¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! returns to Santa Barbara to bring people together to share the rich cultural heritage of Latin America. The 2023-24 lineup features a Grammy nominee, Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles, mariachi, and more.
Grammy nominee Perla Batalla (Sept. 8-10) is a Ventura-based singer who brings a lifetime of experience crossing musical borders to her programs of traditional and contemporary Latin American music. Batalla’s Mexican and Argentine parents ran Discoteca Batalla, a Los Angeles record store where Batalla was exposed nonstop to music that cut across genres and languages. Through her performance, Batalla will express love for her identity and the hybrid musical culture in which she was raised. People can expect to hear Spanish-language favorites that will be rendered with contagious rhythm and joy.
Founded in 2011 by Kareli Montoya, Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles (Oct. 13-15) tells stories of Mexican heritage through original choreography inspired by traditional folk-dance forms. The company achieved international recognition when they were featured in the 90th Academy Awards ceremony dancing in celebration of the Disney/Pixar film Coco. Often having as many as 40 dancers on stage at once, their performances offer precision and a spirited expression of Mexican culture.