural barriers and promote inclusivity.

You can sign up your kids for free classes hosted by BollyBE over here. Even if you are not interested in dance, it's a great story that showcases one of the many benefits of living in a diverse city.

BollyBE: Uniting Communities and Overcoming Barriers through Dance

The cozy book-lined walls of the library and the memories of the time I spent there attending “Family Time” story sessions and “Mommy & Me” dances are forever etched in my mind. The library helped expand my boundaries as I participated in Lunar New Year and other cultural events and learnt about cultures of the world. Slowly, as I grew older, my sense of identity became increasingly complex. As an Indian American, I struggled with which part of that word I resonated with more closely. Should I embrace my Indian heritage? Or should I be just American? The lack of representation of my South Asian heritage in my community made me feel that it was an insignificant part of who I was. That’s when I fell in love with Bollywood music and dance.

When we listen to a song, regardless of the language, the human body naturally responds, whether it’s tapping feet or swaying to the rhythm. Rhythm, music, and dance transcend language barriers and cultural divides. They possess a unique power to convey entire stories without the need to understand the words themselves. Through Bollywood dance and music, with its soulful melodies and energetic beats, I discovered a way to connect with my heritage. Bollywood movies played a significant role in this discovery, as they seamlessly intertwined dance and music with cultural storytelling. Attending Indian weddings and community events further deepened my love for Bollywood dance, as I witnessed how dance and music were not only integral to the culture of South Asia but also to the community. 

Inspired by the key role dance and music play within a culture and a community and eager to share my own South Asian culture with the rest of the world, I founded BollyBE. From there, it only felt fitting to give back to the library community and share a piece of my own identity in the place that played such a key role in developing it throughout the years. BollyBE is not just about teaching dance steps; it’s about creating a welcoming space where people of all backgrounds can come together, learn, and celebrate South Asian culture.

When I first taught a beginners’ garba routine (a dance style from the state of Gujarat in India), many attendees were eager to delve into the complexities and historical roots of the dance, highlighting the appreciation people have for South Asian art forms and cultural representation. The overwhelming love and enthusiasm for our workshops, especially at the Morgan Hill Library, is a testament to the inclusive and welcoming atmosphere we strive to create at BollyBE. Durdana, who attended one of our Bollywood dance classes, shared her experience, highlighting the unique and multicultural nature of our events: “I attended Anusha’s Bollywood dance class in Morgan Hill, CA. My friends and I had decided to go because we thought it might be fun. We are Pakistani, so we are very familiar with Bollywood music and dance. It was very interesting to see a very diverse group of people turn up for the dance class - not just Indian/Pakistanis. Everyone had a lot of fun, and I think it was great as a multicultural immersion event.”

BollyBE not only provides a platform for cultural immersion but also offers a free and enjoyable way to incorporate physical exercise into people’s routines. Dance experience doesn’t matter at BollyBE; it’s easy for beginners, and participants are encouraged to have fun while dancing. This inclusive approach was highlighted by Kiran R., who attended a BollyBE workshop at the Morgan Hill library with three friends. Kiran shared, “We had a blast. It was fun, great music, easy steps (for women with not so great hearing and body coordination). Anusha broke down the steps and made them easy to follow and didn’t mind the giggles we dissolved into while laughing at ourselves. She is a fantastic teacher, can’t wait to take another class with her.”

As I continue teaching in different library branches across Santa Clara County, my goal is to spread the joy of Bollywood dance and create a welcoming space for all to learn and celebrate South Asian culture together. Through BollyBE, I aim to break down cultural barriers and promote inclusivity. I believe that by sharing the beauty of Bollywood dance, we can inspire people to embrace and celebrate their own cultural identities while appreciating the richness of other cultures. In this way, BollyBE is not just a dance initiative; it’s a cultural movement, bringing people together through the universal language of dance.

-Anusha Upadhyayula

Día de San Juan Salsa Fest on June 21

Yet another new music festival is coming to Downtown San Jose this weekend. The inaugural Día de San Juan Salsa Fest is a collaboration between San Jose Jazz (SJZ) and the nonprofit cultural organization MACLA.

The festival will feature three great regional bands: Latin Rhythm Boys, Orquesta Taino, and La Mixta Criolla. In addition to the live music there will be salsa dance lessons, a DJ, and of course food and drinks. It all goes down in Parque de Los Pobladores, across the street from MACLA in Downtown San Jose's artsy SoFA District.

The event is free and runs Friday, June 21st from 5-10pm.

U.S. News ranked San Jose 4th in quality of life

A ranking earlier this year called San Jose a diverse area with an innovative spirit. U.S. News rankings of top places to live put San Jose in 4th place. The study looked at general satisfaction, crime, health care, quality of education, and average commute times. Our city was only beat out by Ann Arbor, Boulder, and Madison.

Source: Yahoo News

Epic San Pedro Square mural is coming along

Over 1,200 volunteers have come together to paint one of the largest murals in California in Downtown San Jose. The art is inspired by a sarape blanked and represents the diversity of San Jose. Much work has already been done over Memorial Day weekend and it could be complete as soon as tomorrow. To check on the progress, just head over to San Pedro Square... you literally can't miss it.

Source: Fox KTVU

San Jose Greek Festival 2024!

This weekend is the annual San Jose Greek Festival, one of the largest ethnic festivals in the Bay Area. If you like amazing Greek food, live entertainment, and friendly people, this is a San Jose tradition you won't want to miss. 

The festival is entirely volunteer run and all the food is made using family recipes that have been used for generations. The Greek folk dancing will be done by teams that compete nationally and the costumes the dancers wear are handmade and unique to many of the regions in Greece. It's a very authentic experience all around.

Admission is only $5 per person, children under 12 are free.

The festivities take place on May 31st (5pm-10pm), June 1st (11am-10pm), and May 31st (11am-8pm). The area immediately surrounding St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (1260 Davis St.) is the epicenter of the event. Free parking and shuttle service is available at 1900, 1922, 1960, and 2022 The Alameda.

For a preview, below are photos by Victoria Symrniotis from last year's event.

sjDance presents the Spring DANCE Festival this weekend at Eastridge Center

WHEN: Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, 2024 from 12 Noon to 5:00pm. “Professional Programming” segments are 15-minutes each on the half-hour (1:30pm, 2:30pm, etc.), and free 15-minute dance classes are held every hour, on-the-hour (both days).

WHERE: Eastridge Center Mall, 2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA 95122, off Capitol Expressway and Tully Road. The festival stage is located on the main level of the mall.

WHY: Celebrating National Dance Week - and a cornerstone of Bay Area Dance Week.  The festival is also the kickoff to sjDANCEco’s 21st Season. Everything is free.

Over 60 choreographers and Bay Area dance organizations (from young children to professional companies and everything in between) present many styles of dance on the Eastridge festival stage during a free non-stop 5-hour program each day. The professional dance portions of the show are at 12:30pm, 1:30pm and on the half-hour all day long. Free dance classes will be offered at 1:00pm, 2:00pm, and on-the-hour throughout the day. The celebration is part of Bay Area Dance Week and National Dance Week (April 26- May 5, 2024) and showcases the diversity of the Bay Area dance community. 

Professional Dance Groups:

·      sjDANCEco   Contemporary

·      Rosangela Silvestre (from Brazil)  Afro-Brazilian

·      N'fungola Dance Company (New Orleans)  West African

·      Abhinaya Dance Company (San Jose)  Indian Classical Dance

·      Tachiria Flamenco (San Francisco)  Flamenco

·      Diablo Ballet (Walnut Creek)  Ballet

·      Monsoon Dance Company (Palo Alto)  Contemporary Indian

·      Magnetic Pole Fit (San Jose)  Contemporary Pole

·      Hermosura Dance Productions (Fremont)  Social Latin

·      Aboriginals (Manteca, CA)  Hip Hop/Breakdance

·      Kyleigh Brine (Arcata, CA)  Contemporary

·      Agua Doce Dance (Santa Cruz) African-Brazilian Contemporary

·      Los Lupeños de San José    Mexican Folk Dance

·      Jenni Hong Dance (Palo Alto)  Contemporary

·      Noorani Dance (Menlo Park)   Kathak

Other Dance Groups Include:

·      Calpulli Tonalehqueh of San Jose   Ancient Aztec Dance

·      Flying Colors Dance & Fitness (Hollister)  Jazz

·      Los Gatos Ballet (Los Gatos)  Ballet

·      New Ballet (San Jose)  Ballet

·      Monsoon Dance  (Palo Alto)  Contemporary Indian

·      Yerba Buena High School (San Jose)   Jazz

·      San Jose State University    Modern

·      Los Lupeños Juvenil   (San Jose)  Mexican Folk Dance

·      Cal Poly Humboldt (Arcata)  Contemporary

·      Lin HH School of Dance (San Jose)  Contemporary

·      SBCC Dance Company (Santa Barbara)  Modern

·       Lara Jean Choreography (Los Gatos)  Contemporary

·      Concept o4 (San Francisco)    Contemporary

·      Latizmo Hi Hop Productions (San Jose)  Modern

·      DBDC (Capitola)  Hip Hop/Breakdance

·       Veksler Academy  (Sunnyvale) Hip Hop/Breakdance

·      NDS Nijikko Dance School (San Jose) Hip Hop/Breakdance

·      IndepenDance (San Jose) Contemporary

·      Dance Academy USA (Cupertino) Jazz

·      The Ruby Slippers (Santa Clara) Kpop

·      Dance Expressions (Sunnyvale) Pom

·      East West Music and Dance (San Jose) Lyrical

·      Ace Dance (Sunnyvale) Jazz

·      Ako Ballet Dance School (Cupertino)  Ballet and Lyrical

Free Classes offered in various styles:

• West African
• Flamenco
• Classical
• KPop
• Salsa
• Symbology of the Orixas
• Hip Hop

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE OPENING CEREMONIES:

Calpulli Tonalehqueh of San Jose will be presenting the Art of Ancient Aztec Dance to open the festival on Saturday from 12:00 noon to 12:30pm. The opening ceremony is a ritual with drums which calls the four elements (wind, water, fire, earth) and the four cardinal directions...North (Tezcatlipoca), East (Quetzalcoatl), South (Huitzilopochtli), and West (Xipe Totec) along with the Great Cosmos, Mother Earth, and the Center - Our Hearts. Traditionally, dancers carry the elements in the form of the atecocolli (a conch shell) which is played to call in the winds, popoxcommi (which carries fire), and copal (a sacred incense) is burnt which carries scented prayers on white smoke to the ancestors. The ritual is a ceremonial way to ask permission to be present and to call the gods of the directions to help guide and protect the space.  

This ritual is in deep respect of Mother Earth and the Cosmos, recognizing that we walk the Red Road (living life with purpose) and are of the elements. It is profoundly deep and important work in reconnecting us to our home - this planet.

ABOUT US: sjDANCEco is a year-round contemporary dance company based in San Jose, California that produces world premieres by its core and guest choreographers, and presents the very best of Contemporary and Classic Modern Dance and Masterpieces of the American Modern Dance Repertory. In addition to a full season of dance concerts, sjDANCEco also is a major participant each Spring in free outdoor dance presentations during National Dance Week, international dance festivals, and has a full schedule of contemporary dance classes for the advanced and professional dancer.   sjDANCEco ignites the spirit of dance.

sjDANCEco is a registered 501(c)(3)