Move, groove and play at FREE participatory music and dance events in Hollywood, East L.A., Willowbrook, San Fernando, Whittier and Santa Clarita

LOS ANGELES - For three weeks starting July 16, folks can channel their inner artist for free six nights a week at locations throughout L.A. County. Monday, July 16 you can play klezmer music at Ford Theatres in Hollywood with professional musicians selected by the L.A. Jewish Symphony. Tuesday, July 17, get in a fiesta mood with Mexican folkloric dance led by Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet at Amelia Mayberry Park in Whittier. On Wednesday, July 18 the beat of West African dancing and drumming of Balandugu Kan beckons at Martin Luther King Jr. Multi- Service Ambulatory Care Center (MLK MACC) in Willowbrook. Thursday, July 19, learn to salsa with CONTRA- TIEMPO in Old Town Newhall Arts District in Santa Clarita. Experience the joy of joining in a drum circle directed by Chris Ramirez at East LA Civic Center on Friday, July 20. Cap the week with Brazilian samba as taught by Viver Brasil at Recreation Park in San Fernando.

The moveable feast of outdoor fun continues into August and September. For a complete schedule go to www.FordJamSessions.org or call the Ford Box Office at 323 461-3673.

J.A.M. (Jazzed and Motivated) Sessions are designed for everyone, from the completely inexperienced to the amateur and professional. All sessions are free.

The J.A.M.s, presented by the Ford Theatre Foundation, have been a draw at Ford Theatres in Hollywood since 2008 and this summer expanded to five additional hubs in L.A. County. Support for the expanded schedule of J.A.M. Sessions has been provided by the Metabolic Studio, a project of the Annenberg Foundation, through a $150,000 grant to the Ford Theatre Foundation. The 16-event J.A.M. series at the Ford continues to be supported by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation.

The Ford Theatre Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1994, supports performing arts programming at the historic John Anson Ford Theatres complex. Foundation programming, including the Community Bridges program, J.A.M. sessions and the Big!World!Fun! family series, addresses both the rich diversity of the performing arts within Los Angeles and maintains the Ford as a site for communities to gather for affirmative cultural experiences.

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Laura Zucker, Executive Director, provides leadership in cultural services of all disciplines for the largest county in the United States, encompassing 88 municipalities. The Arts Commission provides leadership and staffing to support the County-wide collaboration for arts education, Arts for All; administers a grants program that funds 350 nonprofit arts organizations annually; oversees the County's Civic Art Program for capital projects; funds the largest arts internship program in the country in conjunction with the Getty Foundation; programs the John Anson Ford Theatres and supports the Los Angeles County Cultural Calendar on ExperienceLA.com and SpacefinderLA.org, Creative Spaces for Creative People. The Arts Commission also produces free community programs, including the L.A. County Holiday Celebration broadcast nationally, and a year-round music program that funds more than 120 free concerts and participatory arts events each year in public sites. The 2012-13 President of the Arts Commission is Mattie McFadden-Lawson.

For more information please consult the Arts Commission online press kit: http://lacountyarts. org/page/pubnewspress.