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Considering the impressive scope and variety of its lineup, San Jose's month-long Performing Arts Series, its simple, unassuming name, seems like an understatement. Yet it's also the perfect statement about all that the performing arts comprise in San Jose. The nine groups featured in this year's series spotlight the variety of music, dance, theater and performance groups that call San Jose home. These groups also showcase a wide-ranging cultural diversity that would be the pride of any city.
The Performing Arts Series, now in its 11th year, is sponsored by the city of San Jose and will be held Oct. 326 in downtown San Jose.
All performances take place at the Montgomery Theatre, Market and San Carlos streets, San Jose. For ticket information, contact the company numbers listed individually below or see www.passinfo.com.
The Flamenco Society of San José kicks off the Performing Arts Series with "El Color de Flamenco," a performance featuring professional flamenco dancers, a guitarist and a singer. The ensemble will present a mosaic of traditional flamenco music and dance, all with authentic costumes. The Flamenco Society of San José was founded in 1982 by Anita Sheer, who was the first and only pupil of legendary flamenco guitar virtuoso Carlos Montoya.
Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m., $18$20, 408.971.8468
Most Californians have heard Mariachi music at one time or another, but Aztlàn Academy gives audiences the chance to explore many other, less-familiar forms of music and dance from Mexico with "Fiesta Mexicana." The cultural traditions of four different regions of Mexico will be presented in music, dance and song, along with colorful costumes. For more than three decades, Aztlàn Academy has been a San Jose institution for raising cultural awareness and promoting Mexican and Chicano visual and performing arts.
Oct. 4, 8 p.m., $12$18, 408.984.0342
Oriki Theater brings a shocking and yet ultimately inspiring true story to life with A Killing in Choctaw, a play about a young African American man coping with having witnessed the murder of his own father in 1960s Alabama, and how, eventually, he transformed his life through forgiveness. Actor, comedian and educator Carl Ray presents his own life story in an insightful one-man play. In addition to theatrical performances, Oriki Theater, founded in 1992, offers classes and programs that highlight African culture, including African drumming and dance, family retreats and more.
Oct. 5, 4 p.m. $18 show only ($50 VIP show and reception), 650.968.1598
Aloof felines aren't generally known for having a sense of humor, but this "CATS" is different. Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene (often shortened to CATS) presents an evening of laughter with "Asian American Comedy Night," featuring jokesters Kevin Camia, Amy Anderson and Oliver Saria. For eight years, CATS has brought both comedy and drama to the stage with a variety of theatrical productions and other community programs, including youth workshops, aimed at supporting and advancing Asian Pacific American performing arts.
Oct. 10, 8 p.m., $15$20, 408.298.2287
Fans of world music are in for a particular treat with "Mystique," a program presented by Habib Khan Saraswati Temple. The temple is an organization devoted to the preservation and performance of classical Indian music, but rhythms from around the globe will be resound in this show, which features performances by a world music orchestra, which includes everything from sitar to saxophone, Taiko drum to tabla. An Indian jazz ensemble will perform, blending Western sounds with the stylings of sitar virtuoso Pandit Habib Khan, who will also perform the show's grand finale, accompanied by Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri on the tabla.
Oct. 11, 7 p.m., $15$25, 408.528.0786 or 408.996.2446
"Samo'T Sari" translates to "potpourri" and that's just what Kaisahan of San Jose Dance Company will present for its seventh appearance at the Performing Arts Series: a colorful pastiche of some diverse aspects of Filipino arts and culture. The program will include dancing, singers and a choral group, as well as comedy. Kaisahan made its debut performance 20 years ago and ever since has focused on performing and promoting the music and dance of the Philippines, as well as fostering community and pride among Filipinos and Filipino Americans.
Oct. 1718, 8 p.m., $18$30, 408.298.3787
The Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra will perform a concert titled "Great Wall II," but the music on the program knows no borders and boundaries. The orchestra, made up of young virtuosos of traditional Chinese instruments, will perform both Chinese and Western music, and often pieces which blend the two styles. Members of the orchestra range in age from elementary school to college and were born and/or raised in the United States. The orchestra was founded in 1995 by noted Chinese instrumental music educator Gordon Lee, as an offshoot of the Eastern Music Center.
Oct. 19, 3:30 p.m., $12$20, 408.253.5998
"He Said, She Said" becomes much more than just a battle of words in the hands--and feet--of the Visual Rhythm Dance Company , which for its fifth annual performance depicts a conversation between paramours using a high-spirited blend of jazz, hip-hop and modern moves. Visual Rhythm focuses on theatrical, audience-friendly jazz dance with a youthful edge, and also offers education programs for dancers and workshops for the whole community.
Oct. 24Oct. 25, 8 p.m., $15$20, 408.288.7011
The Dancing Sun Foundation brings the Performing Arts Series to a close with "Homage to the Deity," a dance performance that recognizes the religious and cultural traditions of the indigenous peoples of Taiwan. The performance will feature a special guest appearance by the Taiwan-based Taipei Folk Dance Theatre, a group dedicated to preserving Taiwanese folk dance. Dancer Bih-tau Sung founded Dancing Sun Foundation in 1999 as a company devoted to presenting performances that blends not only cultures, but also traditional and modern dance forms.
Oct. 26, 3 p.m., $18, 408.368.0227
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