Workshop discusses cliffhangers
On Saturday, Feb. 22, Fremont Area Writes will host a free Zoom talk from author Yvonne Ventresca, who will discuss how to create tension and suspense with cliffhangers. Ventresca holds an MFA in Fine Arts and writes for teens. Her works include Black Flowers, White Lies and Pandemic.
Using her experience as a computer programmer, Ventresca applies analytical thinking to her writing: What makes a cliffhanger work at the end of a chapter? How does an author build suspense? Why does a reader feel connected to a particular character? She also blogs about creativity and productivity at yvonneventresca.com/productivy-for-writers.html.
Yvonne Ventresca
Saturday, Feb. 22
2 – 4pm
Request the Zoom link from Scott Davidson: sc**************@ya***.com
CV Arts puts on concert and salsa dance lesson
Patrón Latin Rhythms completes Castro Valley Arts Foundation’s 2024-25 Series with a big sound. The 11-member band is known for percussion rhythms and guitar licks, putting a Latin spin on jazz, rock, mambo, Ol’ Skool, R&B and funk. Attendees can join a salsa dance lesson with professional dancers Amanda Marquez and Michael Gonzalez in the Exhibition Room before the concert.
Patrón Latin Rhythms
Saturday, Feb. 22
Dance lesson @6pm
Concert @7:30pm
CV Center for the Arts
19501 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley
510.899.8961
Cvartsfoundation.org
Tickets: $33.11 – $37.26
Festival celebrates passing on of culture
Performing arts school Shruthi Swara Laya celebrates the heritage of Indian Carnatic music each year with their annual musical festival, Bay Area Kalan Utsavam (BAKU). Students learn Carnatic music, attend workshops and perform at venues throughout the Bay Area. This year’s festival will take place on Feb. 22 and 23 at the University of Silicon Andhra in Milpitas.
Shruthi Swara Laya founder shared in a press release, “Now in its third year, our festival celebrates the exceptional talents of Bay area musicians. Featuring local artists as competitors, judges and performers, it provides a platform to showcase the region’s talent, build community and strengthen support for the arts.”
Shruthi Swara Laya became a center for music and dance classes when few South Indian Carnartic music schools existed in the Bay Area. Instructors taught carnatic vocal, carnatic violin, mridangam, tabla, sitar, hindustani vocal, hindustani violin, piano and keyboard. Dance classes in different dance forms like bharatanatyam, kuchipudi, odissi and kathak were conducted. Sanskrit and Tamil language classes were held too.
The 2025 BAKU will honor two women: Rajam Swaminathan, an ardent patron of Carnatic music and Rukmini Rajagopalan, a violin teacher and supporter of the arts.
Manasa Suresh, Director of Shruthi Swara Laya, shared in a press release, “For those of us raised in the Bay Area, Carnatic music has given us a way to explore what it means to be bicultural, blending two cultures to shape who we are. The younger generation plays a key role in keeping this tradition alive—as performers, organizers, judges and listeners. This festival is about honoring the past generation while building community and creating platforms for the next.”
Bay Area Kala Utsavam
Saturday, Feb. 22 and Sunday, Feb. 23
9am – 6pm
University of Silicon Andhra
1521 California Cir., Milpitas
Arts council calls for photo entries
It’s time for local photographers to display their work again. Fremont Cultural Arts Council (FCAC), Fremont Photographic Society and City of Fremont have organized the 30th annual Juried Photography Exhibit to be held from Mar. 29 to May 3, 2025. The exhibit will coincide with Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month in April.
Photographs selected by a panel of judges will be on display on the first floor of the Fremont Main Library. Opening night reception will be held on Saturday, Mar. 29 from 6 to 8 pm.
The show is open to Fremont residents, students, employees of Fremont businesses, FCAC members and members of Fremont Photographic Society. Judges will select winning photos in the Open and Student categories, and visitors at the opening night reception will vote to select the winner of the “People’s Choice Award.”
Entry guidelines can be found at fremontculturalartscouncil.org/events/annual-juried-photo-show. The deadline to submit is by midnight on Feb. 26.
Rotary marks International Women’s Day
In March, Rotary District 5170 will hold an event for International Women’s Day, featuring a panel of women leaders who will share their insights and experiences on this year’s theme: “Let’s Accelerate Action.” Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with panelists, network with peers and participate in meaningful conversations that inspire action and drive change.
International Women’s Day event
Sunday, Mar. 9
4 – 7pm
Fremont Downtown Event Center
