2011 Esalen International Arts Festival:A Celebration of Art, Culture, and Spirit Returns to Big Sur

June 16, 2011 - PRLog -- July 1-3, 2011, The Esalen International Arts Festival featuring musicians and dancers from around the world, celebrates the interconnected nature of our lives and in turn emphasizes the need for each of us to develop a mutual understanding of our common humanity. The three-day celebration at the Esalen grounds will be pulsing with irresistible rhythms and sounds, acts of truth and imagination, and invocations of joy and beauty, all woven into a vibrant tapestry of art, culture, and spirit. Gathering an extraordinary group of artists, musicians, performers and people of all ages.

The Ashé Ensemble combines rhythms, extraordinary melodies, and dance into performances drawing from African, Brazilian, Cuban, American Soul, and Afro cuban Jazz . This extraordinary group of artists, musicians, and dancers delivers and awakens their audience to a spirit and vision of global unity. Featured special guests will include ALL-Star collaborations with Poet, Recording Artist and TED Global Fellow Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo, former members of the Babatunde Olatunji Drums of Passion Ensemble, Glide Memorial Church Music Director Vernon Bush, Nigerian Afro-Funk Legend Danjuma Adamae, and 9ja Sounds Recording Artist David Isei.

Meklit Hadero is a true modern global artist: born in Ethiopia, raised in US and nurtured for the last several years in San Francisco's richly diverse arts scene.  While Meklit's music is like a sponge soaking up influences from all over the world with its jazzy but expansive vibe, moods that veer from the hushed to the impassioned, and a female voice so lushly spellbinding it draws you into its world Meklit is a TED Global Fellow, the founder of the Arba Minch Collective, and a resident artist at the Red Poppy Art House in San Francisco.

Yuval Ron Ensemble, Mystical Music of the Middle East presents a concert of ecstatic music, poetry, and dance from the mystical Jewish and Sufi traditions. Formed in 1999, the Yuval Ron Ensemble endeavors to alleviate national, racial, religious and cultural divides by uniting the music and dance of the opposing people of the Middle East into a unique mystical, spiritual and inspiring musical celebration. The Ensemble includes Jewish, Arabic and Christian artists who have been actively involved in creating musical bridges between people of various faiths and ethnic groups worldwide.

Isupo Irawo, Pulsating, Soul-Stirring, Afro Cuban Drum and Dance Ensemble Performing Masters from Havana, Cuba. This high-energy performance ensemble fully immerses the audience into a joyous celebration of Afro-Cuban music, dance, and culture. These world-renowned Cuban performers weave traditional and contemporary concepts of Afro-Cuban percussion and choreography; performing Rumba Yambú, Rumba Guaguancó, and Rumba Columbia, as well as traditional and folkloric dances of the Orisha. Sure to get the audience dancing, this performance will be a transformational experience for all lovers of percussion and music.

July 2nd Festival Performances 2-7:30 pm
World Celebration of Music & Dance
Festival Workshops: 1-3rd
Register now at www.esalen.org

Workshops Include:
A Feast for the Senses: Culinary Arts of the Caribbean with Dulce Maria Perez
Creative Uprising:Writing and Arts Workshop with Climbing PoeTree, Alixa and Naima
Spirit Songs:Singing from the Heart and Soul with Vernon Bush
Afro Cuban Music, Dance Intensive The Trinity of the Pulsating, Joyful Afro-Cuban Music
Documentary Filmmaking and Photography Intensive with Bella Shing & Patrice Ward
Prophecy and Healing the Earth a Workshop with: Jyoti Jeneane Prevatt, Agnes Baker Pilgrim & Rita Pitka Blumenstein, members of The Council of the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers.

Jayson Fann is the founder and director of The Esalen International Arts Festival, Big Sur Spirit Garden Productions and the Ashé Esemble. Jayson is a musician, visual artist, director, producer and multi-cultural arts consultant. His dedication as a presenter and impresario of performing and visual artists has given him international praise and recognition as an ambassador of global arts and culture. He facilitates a multitude of diverse artistic projects throughout Europe, African, Haiti, Cuba, Brazil and beyond. Through these diverse projects he weaves together a rich tapestry of presentations dedicated to a common vision and spirit of cross cultural unity.

www.bigsurspiritgarden.com
www.iyeoka.com
www.meklithadero.com
www.grandmotherscouncil.org
www.yuvalronmusic.com
www.vernonbush.com
www.climbingpoetree.com

The Esalen Institute is located on Highway 1 in Big Sur, CA. The Spirit Garden is located 26 miles south of Carmel at Loma Vista along Highway 1 next to the Big Sur Bakery.