Beyond the Blue Wall: Esteban Ramón Pérez

Beyond the Blue Wall: Tori Danner

Tori Danner (Theater MFA 19) was born in Benin City, Nigeria and raised in Kuwait. She received a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Mass Communications and Media from the American University of Kuwait. Her dream from an early age, however, was to become an actress, so she decided to pursue an MFA in Acting at CalArts. Shortly after graduating, Tori booked a recurring role on the hit CBS comedy series, Bob Hearts Abishola.

The Beyond the Blue Wall Season 3 theme music (the intro“Lima” and the outro “Salta”) was created and performed by 2018 graduate, Nicolas Savignano. You can learn more about Nico by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.

Beyond the Blue Wall: Kataneh Vahdani

Kataneh Vahdani (BFA Character Animation 05; MFA Experimental Animation 08) grew up in Iran. She is a director, animation creator, story artist, and educator, and came to the US with her mother and brother when she was a teenager, beginning her journey at CalArts when she was just 16 years old.

You can learn more about Kataneh on her website.

Please note this episode contains a discussion about suicide. Please listen with care.
If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.

The Beyond the Blue Wall Season 3 theme music (the intro“Lima” and the outro “Salta”) was created and performed by 2018 graduate, Nicolas Savignano. You can learn more about Nico by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.

Beyond the Blue Wall: World Music Festival

Launched in 1978, The World Music Festival has its roots in CalArts’ World Music program in the Herb Alpert School of Music. As we prepare for the The 2024 World Music Festival in April, we are joined by the co-directors of the World Music Program specialization, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole and Andrew Grueschow, who talk about the history of the World Music Festival, how it has evolved, and what we can expect for 2024.

• Watch to learn more about the 2024 World Music Festival, April 26 - 28.

The intro music used in this episode is titled “Bamaya”
The outro music used in this episode is titled "Jera”

These live performances were recorded in Accra, Ghana. Produced by retired CalArts faculty, Kobla Ladzekpo, under his record label Zadonu Records (copyright 2001) Co-produced by Andrew Grueschow.

"Bamaya" is danced by men dressed as women. This tradition began as a way to please the gods so they would bring rain.

"Jera" is music that is sometimes performed at large funerals. The dance that accompanies it is not very common.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.

Beyond the Blue Wall: Jinal Sangoi

Jinal Sangoi (Art MFA 18) is an artist and educator, currently living in Mumbai, who weaves art, design, pedagogy, and community through her participatory and collaborative practice, designing creative methodologies for experiential learning with a particular interest in the ideas of care, home, nature, gender, and resistance.

While at CalArts, Jinal was the recipient of the Tim Disney Prize for the Storytelling Arts, among other awards and scholarships. After receiving her MFA, Jinal participated in a program for recent CalArts graduate students known as the REEF Residency, where she received a stipend and free studio space for one year in downtown Los Angeles.

• Learn more about Jinal Sangoi and her art practice
• Learn more about the REEF Residency program

The Beyond the Blue Wall Season 3 theme music (the intro“Lima” and the outro “Salta”) was created and performed by 2018 graduate, Nicolas Savignano. You can learn more about Nico by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.

Beyond the Blue Wall: Esteban Ramón Pérez

Esteban Ramón Pérez (Art BFA 17) taps into his experience as a professional upholsterer, often working with leather to produce works that intertwine the cultural and artistic sensibilities of his Chicano heritage with issues he identifies as rooted in postcolonial history. Esteban’s work embodies facets of art histories, popular icons, subjectivity, spirituality, and social issues.

Esteban’s work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the United States and around the world. In 2023, his work was featured as part of Made in L.A., the Hammer Museum’s biennial exhibition highlighting the practices of artists working throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

To learn more about Esteban’s practice, visit his website.

Beyond the Blue Wall’s Season 3 intro music, “Lima,” was created and performed by Nicolas Savignano (Film/Video MFA 18). You can learn more about Nico and his work by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.