A free family-friendly festival celebrating Latin culture, featuring local artists and headliner, Colombian singer/songwriter Chika Di!
Bienvenido a ‘Round the World: Music, Dance & Art Festival at Chochenyo Park, Alameda! From the sounds of the Afro-Peruvian cajón and rhythms of Puerto Rican bomba, to Brasilian percussion and Colombian-Afro-Latin-Pop, Rhythmix Cultural Works and the City of Alameda invite you to celebrate Latin & Indigenous culture at ‘Round the World – Music, Dance and Art Festival, Saturday, September 21st from 12:00 – 5:00pm at Chochenyo Park in Alameda.
With driving rhythms, vibrant regalia, fabulous footwork and flavorful cuisines, the Rhythmix ‘Round the World Festival celebrates music, dance, art, food and culture from Latin and Indigenous traditions in an afternoon of fun for the whole family.
With a passion that transcends borders, headlining performer Chika Di blends traditional Latin, electronic, Afro, and pop musical genres, showcasing her powerful Colombian vocals in her high-energy live performance.
Audiences will discover the unique instruments and musical traditions of Afro-Peruvian culture with Cunamacué, feel the strength and spirit of 8 generations of Afro-Puerto Rican bomba dance and rhythms with Batey Tambó, experience the rich cultural heritage of Brasilian percussion with Tambores e Samba, witness ancestral dances of Bolivia with Kantuta Ballet Folklórico de Bolivia and much, much more!
Enjoy artisan crafts in the multicultural marketplace and your favorite Latin-inspired foods from Chef Hits the Streets, Teaqueria and Crazy Empanadas.
Multi-cultural arts, crafts and activities for all ages provided by Rhythmix Cultural Works and the City of Alameda Recreation & Park Department.
Rhythmix Cultural Works brings people of all ages together to experience and explore music, dance, visual art and educational opportunities – building community by inspiring engagement in the arts!
The ‘Round the World Festival is presented in partnership with the City of Alameda Recreation and Park Department as part of the Rhythmix in the Parks Family Concert Series which aims to support the local community by celebrating our diverse cultural traditions, uplifting underserved voices, supporting BIPOC artists and redefining Alameda’s City parks as accessible and safe spaces to be enjoyed by all.
Please note this event takes place at Chochenyo Park, 2430 Encinal Ave, Alameda, CA 94501.
‘Round the World Performers
Celebrate the soulful essence of Latin music with Colombian-born, California-based recording artist and songwriter Chika Di! With a passion that transcends borders, Chika Di blends traditional Latin, electronic, Afro, and pop, showcasing her powerful Colombian vocals while delivering high-energy live sets. Her music has resonated on popular streaming and TV series like “Euphoria”, “Generation +”, Netflix’s “Gentefied”, Starz’s “Vida” and the upcoming movie “Beautiful Wedding”. A fierce advocate for culture and community, and an active voting member of the Recording Academy/GRAMMY’s San Francisco chapter, Chika Di is making waves and creating a lasting impact in the global music scene.
Photo Credit: Billion Dreams Memories
¡La Bomba Es Vida! Batey Tambó is an Oakland and San Francisco-based, women of color-led cultural group grounded in the centuries-old musical tradition of Afro-Indigenous Puerto Rican Bomba. Batey Tambó director/founder Denise Solís (La Bombera de la Bahia) founded one of the first ever all female Bomba ensembles, Las Bomberas de la Bahia and is one of the first women to play the Subidor (lead drum) in the tradition of Bomba. Batey Tambo co-director, Julia Caridad Cepeda (Julia Danse), is from the esteemed Cepeda Family who have carried this tradition for more than 8 generations and counting. Julia has been dancing Bomba for more than 40 years. Together, Julia and Denise also co-lead Taller Bombalele – Bomba Percussion & Dance classes offered at Rhythmix Cultural Works. They teach Bomba Cangrejera in the tradition, and with the blessing of, their elders in La Familia Cepeda.
Photo Credit: Kegan Marling
Afro-Peruvian dance, music and culture come to life as Cunamacué invites audiences of all ages to participate in this interactive journey of dance and rhythm. Discover the cajon, cajita and quijada – instruments unique to Afro-Peruvian culture — and explore the exciting dance movements and rhythms of Zamacueca, Zapateo, and Festejo. Get ready to clap your hands and move your feet as you embody Afro-Peruvian culture. Cunamacué was founded by Carmen Román — dancer, choreographer, filmmaker, and educator –– born in Lima, Peru, with the purpose of bringing visibility to the presence and cultural knowledge of the African descendant population in Peru.
Photo Credit: Alexa Treviño
Abel Damasceno, native of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, is a professional Brazilian multi-instrumentalist and educator, currently living in Alameda. He has studied from esteemed masters including Bira Monteiro since the age of 12, and has performed with master percussionists Jorge Alabe, Mike Spiro and Luis Badaro.
Abel has worked as a teaching artist for Cheza Nami Foundation, Get Empowered, Music in Schools Today and Living Jazz Children’s Project. He is a motivated teacher eager to share the joys of Brasilian percussion with all members of the community.
Originally from Colombia, Lynda Gutierrez, creator of DFJ, combines her love of dance with elements of fitness in a joyful welcoming way for all levels of movers! Through Dance | Fitness | Joy, Lynda offers Latin dance cardio classes, strength training classes, and private dance sessions that stem from her experience in Classical Ballet, Latin Dance, Modern Dance, Pilates, and Yoga.
Photo Credit: Maurice Ramirez
Founded in 2006 and based in San Leandro, CA, Kantuta Ballet Folklórico de Bolivia preserves and promotes Bolivia’s heritage, culture & folklore through its ancestral dances.
Photo Credit: Kantuta Ballet Folklórico de Bolivia
Kanyon Sayers-Roods is Costanoan Ohlone-Mutsun and Chumash; she also goes by her given Native name, “Coyote Woman”. She is proud of her heritage and her native name (though it comes with its own back story), and is very active in the Native Community. She is an Artist, Poet, Published Author, Activist, Student and Teacher.
Photo Credit: Lemurian Grove Studio
Tambores e Samba is a Brazilian music group, formed by Abel Damasceno, that draws inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of Brazil’s percussion-driven music. Influenced by iconic groups such as Olodum, Timbalada, and Ile Aiye, Tambores e Samba creates a sound that is both traditional and innovative, blending the rhythmic complexity of traditional Brazilian music with modern influences.
Photo Credit: Tambores e Samba