Join La Mezcla and LCA Live for the return of Pachuquísmo
! A rhythmic remembrance of las Pachucas and their stylized power of rebellious resistance, LIVE at McKenna Theatre at San Francisco State University!TOUR DATES
March 2–14
Work-in-progress showing on Saturday, March 13
In this residency, Vanessa Sanchez y La Mezcla will develop Ahualulco, a new multidisciplinary dance and music work that explores the cultural, historical, and rhythmic connections between Veracruz (Mexico) and Cuba. The work layers traditional Son Jarocho zapateado rhythms from Mexico and Afro-Cuban folkloric movement with original tap dance choreography, tracing the intertwined histories of Indigenous and African resistance across the Gulf of Mexico. Featuring live music, the original score draws on Son Jarocho and Afro-Cuban rhythms, played on traditional instrumentation such as the jarana, congas and quijada, and transcribed to tap and zapateado dancers’ footwork.
More info here!
Dear La Mezcla community,
Ten years ago, I began creating Pachuquísmo, a production centering the young Mexican-American women whose stories have often been overlooked in histories of the 1940s Zoot Suit Riots.
This fall, we are bringing the full-length production back to the stage for two important performances.
On October 29, we will perform at SF State’s McKenna Theatre. As an SF State alumna, returning with Pachuquísmo feels especially meaningful to me.
In November, the production will travel to Madrid for its first European performances as part of Festival de Otoño.
The performances, flights, and housing are supported, and SF State is contributing partial rehearsal funding. What is not fully funded is the extensive preparation required before we reach either stage.
We have not performed the complete production in three years. Returning it to the stage requires a full remount: paid rehearsals for dancers and musicians, training new cast members, preparing a new technical team, updating costumes, rebuilding the company’s stamina, and reviewing every choreographic, musical, and production element.
Our goal is to raise $5,000 during September to support this work.
We believe rehearsal is labor. It takes hours of physical training, artistic preparation, collaboration, and care to bring a production of this scale back to the stage. Our dancers, musicians, and technicians deserve to be compensated for that labor.
Your gift will help us prepare Pachuquísmo for return to the Bay Area stage and its first European presentation.
With gratitude,
Vanessa Sanchez
Artistic Director and Choreographer
La Mezcla
La Mezcla will be making our European debut at the 44th Festival de Otoño in Madrid, Spain on November 21-22 with our remount of Pachuquísmo! More info here.