Women’s Music, Art, & Dance Festival
March 25th, 2006
Saturday 11am – 6pm

**FREE ADMISSION**

Hosted by 2nd City Council Art Gallery + Performance Space
435 Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 901-0997

MUSIC * VISUAL ARTS * DANCE * SPOKEN WORD

SOME OF OUR FEATURED ARTISTS:
Melinda Rodriguez & The Divas of Diva Drums Opening, interactive drum circle www.DivaDrums.com
Carissa Hernandez Flamenco Dancer www.CarissaHernandez.com
Pretty in Stereo Stellar all female rock band from Orange County, CA www.Myspace.com/Prettyinstereo
Sister Haero Muslim Spoken Word/Hip-Hop Artist www.khalifahklothing.com/muslimac/haerointerview.html
Alex Nester LA Music Awards Outstanding Female Vocalist ~ mix of soul, gospel, R&B, funk www.AlexNesterMusic.com
Jennifer Jimenez Sacred Dancer & Facilitator of mind/body/spirit movement mjoya_inc@yahoo.com
Billie Delawie Senior San Diego Poet, Author, Activist & Founder of Crone Works
Faith Rivera Emmy-winning Singer/Songwriter leading “Women of Today” sing-a-long www.FaithRivera.com
Kathe Schaaf Co-founder of Gather the Women www.GathertheWomen.org
Knockout The fastest rising vocal group sensation in Southern California www.Knockout3.com
Vicky Tafoya & the Big Beat Southern CA’s Rhythm & Blues/Doowop Queen www.Myspace.com/VickyTafoya
Kristarah Virtuosic violin and cello in tandem with the beats of rock and pop www.Kristarah.com
MAKENA presents Concerts 4 Cats Music & spoken word by beautifully diverse gay/transgender artists:
Makena, Sumi Braun & Laura Luna Placencia, to support abandoned, injured cats www.MakenaMusic.com
Larisa Stow & Gathering Guru Ancient mantras of the East meet the upbeat grooves of the West…dancing encouraged! www.LarisaStow.com
Sirena Serpentina Long Beach based Tribal Fire Belly Dance Troupe www.Myspace.com/Sirenaserpentina

INTERACTIVE HIGHLIGHTS NOT TO BE MISSED:

Sacred Drum Circle & YOU to open the 2006 Women’s Festival of the Arts
We invite you to come experience an extraordinary live performance and interactive drum circle with Melinda Rodriguez and The Divas of Diva Drums at 11am. These amazingly talented and beautiful women will dazzle participants with exhilarating and inspiring drum grooves and then invite the audience to play along. Don’t miss this magical event! Drums and percussion are provided, or you may bring your own.

Ladies let your voice be heard…“Women of Today” Sing-a-long
Let the world hear the power & beauty of the feminine voice…join our sing-a-long of pulsing anthem “Women of Today” at 2pm. Bring your sister, mom, grandma, girls from the office or ladies from your organization to share your unique voice as we celebrate the goddess within. Listen & learn the song “Women of Today” at http://iacmusic.com/faithrivera (click arrow next to “groove” to listen). Email aloha@faithrivera.com for any questions or to download an mp3 of the song.

Co-Founder of Gather the Women to ignite festival-goers at Women’s Festival
Mom, activist, psychotherapist, community & global leader all rolled into one, Kathe Schaaf, will be sharing her work with grassroots movement, Gather the Women (GTW) at this year’s Women’s Festival of the Arts. Followed by a powerful group sing-a-long of “Women of Today” at 2pm, Kathe will speak about GTW’s synchronistic beginning and its recent undertaking to put on 6 Congresses on 6 Continents as the momentum for women to gather grows & grows around the world. You will not want to miss this opportunity to be inspired & to hear how you can personally take part locally & globally in this organic movement of sisterhood & in activating the power of women’s wisdom.

See PICS from past festivals:
2005 Women’s Festival of the Arts www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?eventthumbs?event=02QH001Y
2004 Artists www.2ndcitycouncil.org/wfest4.html
2003 Women’s Festival of the Arts www.onpch.com/WF2K3/
Melinda Rodriguez & The Divas of Diva Drums
Drumming divas facilitating energetic drum circles
www.divadrums.com
714-223-1464

Drum Divas is a powerful synthesis of three amazing women, Melinda Rodriguez, Elizabeth Prall & Meredith Lloyd; each with a diverse background and a variety of experience with drumming and drum circle facilitation. The art and synergy of these women is a beauty to behold. This beauty is reflected in each and every drum they design. To see them perform and facilitate rhythm events is to witness the sacred expression of the feminine divine.

--------------------------
Carissa Hernandez
Flamenco Dancer
www.carissahernandez.com
Carissa@CarissaHernandez.com or Contact@FlamencoDiverso.com

Carissa has studied flamenco since the age of three. She has toured Europe, Mexico, and the United States. She has performed for the former President of Mexico, Carlos Salinas De Gortari, as well as Queen Elizabeth of England. Carissa has recently performed in the Los Angeles Opera's production of Carmen, Conducted by Placido Domingo, and in the Forever Flamenco Series, at Los Angeles's Fountain Theatre. Carissa was a company member with the Boston Flamenco Ballet, The Jose Greco Dance Company and La Compania de Arte Espanol. Carissa along with dancer Artoro Nazzari currently run Flamenco Diverso. They recently returned from a month long stay in Sevilla, Spain where she studied with Immaculada Ortega. Carissa currently teaches private lessons and can be seen performing throughout southern California.

--------------------------

Pretty in Stereo
A stellar, all female rock band from Orange County, CA
www.myspace.com/prettyinstereo
info@prettyinstereo.com

Voted ‘Best Pop Rock Band’ at the Southern California Music Awards for 2006, Pretty in Stereo breaks the confines of gender-labels in Rock music and delivers memorable, emotionally-driven songs, equally melodic and undeniable to the ear. You may have heard of their music on A&E’s ‘Rollergirls’ or on local radio stations such as INDIE 103.1 FM and X103.9FM. Pretty in Stereo keeps a busy show schedule and puts on an amazing live performance. You can check their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/prettyinstereo for show updates. This summer, look for Pretty in Stereo on select dates in AZ and CA on the 2006 Vans Warped Tour!

--------------------------
Sister Haero
Muslim Spoken Word/Hip-Hop Artist
www.khalifahklothing.com/muslimac/haerointerview.html
fujio_32@yahoo.com

Originally from Kurdistan in Northern Iraq, Haero Dizaye grew up in San Diego where she was elected President of the Muslim Student Union at San Diego State University and was instrumental in coordinating many successful educational programs and events for the general community. She continues to use the art of poetry writing, rapping and freestyling to promote a better understanding of the role of women in Islam. Sister Haero’s message has reached the young and old, Muslim and non-Muslim. She continues to dispel the myths about women in Islam through her poetry and community service. She is a co-founder of the Imam Jamil Coalition, which was started in April 2002. Haero keeps a full schedule as a featured artist and speaker at many seminars, political events and hip hop venues and is currently working on her solo album in her new hometown of Los Angeles.

--------------------------

Alex Nester
L.A. Music Award's "Outstanding Female Vocalist" ~ powerful mix of soul, gospel, R&B, funk
www.alexnestermusic.com
robby@alexnestermusic.com

Blending gospel, jazz, R & B, funk, and blues, Alex Nester's music is “soul music” that comes from deep within and out through her extraordinary instrument. She sells a song with a depth of expression that could only come from a blend of unbelievable, unique raw talent; honed through unusual unique mystical experience; sifted through powerful, unique personal trials. Winning the L.A. Music Award's prestigious "Outstanding Female Vocalist" award at the age of 16, Alex then went on to perform and record with such musical giants as The Four Tops, The Fifth Dimension, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Alphonse Mouzon. She's even a cancer survivor! Now, after all she's been through, she is almost ready to release her two debut albums (one Gospel and one R&B), so keep your eyes and ears peeled for this tremendous young talent!

--------------------------

Jennifer Jimenez
Professional Sacred Dancer & Facilitator of mind/body/spirit movement
310-383-8259
joya_inc@yahoo.com

Jennifer Jimenez is a professional sacred dancer and facilitator of the healing movement arts. She is the creator of "Danzalive", (a movement journey through the body, mind and spirit) and "Let's Dance Together" movement and creativity for children and parents.

--------------------------

Nafeesa Monroe
Spoken Word Artist featured on HBO’s Def Poetry
www.nafeesamonroe.com
NafeesaMonroe@yahoo.com

Nafeesa Monroe is a powerful force of spoken word, speaking her mind, heart and soul. After opening for Jewel a few summers ago, Nafeesa's Spoken Word career has been nonstop. Last year she appeared on the fourth season of Russell Simmon's Def Poetry on HBO as well as performed as a featured solo artist at Savannah State University's Black History Celebration and in Santa Barbara for Neale Donald Walsche's leadership conference. She most recently was chosen to present a poem to the honorees of this year's KCET Unsung Hero of the Year Awards. Look for her in upcoming "Be the Change" concerts performing with numerous talented musicians, including Faith Rivera and Ali Handal!

--------------------------

Faith Rivera
Emmy-winning Singer/Songwriter & Positive Music Artist
www.faithrivera.com
(310) 712-3946 or aloha@faithrivera.com

If Tony Robbins were a girl, could sing like Mariah, groove like Madonna & inspire like Oprah, you’d get Faith Rivera! She’s a Kauai-born singer, songwriter, artist, producer and a 2003 Emmy award winner for Outstanding Original Song featured on NBC's "Passions." Her uplifting music can be heard on tv & film with five artist releases, as a session singer working with such artists as Sheila E., Luther Vandross, & Jon Secada, and as a positive music artist from a performance with the Honolulu Symphony in Hawaii, work with best-selling authors like Neale Donald Walsch & Huston, and guest performances at conferences & concerts from Costa Rica to Maui, Japan to New York. Faith will be leading festival-goers in the singing of “Women of Today.”

--------------------------
Kathe Schaaf
Co-founder of Gather the Women
www.GathertheWomen.org

Kathe Schaaf is one of the original co-founders of Gather the Women and has served in the core leadership circle of that growing global community for the past three years. Kathe will share all the wonderful ways to be involved with the grassroots movement to gather women locally as well as globally through the 6 Congresses on 6 Continents project. Featured on numerous radio and television programs, she weaves together her years of experience as a teacher and writer, as a non-profit director and a psychotherapist, as a mother and a community organizer with her passion about the value of women to the world. Kathe speaks from her heart with authentic power... and her passion is contagious! She is working on her first book, a collection of autobiographical essays and daily has amazing conversations with women around the world.

--------------------------

Knockout
The fastest rising vocal group sensation in Southern California
www.knockout3.com
knockout3girls@aol.com

KNOCKOUT is the hottest new vocal group out of Los Angeles and is made up of Krystle Beltran, Clarissa Bruno, and Alex Nester--3 unique girls with three unique styles. No matter what you like--rock, R&B, pop--these girls have it all--and they write it all too! They have performed all throughout California and Nevada in hot venues such as B.B. Kings, Club Sea World, the renowned Reno Hilton club The Garage, and they can currently be seen every weekend at Downtown Disney. Unlike any other pop group the members of Knockout take turns at the lead vocal which gives the group an incredible variety of tone and style.

--------------------------

Vicky Tafoya
Southern California’s Rhythm & Blues Queen
www.myspace.com/vickytafoya
vickytafoya@yahoo.com

Hailing from Southern California, one of the most exciting and talented acts to come to the music scene in years, Introducing…. Vicky Tafoya and The Big Beat! Vicky Tafoya has probably got to be one of the best-kept secrets in the Southern California music scene today. Vicky has played to numerous audiences, from a few hundred in a club setting to over 6000 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Hollywood. You can hear the sounds of old blues, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, even swing, latin, and jazz, peppered throughout their material. Vicky’s been flown to England to play The Rhythm Riot festival, The Screamin’ Weekender festival in Spain, as well as the Rockin’ 50’s festival in Green Bay Wisconsin, not to mention several performances at the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender festival in Las Vegas, and the yearly Hootenanny festival in California, to all of which she was warmly received with tremendous response from both the promoters and the crowds. With their ever growing show schedule, Vicky Tafoya and The Big Beat are sure be playing soon in a town near you. Performing their renditions of classic material, as well as exciting original material, you’re sure to be in for a great time!

--------------------------

Kristarah
Virtuosic violin and cello in tandem with the beats of rock and pop
www.Kristarah.com
jvi999@aol.com

Kristarah is the collaborative musical project of two friends with like minds. In this day of hybrid music, with sounds of past so qualified for public expression right now, we have kicked it up for the type of audience who can appreciate the masters, unplugged, including diverse arrangements of current music. We, individually, have experienced the wide range of musical worlds, from symphonic nature to universal nature. There is no genre that we are not confident in expressing.
Our intention is to musically astonish our audiences with our performance and repertoire. Virtuosic violin and cello in tandem with the beats of rock and pop... Our own sound… we call it: Eclectronica.

--------------------------
MAKENA presents Concerts 4 Cats
Music & spoken word by beautifully diverse gay/transgender artists ~ Makena, Sumi Braun & Laura Luna Placencia, in support of abandoned & injured cats
www.concerts4cats.com
friends@concerts4cats.com

CONCERTS 4 CATS ~ Non-profit organization formed by MAKENA, Siena Lee & Toast Tajiri, merging their two passions: music and cats! While working on their first demo in California, adult cats - abandoned & injured - began showing up near their doorstep. These animals were refused by animal adoption groups, didn't qualify for the TRN (Trap Neuter Return) program, and would surely be "put to sleep" by animal control or shelters because of their age and ill health. MAKENA firmly believes that their deeper mission through music is to honor Life, which goes hand in hand with their work with cats. Visit their site to support their dream to have "every cat cared for"! www.concerts4cats.com

MAKENA is the acoustic partnership of singer-songwriters Siena Lee and Toast Tajiri. Both girls are from Hawaii; Lee was born and raised on Oahu, Tajiri on The Big Island. Formerly known as Skyler Blue, MAKENA had its beginnings just a few years ago when these now-partners met during a concert at the Hawaii Naniloa Hotel's Crown Room, where both were performing on behalf of solo efforts Their musical focus is on vocal harmony and arrangements that allow the song, voice, and melody to simply shine through. www.makenamusic.com

SUMI BRAUN soul.in.my.fist, a Los Angeles-based eclectic music project
soul.in.my.fist is about the power of creation, the beauty of dissonance, and the passion of human consciousness. Based out of the Los Angeles area, soul.in.my.fist is a fluid and eclectic music project that refuses strict boundaries and lives precariously to challenge others. Sumi plans to unleash a soul.in.my.fist album by the end of Spring, so if you like what she's about, keep up-to-date at
www.myspace.com/soulinmyfist

LAURA LUNA PLACENCIA is a fierce Xicana femme who is one half of Sappho’s Return a production company for Queer Women of Color events. She is a phone rep for a major utility by day and weaver of poetic dreams by night. She longs for a world where butch-femme is not just thought of as something that is heteronormative. And where sexuality in all its aspects is accepted and celebrated. Currently a communications major, Laura hopes to one day be able to blend her love for grassroots activism with her love for designer bags and MAC make-up....a girl can dream can't she?? check her out on myspace at: www.myspace.com/laura78 and www.myspace.com/Sapphosreturn

--------------------------

Larisa Stow & Gathering Guru
Ancient mantras of the East meet the upbeat grooves of the West…dancing encouraged!
www.larisastow.com
larisastow@sacredsoundsradio.com

Larisa Stow, who is known for her soul searching lyrics and for being a winner of the LA Music Awards "Female Singer/Songwriter of the Year," was moved by world events to forge a new path in Sacred World Music. Recently she teamed up with Grammy Award winning producer, Rick Hahn to produce a CD of peace prayers. This CD is scheduled for Spring Release and has been picked up by a new company called Love Daily (founded by Burt's Bees owner Sunne Justice) to be a featured product in their new product line. Larisa also o-founded www.SacredSoundsRadio.com, an internet-based radio station committed to creating peace through music by mainstreaming sacred world music.

--------------------------

Sirena Serpentina
Long Beach based Tribal Fire Belly Dance Troupe
www.myspace.com/sirenaserpentina
sirenaserpentinas@yahoo.com
(562) 425-8666

Sirena Serpentina, a Long Beach based Tribal Fire Belly Dance Troupe, was formed in 2003, emerging from a collective of women who started creating, dancing & connecting spiritually collaborate with many local artists, musicians & community organizers to share special events & inspiration. The troupe performs for both private & public audiences.