Olga Loya is a nationally recognized performer, award- winning author, teacher, and keynote speaker. She performs a large repertoire of family and personal stories with the goal of exploring the struggles and complexity of being bicultural—a Mexican American in the United States. She uses a dramatic mix of Spanish and English to share traditional tales from Latin America. Olga also tells stories from around the world: Africa, India, Asia, the Antilles and Europe. She uses a variety of performance styles, including improvisation, movement and dance, song and instruments. Olga performs for the Los Angeles Music Center on Tour as well as the Santa Cruz Cultural Center.

In Let’s Be Kind, listen to folk tales from Venezuela and Mexico, an original story and a personal story that show the power of kindness and learning about ourselves in new ways. These stories work for all ages. There is singing, dancing and participation in three of the stories.

Stories from Latin America celebrates the magic of los cuentos (stories) with folk tales about self-image and learning our own strength, personal stories about discovering one’s own culture and myths from long ago that help us understand the present. Learn about Latino culture as you learn about yourself. (Grades K-12)

Let’s Work Together explores the power of community, people working together and peace stories. Listen to folk tales, myths, legends and personal stories from around the world—emphasizing Latin American stories.

In Singing and Dancing through Stories, celebrate with dance and song as you hear folk tales, personal stories and myths from Latin America, where culture is passed on through personal stories about family and life, stories about community, stories about taking responsibility and stories about building character. (Grades K-12)

History Alive tells the story of Juana Briones, a Californio who lived from 1802 to 1889. In a dramatic, historically accurate monologue, Olga uses her storytelling skills to bring Juana Briones to life, answering questions as the woman and then as a Californio scholar. A special 30- minute show is available for primary students. 

Olga Loya offers a variety of storytelling workshops— Spanish, English or bilingual—that highlight culture, adult and student literacy, storytelling basics and storytelling through games.