WASHINGTON – Next week might be all about celebrating family and friends while remembering our country’s history, but this weekend is all about experiencing international flavor. Check out some Spanish theater, Japanese drums and Uzbek teahouses.
Friday and Saturday, Arlington’s Teatro de la Luna presents “Luisa Fernanda” at the Gunston Arts Center. Set during Spain’s Glorious Revolution and told in the zarzuela tradition — alternating between spoken dialogue and singing in Spanish — “Luisa Fernanda” is the story of a woman caught between a skirt-chasing army officer and an older, wiser landowner. Which one will she choose? Find out Friday at 8 p.m. or Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 to $35 and can be bought online or by calling 703-548-3092.
The National Museum of the American Indian is celebrating Chile with an arts market, traditional entertainment, indigenous cuisine and wine tasting. The daily festivities last through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Don’t miss the mini-seminars with Chilean educators about the country’s roots and future. Check out the full list of events here and call 202-633-1000 for more information.
Get a taste of Asia Saturday at the Silk Road Dance Festival, which celebrates the rich diversity of dance traditions along the trade routes between Asia and the Mediterranean. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier, Md. and features a bazaar, Uzbek-style teahouse, fashion show and workshops. Indian and Chinese guest artists will team up with the Silk Road Dance Company for an evening performance at 8 p.m.
On Sunday, the Japanese taiko drummers of Yamato take over George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium. The 17-member company plays on massive wadaiko drums made from animal skin and ancient trees, some said to be more than 400 years old. Tickets are $15 to $25 for students and alumni, and $25 to $45 for regular admission. Purchase through Ticketmaster or call 202-397-7328.
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