PALMDALE, CA — The City of Palmdale will celebrate the completion of Sam Yellen Park Phase II expansion with a series of community workshops and creative activities led by CONTRA-TIEMPO, a Los Angeles-based activist dance theater company, culminating in the powerful, participatory performance, joyUS justUS, at the park’s newly developed gathering plaza.

As part of this multiday celebration, CONTRA-TIEMPO will host free Ancestral Technology Workshops at the Yellen Community Building on Tuesday, March 24, and Thursday, March 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. These interactive sessions welcome residents to share their voices, stories, hopes and ideas that will help shape the joyUS justUS performance.

Community members are also invited to participate in three craft sessions at the Yellen Community Building on Monday, March 23, Wednesday, March 25 and Friday, March 27 from 3-7 p.m. Participants will create festive items that will be used by the audience during the performance, reinforcing the show’s emphasis on collective joy and participation.

The celebration culminates on Saturday, March 28, with a free live performance of joyUS justUS and a Sabor session at the gathering plaza from 4 to 6 p.m. joyUS justUS is an experience that takes on joy through audience participation, combining Salsa, Afro-Cuban, hip-hop and contemporary dance with theater and original music. Following the performance, artists will introduce the history, teach basic dance steps and lead a conversation about the experience.

“This performance is exactly the kind of activation that our new gathering plaza was designed for,” said Mayor Eric Ohlsen. “CONTRA-TIEMPO’s work embodies everything we envisioned when our City invested $18.5 million to expand Sam Yellen Park. Their commitment to community engagement and storytelling through dance mirrors our own dedication to creating spaces where every voice matters. We’re not just celebrating a beautiful new public space, we’re affirming that art, culture and community connection are essential to the foundation of our City.”

The gathering plaza opened Nov. 4, 2025, as part of the Sam Yellen Park Phase II expansion. The transformation doubled the park’s footprint to 24.5 acres and includes a 1,888-square-foot community room, seven futsal courts, fitness stations, an expanded playground and the new plaza designed for community events and gatherings.

“Bringing diverse cultural programming like this to our community demonstrates our commitment to providing residents with access to exceptional art experiences right in their own City,” said Mayor Pro Tem Austin Bishop. “We’re excited to see our residents enjoy this space.”

Space at the Ancestral Technology Workshops is limited, so registration is recommended, although walk-ins will be admitted based on availability. Registration is not required for the craft workshops and the performance.

For more information and to register, visitwww.CityOfPalmdaleCA.gov/PublicArt or call 661/267-5611.