CSUN University News Clippings

Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company’s “Tierra y Luna” show on Saturday will explore the importance of natural elements in Mexican culture.

The On Ensemble will fuse traditional Japanese drumming with rock and electronic music on July 11 at The Ford.

Masanga Marimba will perform “Musical Raindrops: Songs, Stories & Dances from Zimbabwe” on July 25.

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Summer vacation may be a blast for kids, but it isn’t much of a vacation for parents. In order to keep children busy and entertained, it’s up to Mom and Dad to find affordable destinations for family fun.

A decade ago the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the Ford Theatre Foundation decided to lend parents a hand by launching Big!World!Fun!, an affordable, family-friendly series of music and dance performances. This year’s series will begin Saturday with a 10 a.m. performance by the Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company and continue for seven more Saturdays in July and August at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. It’s free for children and $5 for adults. Entertainment also will include preshow arts and crafts activities.

Big!World!Fun! has become one of The Ford’s most popular traditions, and it poses a challenge for program director Ragen Carlile to top the previous year’s offerings.

“I started looking for this year’s groups about this time last year,” Carlile said. “I’m looking for entertainment that’s also education, so it’s not trying to talk down to the children. We want the parents to have as much fun. Also, we want to reflect the multicultural background of this area.”

Along with the performers, Carlile selected a theme: the four natural elements of earth, air, fire and water. Each group was asked to create a show based on the theme.

“We came up with the elements theme through a partnership with the Natural History Museum,” Carlile explained. “The museum is another county institution, and it seemed like a good fit.”

The museum is putting together four of the eight preshow activities, while The Ford is arranging the remaining ones. Each will start at 9 a.m.

To kick off the series on Saturday, the Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company will perform “Tierra y Luna” (Earth and Moon). Formed in 2003 by Jose Vences, the 30-member troupe does authentic dances based on traditional Mexican dance.

“They are the only group that performed last year, and I asked them back because they connect so well with the children,” Carlile explained. “The great thing about children is that they aren’t self-conscious, so they will get up and move to the music and dance and be happy.”

On July 11, the On Ensemble will fuse traditional Japanese drumming with rock and electronic music. On Aug. 1, J.U.i.C.E. (Justice by Uniting in Creative Energy) & The Hip Hop Handbook will perform.

“Hip-hop is something not everyone understands, but I think the children will love learning about the elements that make up the style,” Carlile said.

Masanga Marimba has put together a show called “Musical Raindrops: Songs, Stories & Dances from Zimbabwe,” which it will perform July 25. Ric Alviso founded the ensemble in 2000 as an offshoot of the music classes he teaches at California State University, Northridge.

“I fell in love with the marimba and these marimba groups when I went to study in Zimbabwe one summer,” Alviso said, “and there was nothing like it at the time in Southern California.”

Some of Alviso’s students from 2000 are still part of the group, which performs regularly throughout the area.

At The Ford, Masanga Marimba will perform traditional stories and dances from Zimbabwe, as well as sing-along songs.

“Our highlight is always at the end, when we let the children come onstage and play the marimbas for themselves,” Alviso said. “Music is a great way to learn about other cultures.”

Ojai family band Celtic Spring, a true Ventura County treasure, will perform Aug. 15. Their show is called “An Earthquake of Irish Dance.”

The series will wrap up with two dance concerts. The Helios Dance Theater, a modern dance troupe, will perform Aug. 22 and the Hawaiian ensemble Hula Halau Ka Lehua Uluwehi I Ka Lani will appear Aug. 29.

“Big!World!Fun! remains one of the most affordable choices for families,” Carlile said. “The atmosphere is casual, and because it’s at 10 a.m., families can plan other events in the day. It’s also a good introduction to The Ford, and all of the things we do here.”

— E-mail freelance columnist Jeff Favre at jjfavre@gmail.com.