in collaboration with West End Arts District, the City of Alameda, and presenting sponsor Alameda Point Partners
What better way to celebrate the opening of the new Waterfront park than a free, all-ages art-fest featuring some of the Bay Area’s most talented musicians and dance artists? Rhythmix Cultural Works and West End Arts District are combining two of their popular arts events into a one-day festival to celebrate the opening of the long-awaited Waterfront Park.
Bringing together the second installation of WEAD’s Animate Dance Festival and the 5th in the Island City Waterways Art Walks series organized by Rhythmix Cultural Works, the Waterfront Park Launch Fest will be an explosive celebration of Alameda’s newest public park.
Parking is limited. We encourage guests to bike or use public transportation if possible:
• Bike – the site is at the end of the Cross Alameda Trail
• Bus – AC Transit Route 78 stops at Ferry Point and West Atlantic Ave
• Regular weekend service to Alameda Main street from SF Ferry Terminal. The Waterfront Park is a 5 minute bike ride from the Main street terminal or you can catch the free Trolley service to nearby Almanac Brewery.
Featured Artists
Led by Artistic Director Nadia Adame, AXIS Dance Company is one of the nation’s most acclaimed ensembles of disabled and non-disabled performers. The Oakland, CA based company has toured to over 100 cities in the US, Israel-Palestine, UK, Europe, United Arab Emirates and Russia, and has received nine Isadora Duncan Dance Awards. AXIS continues to commission new works from a host of renowned international choreographers and composers.
Part international drill team, part polycultural rhythm section, the Crosspulse Percussion Ensemble brings together synchronized movement, world drumming, lush vocals and innovative body music. Each of the five ensemble members bring their own deep traditions to the floor, to mix and mingle, creating a unique intercultural experience!
Fog Beast is a dance based live art organization directed by Melecio Estrella and Andrew Ward. They present the second iteration of These Lines Are Living. An inter-generational movement at the shifting shore, this project unfolds at an intersection of landscape, climate science, community practice, live music and dance. This performance includes a special collaboration with the Shawl Anderson Youth Ensemble.
Featuring an ensemble of highly skilled performers adept at acting, dance, and acrobatics, 13th Floor Theater represent the next generation of high-end traveling interactive theater. Founded in 2012 by Artistic Director Jenny McAllister, their fantastical stories tumble off the stage to inhabit any environment from swimming pools to bars, ballrooms, and Victorian mansions. 13th Floor will perform an excerpt of “Uprooted,” Rhythmix Cultural Works’ 2022 Island City Waterways performance.
Maze Daiko blends global inspiration with a wide range of percussion to create contemporary interpretations for taiko. This dynamic ensemble layers intricate rhythms and fills the stage with vitality and energetic choreography. Maze Daiko performs original compositions influenced by world cultures including Japan, Africa and Cuba with the physical elegance and vibrant sounds of taiko. The group’s name is derived from the Japanese word for “mix” (mazeru) and taiko (daiko) is the Japanese word for “drum.” In collaboration with Ed Holmes, the ensemble will preview “The Doolittle Raid” from their upcoming Island City Waterways performance at Alameda Point.
Thingamajigs is a genre-crossing arts organization that promotes, presents and performs music created with made and found materials or alternate tuning systems. The Aeolian Installation showcases a creative collaboration of art, music and science through an exhibition of innovative sound sculptures. Visitors will experience different pockets of music that are produced as the sea-breeze plays the instruments. Thingamajigs signature Aeolian Day is a free community festival where artists, musicians, sound makers, children, families, and educators come together to celebrate the sound of the wind.
Animate brings together the artistic talents of a number of groups of young performers and composers to create a unique performance for Animate Dance Festival. Students from the Sound Lab class at Bay Area Music Project at Maya Lin Elementary school have composed the score for this original piece which will be performed by students from Encinal High School, and Alameda High School.
Dance at College of Alameda is a pursuit of professional training in modern dance and choreography for students of all ages. They provide training in ballet and modern techniques for dance students, and also offer physical challenges for non-dancers who want to stay fit and healthy. They help students develop cross-cultural understanding through the arts by creating dances from different cultures such as: Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Latino, and others.
This event is made possible with support from:
Foundations
Arts Angel
$25,000
Impresario
$5,000
Visionary
$2,500
Innovator
$1500
Groundbreaker
To view West End Arts District’s Event sponsors CLICK HERE!