July 8–26, 2025 | Frank H. Ogawa/Oscar Grant Plaza | Free Community Events
BANDALOOP presents Somewhere to Oakland — a month of free vertical dance on the walls of Oakland City Hall and the Rotunda, live music, talks and community ritual featuring more than 50 local artists and partners, scenes from BANDALOOP’s latest work FLOCK, a poetic story of migration, and more!
Taking flight in Frank H. Ogawa/Oscar Grant Plaza, Somewhere to Oakland will transform the iconic Jack London Oak Tree, the Rotunda Building, and Oakland City Hall into a flyway for vertical dance, community singing, and social art practice. This intergenerational project uplifts community voices through embodied storytelling that interweaves bird and human migration.
Somewhere to Oakland is a durational creation in public space all month, with a spotlight on accessible events taking place Thursdays & Saturdays. Co-directed by Artistic Director, Melecio Estrella, and Associate Artistic Director, Damara Vita Ganley, and originates from their own familiy migration stories, featuring multi-lingual musical score by Ben Juodvalkis and Destani Wolf.
Featured Artists + Collaborators:
BANDALOOP | Destani Wolf | Ben Juodvalkis | Liam O’Donoghue | Maya Chinchilla | CO-LLAB Choir | The Butterfly Effect | Sing Justice Choir | Rogelio Lopez | Aida Salazar | Tsuru for Solidarity | Nino Fernandez
We acknowledge that not all individuals honored by this work may feel safe gathering in public space. We invite those who do to co-create a nest of embodied hope and connection.
About BANDALOOP
BANDALOOP honors nature, community, and the human spirit through perspective-bending dance.
A pioneer in vertical performance, BANDALOOP seamlessly weaves dynamic physicality, intricate choreography and climbing technology to turn the dance floor on its side. Founded in 1991 by Amelia Rudolph and now under the artistic direction of Melecio Estrella, BANDALOOP re-imagines dance, activates public spaces, and inspires wonder and imagination in audiences around the world. The company trains dancers and youth at home and on tour, and has performed for millions of people in over 300 cities in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia, on screens in films and digital media and most recently became Broadway’s first vertical choreographer in Idina Menzel’s REDWOOD.
Based in West Oakland, CA at BANDALOOP Studios, the company incubates and produces work for its local audiences and for touring performances presented around the globe. Education and outreach are an intrinsic part of the company’s mission. BANDALOOP offers regular classes, camps, and intensives for youth and adults at its home studios and in the mountains, and team building programs for executives.
