Among the features that make Marina, well, Marina, is a city park on Del Monte Boulevard, which was named after the late and former Public Works director Vince H. DiMaggio (and not one of baseball’s DiMaggio brothers). Another thing that makes Marina special is the diversity of its population. Just look at their elementary schools, which are in the top 20 percent for being most diverse in the state.
The two data points come together to celebrate on Saturday, June 29 with the return of the Marina Multicultural Festival. In some ways it looks like any other summer festival: crafts, a kids’ area for coloring, food vendors and more. Then the belly dancing begins.
Performances lined up for the event include Taiko drumming by Shinsho-Mugen Daiko, a local group that modernizes traditional Japanese beats and movement. Calpulli Yaocuauhtli brings their rhythm-driven Aztec dance set. Animanyactz also performs. They’re an “animation-based” dance group. Think very slow pop-and-lock choreography.
The festival’s influences keep spanning the globe – falafel, tacos, hot dogs available on the midway; Folklorico Juvenil de Hollister and Yamamoto Hula Ohano also perform.
The most symbolic performance may be the American tribal belly dancing by Latidah Dance Company. It’s an improv belly dancing style, that just like the festival, showcases it’s worldly inspiration. The group-based dance borrows from folkloric dances spanning India, the Middle East, Spain and other places.
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