Oakland Ballet Company’s 2026-2027 season begins in October with the 10th anniversary of the critically acclaimed “Luna Mexicana”, a celebration of Día de los Muertos. Like the holiday that inspires it, Luna Mexicana is a beautiful blend of exuberant dance, joyful music, and celebration of family.
“Luna Mexicana” opens at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland with two performances: Friday, Oct. 30, and Sunday, Nov. 1. Tickets for both performances start at $35.55 and are on sale now HERE.
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Luna Mexicana, Oakland Ballet Company welcomes a new collaboration with Esteban Hernández, principal dancer at San Francisco Ballet. Hernández has been commissioned to choreograph a piece reflecting on his heritage. Inspired by the music of Mariachi Vargas and composer Manuel Ponce, Hernández’s new work showcases the relationship between traditional Mexican music and dance. This will be Hernández’s second time presenting commissioned choreography, and the first time collaborating with Oakland Ballet Company – furthering their commitment to providing a platform for artists developing new means of expression.
“Traditions are a huge part of Mexican culture,” says Hernandez. “My piece touches on the importance of the perpetuation of those traditions, the level of multi-generational effort it requires to do so, and the gratification that emerges from sharing that time together.”
The production of “Luna Mexicana” also features choreography by Oakland Ballet’s Artistic Director Graham Lustig, which presents the perspective of a young girl decorating her family ofrenda. The story follows her journey through the night, as she dances with past generations of her ancestors and learns the cultural meaning of Día de los Muertos.
Lustig aims to showcase relevancy and representation throughout Luna Mexicana. “The Latinx community is rarely represented in mainstream ballet. Luna Mexicana was created as a platform to encourage a diverse audience to participate in the cultural traditions of Day of the Dead. This program not only celebrates Latinx culture, but showcases artists – providing them with opportunities to have their work presented to thousands of community members.”
Finally, “Luna Mexicana” will bring back fan favorites from its past 10-years throughout the program. The program will begin with an Aztec blessing ceremony and a call for “Presente,” inviting each patron to honor someone who has passed by saying their name aloud. On Nov. 1, the call for “Presente” will then be followed by a special performance by Los Cenzontles. On both dates, a showcase of regional folkloric dances from Mexico will be presented by Ballet Folklórico México Danza. The program will also include a 15-minute performance by the local mariachi group Mariachi Mexicanisimo.
Learn more HERE