Arts and Entertainment

Soles of Duende performance makes space for cross-cultural conversation Nov. 5

Artist engagement of ‘Can We Dance Here?’ includes post-performance discussion, free related community Joyfull event

“Can We Dance Here?” features three choreographers of tap, flamenco, and Kathak dance forms as they engage in percussive conversation, with accompanying musicians. Credit: Daryl Padilla. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.—Dance artists from three distinct cultural backgrounds will share the stage for a stylistic discourse without saying a word. Soles of Duende will perform “Can We Dance Here?” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

Soles of Duende features the percussive sounds of tap (Amanda Castro), Spanish flamenco (Arielle Rosales), and Kathak Indian classical dance (Brinda Guha) in a rhythmic example of how visual performing arts can speak volumes without saying a word. After the performance, the artists will speak with interested audience members. “Can We Dance Here?” features the three choreographers as they engage in percussive conversation. The multi-national women celebrate their own cultures as they lift each other’s up in a rhythmic percussive discourse.

The ensemble is praised for its joyful cross-cultural conversations that celebrate the artists’ differences while highlighting their shared rhythmic connections. Critics laud the trio’s technical mastery, vibrant stage presence, and seamless way they weave dance traditions into a “conversation” rather than fusing them.

Call 814-863-0255 or visit Soles of Duende online to purchase tickets and for more information about a free related Joyfull event.

The Joyfull

The Joyfull: Soles of Duende Edition will be from 6–8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, in Alumni Hall of the HUB-Robeson Center.

Enjoy a free event that celebrates the culture of visiting and local artists alongside a filling meal and mental nourishment. Free sustainable utensil sets will be given to first-time attendees. The Joyfull is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Visit The Joyfull online for more information and to register.

The Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, a unit of the College of Arts and Architecture, aspires to create connected, sustainable, and equitable communities, where everyone experiences joy, belonging and creativity.

Support for programming is provided by Debra Lee Latta and Dr. Stanley E. Latta Endowment. Accessibility services are supported by the Sidney and Helen S. Friedman Endowment, and a grant from the University Park Fee Board makes Penn State student prices possible. Support for The Joyfull is provided by Dick Brown and Sandy Zaremba.

For more information about the season, visit the Center for the Performing Arts online, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Last Updated October 9, 2025

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