Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara is an innovative partnership between UCSB Arts & Lectures and the Marjorie Luke Theatre which permits both presenters to bring to Santa Barbara international artists of the highest stature that neither could present on its own.  This free concert series presents culturally relevant programming for the Spanish-speaking communities of Santa Barbara County.   From mariachi and son jarocho to chicano sounds and folkloric dance, this concert series has engaged Santa Barbara’s Spanish speaking community like no other.  Past artists include, Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Perla Batalla, Quetzal, Grandeza Mexicana, Tlen Huicani, Los Cojolites, and many more. In January 2011, the national Association of Performing Arts Presenters recognized Viva as one of two exemplary outreach programs in the nation.

2012/2013 Season
Fridays at Isla Vista School at 7:00 PM.
Saturdays at Guadalupe City Hall at 7:30 PM.
Sundays at The Marjorie Luke Theatre at 7:00 PM.

Show dates and descriptions:

1. September 20-23 2012
Entre Mujeres
All-star, all-women, Entre Mujeres plays son jarocho, the music of Veracruz, on traditional jaranas, harp, violin, and the tarima, a small wooden dance floor that resonates with the rhythms of the dancers’ steps.  With a Smithsonian Folkways recording to be released in the fall, these seven jaraneras from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada create an international dialogue of song.  Led by Martha Gonzalez of Quetzal and Laura Rebolloso, a founding member of Son de Madera, Entre Mujeres is an extension of an informal network – Fandango sin Fronteras – which unites musicians across the U.S. Mexican border. The group includes individual musicians from Son de Madera, Los Utrera, Café con Pan, Quetzal, and La Santa Cecilia.
Click here for more information.

2. October 12-14 2012
Troker
Guadalajara-based Troker breaks all molds of Mexican pop-culture mixing  jazz, funk, pop, rock, and dance music with superb musicianship and a blast of Mexian attitude.  Winners of Mexico’s IMAS award in 2010 and in 2011 for their CDs “El Rey de Camino and “Pueblo de Brujos” Troker has performed as guests at festival throughout the world including  the Kennedy Center and LA’s Face the World Festival. “…Troker goes from the purest jazz to total psychedelic rhythms joining together in a joy and entertaining funk at the same time they promote Mexican culture” (National Council of Arts & Culture of Mexico). Click here for more information.

3. January 11-13 2013
Ballet Hispanico
“…gorgeous to look at and thrilling to watch...” is how Chicago Sun Times describes Ballet Hispanico.
Based in New York, the company explores, preserves, and celebrates Latino cultures through dance, creating new avenues of cultural dialogue and sharing the joy of dance with all communities. Led by Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro, Ballet Hispanico is a spectacle of brilliant choreographic  styles, costumes and cultures from throughout the Latino diaspora. The international company includes dancers from the U.S., Mexico, Columbia, Venezuela and as far away as Taiwan.
Click here for more information.

****Please join us for a FREE Latin Social Dance class**** La Cumbre Junior High - 7-8:30pm on January 10th Marjorie Luke Theatre - 1-2:30pm on January 13th

4. February 8-10, 2013
Mariachi Sol de Mexico
Heir to one of the most important mariachi families in the U.S., Jóse Hernandez founded Mariachi Sol de México®  in 1981. The 13-member ensemble from Los Angeles has performed on tour throughout the Americas in Auditorio Nacional, Mexico City, the Hollywood Bowl, among others, backing celebrated singers from Jenny Rivera to Lady Gaga. They have contributed to film soundtracks including Seabiscuit and Disney’s The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit.  A new album recorded with La Sinfonica Nacional de las Americas realizes Hernandez long-time dream of performing with Symphony Orchestra. In 1991 Hernandez founded the Mariachi Heritage Society which provides instruction in mariachi music for hundreds of new, young musicians each year. Click here for more information.

5. April 4-7, 2013
Los TexManiacs
Combine a hefty helping of Tex Mex conjunto, simmer with several parts Texas rock, add a daring dash of well-cured blues, and R&B riffs, and you've cooked up the tasty Los TexManiacs groove. Los TexManiacs are a product of Baca’s wide-ranging experience touring and recording with everyone from his father's family conjunto, Flaco Jimenenz, the original Texas Tornados, Los Super Seven  and even the Rolling Stones. Featuring accordionist David Farías, conjunto tejano veteran bassist Óscar García, and multi-instrumentalist Lorenzo Martínez on drums, Los Texmaniacs breathe new life into the century-old music of the Texas Rio Grande Valley. Based in San Antonio, Los Texmaniacs won a Grammy for their 2009 Borders y Bailes album, have appeared on television, and played live for audiences throughout the world. Click here for more information.

¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! is funded by the James Irvine Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and SAGE. Additional support is provided by the Santa Barbara Foundation, Incredible Children’s Art Network, the UCSB Office of Education Partnerships, the Marjorie Luke Theatre’s Dreier Family Rent Subsidy Fund, the Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara Latino, Santa Maria Sun, Univisión, the Sandman Inn, Pacifica Suites, Radio Bronco, R&V Photography, and the Consulate of Mexico in Oxnard. This project is funded in part by a Community Arts Enrichment Grant and the Community Arts Grant Program using funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara, in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission and the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation and its Education Outreach Committee. Co-presented by the Marjorie Luke Theatre, the Guadalupe Arts & Education Center and UCSB Arts & Lectures, in collaboration with the Isla Vista School After School Grant.