RARA is a non-profit bi-national event (San Diego/Tijuana), showcasing performances by emerging and established artists in the community.
Performance artists, dancers, movement researchers, actors and musicians , drag queens and kings
can come experiment and present short new work in progress to an audience outside of institutionalized venues.
Our mission is to strengthen and encourage trans-border relationships between performing artists in both cities ( and more cities to come), provide a space for performance invention and reinvention outside of institutionalized venues, and access for the general public to experience art and performance completely free.
RARA alternates between cities each season activating a different space (gallery, theater, venue) dedicated to the arts and performance.
Season 1 was at Space 4 Art in the East Village in downtown San Diego CA.
Season 2 was in La Caja Fuerte en Avenida Revolucion in downtown Tijuana MX.
Three nights each season, five weeks in between each night with 7-9 performances taking stage for an evening-length event unique to the neighborhood and art community.
RARA was conceived by Viktor De La Fuente and Auhbre Yruretagoyena. After participating in a dance showcase NACHMO ( National Choreography Month) hosted by San Diego State University, Viktor and Auhbre found it crucial to continue making works but realized there weren’t spaces outside the universities that promised an audience. Self-producing the event initially named La Rara Noche, along with a great team of artists and collaborators ( Justin Morrison, May-Ling Martinez, Israel Josafat and Choop) Viktor and Auhbre not only showcased their new works inside Viktor’s own art studio but also offered space for other artists to share the evening with them and perform new works in progress.
By the end of season 1, a total of 16 performances were supported by the event 8 of which were by Tijuana-based artists crossing the border the day of the event to perform at S4A.
Viktor and Justin continued to produce Season 2 in Tijuana with a grant given by Rising Arts Leaders of San Diego. RARA Season 2 was a tremendous success supporting 17 performances mostly all by Tijuana based artists.
RARA is currently on pause for the duration of COVID-19 pandemic but hopes one we can gather again in weirdness and performance and continue the work of supporting artists in San Diego and across the border.
