Rhythmix presents free concert this Saturday featuring music from all over

Wondering where to spend the afternoon experiencing world music, dance and family-friendly arts activities this weekend? Rhythmix Cultural Works has it covered! This Saturday, Oct. 5, from noon to 3 p.m., Rhythmix presents its fourth annual ’Round the World Festival. 

Performances feature a range of East Bay artists that will lead audiences through the music, dance and martial arts traditions of several countries around the world. Journey through West Africa with Sekhou Senegal, take a trip to Brazil to experience capoeira, listen to the sweet tones of Barbie’s Island Keiki and their ukuleles, see the colorful costumes of Flor de Café’s Salvadoran dancers and witness the discipline of Shotokan Karate disciples. 

This year’s festivities include: painting on the Community Art Wall with Alameda artist Ginny Parsons, making suminagashi (Japanese marbled paper) with the Alameda Education Foundation, trying a STEAM activity on the Tinker Bus and viewing the beautiful Diaspora Voiced exhibit with works by 19 Bay Area artists in the K Gallery.

Rhythmix believes that the arts can provide an unparalleled opportunity to build community and develop empathy by bringing people together to learn about each other and the world. In this way, exposure to the arts can be a transformative experience and a catalyst for cultural celebration. 

Supporting this view, Rhythmix developed Performance, Art and Learning (PAL), an assembly-based, youth-arts education program in collaboration with the Alameda and Oakland unified school districts. PAL fosters awareness of world cultures and empowers underserved youth through exposure to educational music and dance performances. To date, PAL has served more than 15,000 students with free world music and dance assemblies. 

Looking for a way to expand the PAL experience to the families of participating youth and the wider community, Rhythmix created the ’Round the World Festival in 2016. Like PAL, ’Round the World provides a cross-section of music and dance traditions from cultures around the world, performed by artists of the highest caliber. 

In addition to performances, ’Round the World also offers hands-on arts and educational activities, a variety of food, beverage and craft vendors and a fine art exhibit — there’s something for everyone in the family!

For vintage Bollywood mixed with Windy City Blues, plus West African griot music combined with funk, reggae and high-energy choreography, in addition to a multigenerational group of dancers sharing the traditional folklore and dance of El Salvador, join Rhythmix on Saturday for the ’Round the World Festival at 2513 Blanding Ave. 

This event is presented free to the community. For more information, call 865-5060 or visit www.rhythmix.org.