Latin Jazz Social

Lace up your dance shoes and head over to the Berman Lawn for a great night of dancing, delicious food, and live music. This year, we’re celebrating Arts Montco Week and Jazz Fest with the infectious beats of Esperanza’s Artists and Musicians from Latin America (AMLA). Enjoy extended museum hours as part of the evening’s festivities, and see the work of Mexican photographer Enrique Bostelmann on view at the Berman Museum of Art. And of course, what’s a party without good food? Philly-based artist Eugenio Salas will combine performance art and sizzling snacks at his Communal Griddle, which will be turned into a live camera obscura in honor of the Bostelmann exhibition. Petrucci’s will be selling ice cream and water ice. Tables and chairs will be set up for our spectators, but we’d love to some tapping toes out on the dance floor. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just eager to learn, our expert instructor will kick off the festivities with a brief introduction to Latin dance to boost your confidence. Parking is conveniently located in the College’s 5th Avenue lots and around the Schellhase Commons, with additional parking available at the Ninth Ave parking lot adjacent to 179 East Ninth Ave. So mark your calendars, gather your friends, and join us for a night of rhythm, flavor, and unforgettable fun at the Latin Jazz Social – part of Jazz Fest’s celebration of music, dance, and community! This event is free and open to the public. Please consider adding a donation to your ticket price to support more free events like this at the Berman Museum of Art. Sign up here About the artistsArtistas y Músicos Latinoamericanos (AMLA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) arts and artist’s organization founded in 2006 in North Philadelphia. It is a subsidiary corporation of Esperanza Inc. The mission of AMLA is to promote the development, dissemination and understanding of Latin America music and culture in the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Region with a strong emphasis on youth.Eugenio Salas is a self-taught Mexican-Canadian artist based in Lënapehòkink, the ancestral homelands of the Lenape peoples, also known as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Disrupting social roles and dynamics and looking to explore the symbolic spaces that unfold, Salas’ practice involves collaborative process-based projects. Salas carries out participatory performative actions employing media, print, and cooking. The Communal Griddle is a participatory art project organized by Eugenio Salas, informed by environmental justice principles. In collaboration with stakeholders across the food chain, this project explores sustainable solutions inspired by the resourcefulness and improvisation found in immigrant communities and cuisines. The Communal Griddle has been activated in community gardens, markets, and sporting events serving Southeast Asian, Puerto Rican, African American, and Central American communities across Philadelphia. Local cooks, recruited through community leaders, use upcycled ingredients provided by a food recovery organization. Each event features communal cooking, art installations made from reclaimed materials, and participatory activities, fostering inclusivity and community collaboration. More Info below.