Spring Events

   Calender  2022  

Alvin Ailey
Streaming Online

Thursday March 17th

Maters of Hawaiian Music
Freight & Salvage Theatre
Berkeley CA

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
Cal Performances, Zellerbach Theatre
Berkeley, CA

Four-time Grammy-winner, master slack key guitarist George Kahumoku Jr., known as “Hawai‘i’s Renaissance Man”, is also a multiple Na Hōkū Hanohano (Hawaiian Grammy) Award winner, most recently for Best Christmas CD in 2017.

He is also a vocalist, storyteller, songwriter & author, world-traveling performer, as well as a teacher, –he founded the Hawaiian Music Institute at University of Hawai’i-Maui College –artist and sculptor, farmer, and chef (his farm to table). He is the producer and star of the long-running, weekly Slack Key Show® on Maui, which features the best of Hawaiian slack key and other leading music artists, now in its second decade. 

Guitar virtuoso Jeff Peterson is one of the most versatile musicians in Hawaiian music today. Specializing in Slack Key, Classical, and Jazz guitar, he has contributed to two Grammy-winning recordings and has been honored with 8 Na Hōkū Awards (Hawaii’s “Grammy”). Five of his songs are in the George Clooney film The Descendants.

Slack Key Guitarist, Lap Steel Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer, Sonny Lim developed his guitar & vocal styles performing with his famous Lim Family of the Big Island, esteemed Hawaiian cultural practitioners and descendants of Hawai‘i Island royalty. He was also one of the early members of the renowned Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau — the legendary Iz was an early member — for whom he played lap steel guitar beginning at age 15; this launched his career as a professional musician. He performed on the first Grammy-winning CD in Hawaiian music, and has won multiple Na Hoku Awards on his solo CDs. Born and raised in the heart of paniolo (cowboy) country on the Big Island, he was originally inspired to play Slack Key by the legendary Gabby Pahinui and at age 12 was taught by his Uncle Fred Punahoa, also teacher to the renowned Led Kaapana. Sonny has since become a respected solo artist, group artist with leading Hawaiian performers, and a sought-after studio musician. 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Robert Battle, artistic director
Matthew Rushing, associate artistic director

Only a pandemic could keep the Ailey company away from the UC Berkeley campus, where it has been performing regularly for more than half a century—appearing at Zellerbach Hall more than any other place in the world outside of New York City. 

Following the smashing success of its video presentation for Cal Performances at Home this June, the peerless Ailey dancers return—in person again after two long years!—as the company resumes its annual residency with programs that uplift and inspire. Under the leadership of Robert Battle, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues to embody the legacy of its founder by celebrating artistic excellence, unbounded creativity, and the power of art to transform and engage. Expect daring new works placed in fascinating conversation with timeless classics like Ailey’s own Revelations. 

“The Ailey company has always told stories about the black experience…but now the subject matter, imagery and idiom are sharper, more affecting and memorable. Ailey is doing what few major dance organizations do: It is keeping pace with the times, and the conversation” (The Washington Post).