Friday Nights at OMCA with Agua Pura
Live Music Performance by Agua Pura, Bachata Dance Lesson by Pamé and Kayla with In Lak’ech Dance Academy, DJ Dailo Mac Music Set, Pop-up Talk with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson, and Gallery Chats
August 8 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
This Friday Night, join us for an evening of music, movement, and a celebration of identity and culture! Don’t miss Agua Pura, a Bay Area-based salsa band composed entirely of femme and queer musicians. Their high-energy set blends salsa classics, cumbia, timba, rumba, and son, paired with Agua Pura originals previewing their upcoming debut album. Rooted in tradition and driven by community, Agua Pura sets the stage with joy and inclusive energy for expression and connection.
Warm up your body and spirit with a lively Bachata dance lesson led by Pamé Ortiz and Kayla Jones with In Lak’ech Dance Academy, a queer and POC-led Afro-Latin studio in Oakland. This beginner-friendly class welcomes everyone to jump in and enjoy the rhythm, whether solo or with a partner.
Then let DJ Dailo Mac take you on a global musical journey through R&B, Latin, K-pop, EDM, hip-hop, and more. With more than 20 years of experience, she’s here to create powerful, high-energy dance floors that get everyone moving.
Plus, in honor of Black August, join us for a Gallery Chats pop-up with special guests Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson in OMCA’s Black Power feature in the Gallery of California History. Following an in-gallery showing of Tyehimba Taylor’s short films, “Legacy of Love” and “East Oakland Rising,” these community influencers will explore topics such as Black collective determination, activism, and cultural legacy in Oakland. Their conversation will amplify the themes of OMCA’s latest special exhibition, Black Spaces: Reclaim and Remain, on view in OMCA’s Great Hall. Join us for a meaningful evening of culture, creativity, and celebration.
Program Schedule:
5–9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket
5:30–6:30 pm Bachata Dance Lesson by Pamé and Kayla with In Lak’ech Dance Academy | Amphitheater
5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries
5–6 pm Film Screening | Gallery of California History (Black Power)
“Legacy of Love” | Run Time 13:57
“East Oakland Rising” | Run Time 26:49
6–7 pm Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson | Gallery of California History
6:45–7:45 pm Live Music by Agua Pura | Garden Stage
6:45–8:50 pm DJ Dailo Mac Music Set | Amphitheater
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About Friday Nights:
Join us for Friday Nights at OMCA, where Oakland comes together! Every Friday from April to October, bring your crew for an unforgettable night of free live music and activities for the whole family. Bring a blanket and settle down on the lawn, or take advantage of exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions (Museum ticket needed for gallery access).
Hungry? Grab a bite from any of the ten Off the Grid food trucks lining 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, offering a delicious mix of rotating flavors. Beer, wine, mixed drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase. Once you’ve fueled up, head to the OMCA Garden, where picnic tables and blankets await you to enjoy your meal. With lawn games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories at one of Oakland’s most iconic spots.
OMCA also offers a $10 flat-rate parking in the OMCA Garage until 10 pm. Please note that outside alcohol is not permitted, and event details and performances are subject to change.
Accessibility
Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email [email protected] at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.
Performers
Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup
Performer BIOS
Agua Pura is a Bay Area-based salsa band composed of all femme/queer musicians playing a mix of traditional Cuban music, cumbia, salsa, timba, and R&B fusion. The band features the bandleader, Rebecca Rodríguez, on conga and vocals, Katharine Headlund on piano, Mireya Leon on bass, Mena Ramos on timbales, Belén Cortes on percussion and vocals, Zahra Rothschild on vocals and hand percussion, Alexis Harnage on trumpet, Mara Fox on trombone, and Nzingah Smith on tenor saxophone and flute. This local salsa band’s mission is to create a safe space for femme/queer musicians to express themselves and connect to their ancestry. ¡Ay que sigue la salsa Mamá!
Pamé Ortiz and Kayla Jones are instructors at In Lak’ech Dance Academy, a queer and POC-led Afro-Latin dance studio based in Oakland. They’ve been dancing and teaching with In Lak’ech for over three years, bringing joyful energy, inclusivity, and a deep love for Bachata to every space they enter. Their classes invite folks of all backgrounds to move, connect, and have fun.
DJ Dailo Mac (she/her) is a seasoned open-format DJ with over 20 years of experience energizing dance floors and curating unforgettable vibes. Known for her genre-blending style and community-centered approach, she has collaborated with artists like Son of Paper and shared stages with icons such as One Vo1ce. Her work bridges music, identity, and celebration—turning every set into a powerful space for connection.
Carolyn Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Black Cultural Zone. Before that, she was a business instructor at the College of Alameda and Associate Director of Commercial Real Estate at the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC). With EBALDC, she leads a nonprofit community development organization building healthy, vibrant and safe neighborhoods in Oakland and the greater East Bay.
Cheo Tyehimba Taylor is a journalist, author, former educator, and filmmaker. He directed and produced the original docuseries “KingMakers of Oakland” (2016), an Official Selection at the American Black Film Festival. He was the founding director of the Game Changers Project, a national fellowship for indie filmmakers across eight U.S. cities that partnered with The Obama Administration’s My Brother’s Keeper program. His short films “Legacy of Love” and “East Oakland Rising” are historic tributes to Oakland and are screening in OMCA’s Gallery of California History.
Sponsors
Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.
