ArtBeat is one of the area’s largest and most innovative arts festivals, with over a dozen bands, dance troupes, 75 craft vendors, food, and all-age activities.

On Saturday, July 14th we shut down Davis Square for craft vendors, two stages of music, dance in the Somerville Theater, and a host of great interactive performances from 11 am to 10 pm.

This year’s ArtBeat theme is “flip”, a celebration of all things upside down, backwards and sideways. We invite artists and community members to explore how flipping things around can change your point of view. Does flipping things make them better, or worse? How does the idea of flipping things around inform a work of art or concept? “Flip” evokes many things: rapid change; inverting the status quo; changing your mind; flipping a coin; flipping houses; or turning the whole world upside down! Perhaps it’s time to flip a switch – literally or figuratively. Are there things that make you want to flip out? Does this winter make you yearn for your flip flops? Let’s flip this festival on its head. For more schedule information and performance descriptions visit: http://somervilleartscouncil.org/artbeat/2018

Somerville Arts Council — We’ll have two great outdoor dance parties at ArtBeat along with live music and dance instruction! At 1:30pm at the Elm Street Stage Gogofski will play music of the Balkans; from the complex dance rhythms of Macedonia to the heart-wrenching Sevdah song tradition of Bosnia. Gogofski will play music for easily-done dances, while their dance leader pulls the crowd out onto the street. At 6:00pm join Lady from Metamovements Latin Dance Company at the Seven Hills Stage. For half an hour before Jesus Pagan Y Su Orquesta treats us to salsa sounds straight out of Puerto Rico, MetaMovements will teach the crowd some of the basic Salsa moves. So when Jesus strikes up his band to play, get ready to be part of a giant salsa dance party!

Somerville Arts Council — Free Yoga at ArtBeat in Statue Park at 11am – Please bring your own mat!!! To kick off the FLIP ArtBeat theme, we will be doing a half hour of yoga with be. in union yoga instructor, Lilly Benham.. To her mantra is all about balance and writes….”My yoga practice and teaching is built around inclusion, awareness, compassion and empathy – for the self and all others…… I believe that we must be present in our bodies, hearts and minds in order to feel and heal – as individuals and as a society. Yoga is a wonderful place to start.” To learn more about the Be.in Yoga classes, visit: http://beinunion.com

Jesus Pagan — Performing live Saturday July 14 Jesus Pagan Y Su Orquesta – 6:30pm @ Park Stage, Seven Hills Park Behind The Somerville Theatre. www.cdbaby.com/jesuspaganorquesta

-Somerville Arts Council