La Mezcla

A polyrhythmic, San Francisco-based dance and music ensemble rooted in Chicana, Latina, and Indigenous traditions and social justice, La Mezcla was founded in 2015 by Dance/USA fellow Vanessa Sanchez. Their work brings together Tap dance, Son Jarocho, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms to bring the often unseen histories and experiences of communities of color to stages, streets, and fields across the country.

Ghostly Labor is a high-energy and multidisciplinary performance that explores the history of labor in the US-–Mexico borderlands and the power & joy of collective resistance. This work brings together Tap Dance, Mexican Zapateado, Afro-Caribbean movement, live music, and animated archival video. Featuring an all-female dance company, spoken word, traditional live Son Jarocho music from Veracruz, Mexico, and an Afro-Latino percussive score, this full-length dance theater production brings to life historical events, such as the Bath Riots of 1917 and the experiences of farm and domestic workers throughout California.