Rotunda Dance Series: Ethnic Dance Festival | SF City Hall

Submitted by the Event Organizer

“Rotunda Dance Series” San Francisco City Hall Performance Festival

The “Rotunda Dance Series” is a set of free monthly dance performances in San Francisco City Hall’s extraordinary rotunda, Dancers’ Group and World Arts West have once again partnered to bring audiences lunchtime glimpses into movement and musical traditions from around the world.

Set amidst the grandeur of San Francisco City Hall’s Rotunda, these free lunchtime presentations bring dance forms from across the globe to this magnificent venue. All performances are free and start at noon.

Friday, June 3, 2016
“Rotunda Dance Series” San Francisco City Hall Performance Festival

The Rotunda Dance Series presents the opening of the  San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival with El Tunante. Founded 30 years ago, El Tunante will perform Marinera Norteña, a traditional dance with its origins in Peru’s struggle for independence from Spain in the 1800’s. The marinera and its predecessor, the zamacueca, originated in crowded colonial ports, merging stylized Spanish court dance and lively African rhythms and footwork with indigenous Peruvian forms.

Within a tight sequence of coquettish dancing, partners enact a romantic game of cat and mouse. The men move close and the women move closer. The partners never touch, and never take their eyes off one another. The dance is intense and formal, with fluttering handkerchiefs to reveal what happens in the heart.

This event will serve as the grand opening of the 2016 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, which will run June 3-19, featuring dance and music from more than 20 world cultures, including 12 world premieres and two North American premieres. 

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.