Join us for these evening events filled with fun for your whole family.
In small towns around Mexico, community members come together informally on the night of the full moon to share stories, poetry and music. Join us as this tradition is celebrated several times throughout the year.
This celebration is created in collaboration with community partner organizations.
Special Featured Performers
Spontaneous Combustion: In celebration of our summer exhibit Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites, we welcome this husband and wife team who practice the art of tandem storytelling. Tandem telling is two or more tellers sharing one story. Tom and Sandy Farley bring together their experiences with solo telling, improvisation, story theatre, and cooperative recreation, which they also teach. Since 1979, the team has been telling traditional and contemporary stories for schools, libraries, book stores, hospitals, churches, summer camps, Kiwanis Club, and corporate events.
Stories include themes such as conflict resolution, youth empowerment, diversity, and the origins of stories. For this Lunada, the duo will present stories based on classic and current children’s books. Spontaneous Combustion is based in Redwood City and performs in the Bay Area and beyond. Their two CDs Words to the Wise and Words Go Questing can be purchased online at CD Baby. To learn more about Spontaneous Combustion and other storytellers in the South Bay visit www.southbaystorytellers.com. You can also search for Sandy Tom Farley on Facebook.
Grupo Folklórico Los Laureles: Founded in 2007 by Ashley Lopez-Gonzalez and Cesar Gonzalez, Los Laureles began as a family backyard group. Today the group makes its home at San Jose’s MACLA (Movemiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana). Los Laureles serves dance students that range in age from four to adult. The founders take pride in the authentic traditional dance style of Mexico. The group performs throughout the Bay Area, at community celebrations and private events. The group also performs at California’s annual Danzantes Unidos festival.
Nelson Dance Company: Founded by Director, Bettie Nelson, the company has been in existence for 40 years. The group members range in age from five to adult and perform a variety of dance styles from jazz, to tap, to hip-hop. The group has taken top honors in national dance competition events and is a past national champion in the Thunderstruck Dance Competition series. The group makes its home in downtown San Jose, and performs regularly at county fairs and church functions throughout the Bay Area.
South Bay Teen Idol Winners: For the past three years, the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley has hosted South Bay Teen Idol–an American-Idol-style singing competition for teens in grades 8-12. First prize is $2,500 to the winner and a $500 donation to the winner’s school. Second and third place winners also receive prizes. We are very pleased to present this year’s top two winners!
- Danika Lam, first place winner, will be entering her senior year at Pioneer High School this fall. Danika started singing seriously when she started high school. She enjoys all types of music and many artists inspire her. She is especially drawn to songs with meaningful lyrics and a message. Aside from being a singer, Danika is a soccer player. She is interested in pursuing a career in the music industry.
- Michael Xavier Mulea, second place winner, is 13 years old and looking forward to starting his freshman year of high school this fall. Michael’s musical influences tend to be in the style of R&B soul and pop. His favorites include R. Kelly and Musiq Soulchild. Michael would like to pursue a career in music or law. When he’s not singing, he enjoys parkour, acting and working with electronics.
But wait, there’s more!
- Visit the Art Loft where you make drawings and write stories about the moon.
- Don’t forget the free food and drinks.