Esalen Institute- July 4th Arts & Music Fest Performance July 4, 2009

On July Fourth from 2 in the afternoon until 10 at night join performers and artists from around the world in a celebration of art, culture, and spirit. It's Esalen's day of performances topping off the annual International Arts Festival. Art exhibitions, musical performances, and dance mark a day when it is possible to visit Esalen without being enrolled in a workshop or Personal Retreat. Performers and groups include:

SoVoSo: the highly imaginative a cappella ensemble that signs a unique, rhythmic mix of jazz, gospel, wold, and R&B music rendered in their trademark improvisational style.

Athira Pratap: "Dancing is my passion, and when I'm on the stage, I feel like I'm a butterfly," says this performer of Bharatanatyam Indian dance that manifests the ancient idea of the celebration of the eternal universe through the beauty of the material body.

Claudia Villela: Imbued with that inexpressible longing Brazilians call saudade her haunting voice moves like a bird—blowing, sensual, and lush—as she transports people to Brazil.

Bongo Love: This dynamic group suses styles from around the world with the sounds of their native Zimbabwe to create a unique and utterly infectious music. Bongo Love not only caters to African music enthusiasts, but to people with an interfest in jazz, reggae, pop. or just a night of great dancing.

Alelx Lee & Le Vice: Delivering an upbeat and optimistic fusion of soulful hip hop, Jazz, and Soul, thise bright young stars draw their inspiration from artists such as Jay-Z, Missy Elliot, and Erykah Badu.

La Mixta Criolla: the organic spirit of the Puerto Rican soil is captured by a beautiful tableau of folk dancers.

Asheba: an engaging musical storyteller from Trinidad who has become a renowned world musician playfully blending reggae, calypso, neo-folk, and more.

Woo Ri Sa Wi: shamanic-mask cultural dancers and drummer of Korea delivering a powerful, deeply moving, elegant, and magical performance.

Cida Vieira Brazilian Soul & Sambahemians: Brazilian drums boom and spring to life with dancers shimmying and sweating into a mass of your and shared energy that rechis a Bacchus-worthy frenzy of free-flowing limbs, minds, pulsing hearts, and pounding feet.

hula Halau Ko: a company performing Polynesian, Maori, and Tahitian dance.

Admission to the July Fourth performances is $45 for adults 17 and over, $25 for children 9-16, and free for children 8 and under accompanied by adults.

To purchase tickets call 831-667-3000, press 3950, and follow the instructions and prompts. Please have your credit card information, phone number, email address, and the name of the person who will pick up the tickets available.

On July 4, the gate opens at 2 PM. Will-call tickets will be available to pick up at the top of the hill at the Esalen main entrance after 1 PM. Dinner is included. Bring towels if you plan to use the mineral baths and a blanket for sitting on the lawn. Event ends and all attendees must leave Esalen at 10 PM.

Tickets are limited and will sell out. We recommend that you purchase your tickets as far in advance as possible.

Festival Exhibitions

Visionary Art from the Women Painters of Big Sur

Tales in Stone: Zimbabwe Shona Stone Sculpture

The Sand Mandala of Universal Compassion with Tibetan monk Lobsong Lortsel Gyamtso

Beyond The Eyes: Works of Masauso Mchiumya

Andrew Redhorse

Official Website: http://www.esalen.org/workshops/artsfestival2009.html#july4