Join us this Saturday for Extra Ancestral, a movement dedicated to educating and entertaining audiences through the cultural manifestations of the African Diaspora.

Narrated through powerful ancestral dancing, and led by some of LA’s most dynamic artists, Extra Ancestral's revolutionary performances unify Afrobeat, Reggae, Jazz, Salsa, and many traditional African musical forms of the Diaspora as forms of empowerment. Learn more about Extra Ancestral.

GP's summer voyage continues next week with Iranian pianist and pop star ⁠Kamyar on 8/20, and then Alice Coltrane: An Expansive Spirit featuring Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Surya Botofasina, presented by dublab, on 8/27.

Thanks to everyone that came out last weekend for Melissa Polinar - check the photo gallery or watch the Rebroadcast of the Live Stream. If you can't make it to Grand Performances this Saturday for Extra Ancestral, you can still experience the show in real time via GP's YouTube at 6pm PST.

Yesterday we announced Francisca Valenzuela as the headliner for GP's Summer 2022 Grand Finale concert on Saturday September 24th!

Finally, we have our first off-site show of the summer on August 21st at Plummer Park in West Hollywood, featuring M&M The Afro-Persian Experience, a duo who unites Persian and African musical traditions. [RSVP]

Looking forward to seeing you back at GP soon!

August 13 - Extra Ancestral

Grand Performances invites you to a special show this Saturday at California Plaza featuring Extra Ancestral, a cultural movement dedicated to educating and entertaining audiences through the cultural manifestations of the African Diaspora including Afrobeat, Reggae, Jazz, and Salsa.

Kicking the night off with an opening set by Emmy Award winner DJ Jedi at 6pm, Extra Ancestral features:

• Kahlil Cummings - Musical Director/ Percussion

• Alberto Lopez - Co-Artistic Director/ Percussion

• Rachel Hernandez - Co-Artistic Director/ Choreographer / Dancer

• Fabio Santana - Trombone/Cavaquinho

• Randal Fisher - Saxophone

• Tylana Enomoto - Violin

• Bobby Easton - Guitar

• David Goodwin - Bass

• Evan Greer - Drumset

• Clarice Cast - Percussion

• Tatiana Tate - Trumpet

• Kibrom Birhane - Keys

• Ajah Muhammad - Dancer

• Nicolea Pettis - Dancer

• Kash Sharif - Dancer

• Dante Fyall - Dancer

• Sharquella Reed - Dancer

Narrated through powerful ancestral dancing, Extra Ancestral provides an in-depth education of temporal and geographic borders from Africa to the Americas and back, providing lessons from the past to hone tools for the future. Led by some of LA’s most dynamic artists, Extra Ancestral's revolutionary performances of black survival unify music, dance, visual arts, and community engagement as forms of empowerment to reduce the generational trauma that exists in communities of color.

 Grand Performances presents

Extra Ancestral
+ DJ Jedi

Saturday August 13
6pm -10pm

California Plaza
350 S Grand Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90071

• Click to RSVP  •

photos from melissa polinar

Thanks to everyone that came our to enjoy the mellificent voice of songstress Melissa Polinar, who brough a coterie of co-stars to California Plaza last weekend for a lovely show featuring Nieman, Surrija (Jane Lui), and Drea Rose, plus an opening set by DJ Josiah Bell.

Watch the Rebroadcast of the Live Stream on GP's YouTube.