Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center
1317 San Pablo Avenue (map) 510-525-5054
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center presents concerts, classes, and workshops of participatory dance and music rooted in traditional cultures from around the world. We are committed to providing a great place to dance that supports local and international bands of both established and emerging artists in a respectful, comfortable, safe, and family atmosphere. Through this we build friendship and culturally inclusive community that encourages social awareness, education, and dedication to fairness, honor and equality.
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit music and culture venue that specializes in presenting live world and roots music. Ashkenaz brings people of all ages, cultures and lifestyles together with music and dance programs that include African, Balkan, Brazilian, Cajun/Zydeco, Carribbean, Middle Eastern, Reggae, American roots from Bluegrass to Swing, and more. Ashkenaz presents nightly live music, dance, and movement classes, workshops, programs for children, and benefit shows.
All programs are open to children and kids, 12 and under, receive free admission (unless otherwise noted). Ashkenaz is 100 percent smoke-free, wheelchair accessible, and has ample parking in the lot across the street after 9 pm.
2 Followers See all
- Upcoming Events
-
-
The Funky Gators, Cajun/Zydeco Dance Lesson with Cheryl McBride
Tue. 05/21 | 7:30PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
The Funky Gators is a band of Cajun, zydeco and R&B veterans whose credits include many of the most popular local bands of the past couple of decades. They take zydeco and mix in some R&B and …more»
-
Stu Allen & Mars Hotel
Wed. 05/22 | 7:30PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
The 2013 edition of Grateful Dead Night continues in proper Ashkenaz style with Stu Allen & Mars Hotel, playing four special Wednesdays with different music: May 8, 15, 22 and 29. A tradition …more»
-
Orquesta Dharma, Cuban Salsa dance lesson with Karen & Michael
Thu. 05/23 | 7:30PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
No sooner had Orquesta Dharma made its Ashkenaz debut last August with a salsa splash celebrating the music from its award-winning debut CD, “Road Warrior,” than the group began working up mat…more»
-
Ras IQulah plus special guests
Fri. 05/24 | 8:30PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
Ras IQulah brings love and unity, and pure conscious reggae in his Ashkenaz debut. Known internationally as the “reggae ambassador,” Ras IQulah has taken his Rastafarian message from Jamaica t…more»
-
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, East Coast Swing dance lesson with Kare...
Sat. 05/25 | 7:30PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers tore it up in March at the swing night of our 40th anniversary celebration. The band keeps adding new elements to their timeless blues-jazz-swing repe…more»
-
Andrew Carriere & The Zydeco/Cajun Allstars, Cajun/Zydeco dance lesson with Cheryl...
Tue. 05/28 | 7:30PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
You can’t get much more authentic than Andrew Carriere, especially when he’s backed by his top-notch Zydeco/Cajun Allstars. A native of Southern Louisiana, accordionist and singer Andrew Carri…more»
-
Stu Allen & Mars Hotel
Wed. 05/29 | 7:30PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
The 2013 edition of Grateful Dead Night continues in proper Ashkenaz style with Stu Allen & Mars Hotel, playing four special Wednesdays with different music: May 8, 15, 22 and 29. A tradition …more»
-
Berkeley High School Jazz Combos and All-Star Alumni Band
Thu. 05/30 | 6:30PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
The award-winning Berkeley High School Jazz Combos and the Alumni All-Star Band share our stage in this wildly swinging fundraiser for the Berkeley High jazz program. All three BHS jazz combos…more»
-
A 70s-Era tribute featuring the music of 1972 organized by David Gans
Fri. 05/31 | 8:00PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
In the tradition of previous Community Benefit Nights that toasted birthdays of beloved music greats (Bob Dylan, Bob Marley), tonight we do it again, but with a twist: instead of a singular ar…more»
-
Baba Ken & the Afro-Groove ConneXion African Dance Lesson with Comfort Mensah
Sun. 08/04 | 8:30PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
With a greatly expanded band of Nigerian and American musicians, the Afro-Groove ConneXion is the newest project from Babá Ken Okulolo, the great Nigerian bassist and singer known for leading …more»
-
Sekhou Senegal featuring Ousseynou & Assane Kouyate plus many special guest musicians
Sun. 08/18 | 9:00PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
The colorful West African dance and music ensemble Sekhou Senegal presents its acclaimed “Nuit du Bazin.” The large music and dance group and special guests is led by twin brothers Assane and …more»
-
11th Annual Musical Night in Africa Kotoja Nigerian Brothers Community Drum Circle...
Tue. 12/03 | 8:30PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
Two acclaimed West African bands – the electrified Kotoja and the folk-acoustic-roots Nigerian Brothers – headline the 11th annual Musical Night in Africa. An added bonus for this year’s fete …more»
Buy Tickets -
Pellejo Seco
Sat. 12/28 | 8:00PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
Berkeley-based Cuban band Pellejo Seco fills its shows with music that brings audiences closer to the cultures that the music springs from. The group’s name can be translated as “rawhide,” whi…more»
-
New Year’s Eve Balkan Bash Brass Menažeri Édessa Joe Finn with True Life Trio
Tue. 12/31 | 7:30PM @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (map)
New Year’s Eve at Ashkenaz is traditionally an all-night affair of Balkan music and dance hosted by Édessa, in honor of the late Ashkenaz founder David Nadel and the music he first featured at…more»
-
- Past Events
