World Festival of Sacred Music — The Americas

Following is this week’s schedule for the festival, which runs Oct. 9-17. See feature stories. Hot line, (310) 208-2784; www.wfsm.org/americas.

SAT., OCT. 9

TO ALL RELATIONS ‘99 Rise early and celebrate the sacred all day at this soul-enhancing event, which offers workshops in yoga, tai chi, taiko drumming and more, as well as music. Spiritual elders on hand include Wallace Black Elkof the Lakota Nation, Geshe Gyeltsen Rinpoche of Thubten Dahargye, the Rev. Masao Kodani of Senshin Buddhist Temple and Krishna Kaur of Sikh Dharma. The closing "Sacred Music Circle" concert features Nobuko Miyamoto; Sundance Drummers and Singers; Nedra Wheeler; Tibetan musician Sangay Bum; and Haqqika Linda Bridges leading the Healing Dance. Presented by the Great Leap performance group at SENSHIN BUDDHIST TEMPLE, 1311 W. 37th St.; 5 a.m.-10 p.m. (323) 655-TKTS (8587).

FESTIVAL OF MUSIC 2000After a sunrise blessing by Vera Rocha, spiritual leader and chief of the Shoshone Gabrielino Nation, and a pre-Columbian service by Cuauhtemoc Azteca Dance, the park becomes sacred ground as the day unfolds with Alaadun International African and New African Ballet Company; a midday reprise of Cuauhtemoc Azteca Dance; Mexica ceremonial warrior dances; ritual music and dance from Bahia with the Folclorico do Brasil; a Jazz Mentorship Program of sacred jazz by the L.A. Multischool Jazz Band; JMP master Bobby Rodriguez; and a final sunset performance by Cuauhtemoc Azteca Dance. BARNSDALL ART PARK, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; sunrise-sunset; free. (213) 473-4269 or (323) 655-TKTS (8587).

A DAY OF DRUMMINGwith Francis Awe, Allesandra Belloni, Francisco Aguabella Japanese, African, Italian, Asian, and Yoruba drumming, along with drum-making and drum-playing workshops, women’s drum circle, Japanese taiko and Afro-Cuban rhythms. A giant bonfire and jam session with all the performers at day’s end. MacARTHUR PARK, 1321 East Anaheim St., Long Beach; 9 a.m.-mid.; free. (323) 655-TKTS (8587).

MANDALA SAND PAINTING: The Architecture of Enlightenmentwith The Monks of the Drepung Loseling MonasteryA blessing of the festival with Tibetan monks, who will lay millions of grains of colored sand to create a sand mandala over five days. Geshe Lobsang Tenzin, director of the Loseling Institute, lectures on the symbolism of the sand mandala. UCLA HAMMER MUSEUM OF ART, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Wstwd.; Sat.-Wed., Oct. 9-13, 11 a.m.; lecture 4 p.m daily; free. (310) 443-7000.

JOHN LENNON "IMAGINE" BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONThe Los Angeles Alliance for Survival’s ninth annual gathering. JOHN LENNON’S STAR ON THE WALK OF FAME, 1750 North Vine St., Hlywd.; noon; free. (310) 399-1000.

LOS ANGELES LATVIAN CHOIRwith Armenian Women’s ChorusChoral music ranging from sacred cantatas and folk songs to classical Western melodies. The Armenian Women’s Chorus performs medieval hymns, anthems and spiritual folk songs dating from the fifth to the 13th centuries. LATVIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1927 Riverside Dr.; 1 p.m. (323) 655-TKTS (8587).

ENTER THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAINwith John Densmoreand friends; Tribal Jazz; the Andean group Mashicunas, with sacred earth artists Vijali and Edie Hartshorne; Miguel Rivera, indigenous chants and drums; Craig Kohland & Chris Pellani leading rhythmic offerings; Charles Bernstein, a selection from Mass; Shiva Rea, Georgianne Cowan and Stephanie Franz "connecting with the earth body through movement"; and sacred chanting with Lisa Rafel; 2-6 p.m.; $5; carpooling necessary, parking limited. For reservations and directions to Malibu site, call (310) 456-8300.

PERCUSSION ARTISTS WORKSHOPDrumming and dancing by the Afro-Cuban ensemble. JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM, 369 E. First St., dwntwn.; 2 p.m. (213) 625-0414.

SONGS OF A NEW DAWNThe Renaissance Artist and Writers Association of Ananda Marga brings together musicians to perform the inspirational compositions of P.R. Sarkar, 20th-century Indian philosopher, writer and composer. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 4963 Balboa Blvd., Encino; 7 p.m.; free. (323) 655-TKTS (8587).

SACRED MUSIC OF THE LABOR MOVEMENTHymns and gospel songs, as well as songs from Central and South America. UNITED UNIVERSITY CHURCH, corner of Hoover & Jefferson sts., USC; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 655-TKTS (8587).

RAHUL SAKYAPUTRA, ALCHEMY HANDBELL ENSEMBLE Sitarist Sakyaputra is joined by tabla player Ramesh Kumar. ST. JAMES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 19414 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 655-TKTS (8587).

THE TRIUMPHANT SPIRIT, FOUNDER’S CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIRFounder’s Church music director Dr. Albert McNeil leads the ethnically diverse 58-member Cathedral Choir in gospel and classic African American spirituals. SEPULVEDA UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY, THE ONION, 9550 Haskell Ave., North Hills; 8 p.m. (323) 655-TKTS (8587)

SHAHRAM NAZERI & THE DASTAN ENSEMBLESufi songs. JAPAN AMERICA THEATER, 244 S. San Pedro St., dwntwn; 8 p.m. (213) 680-3700 or (310) 470-5177. See Picks of the Week.

ANCIENT STRINGS OF PEACE: Prince Diabaté, WozaniFrom Guinea, West Africa, Prince Diabaté plays the kora, accompanied by singer Amara Sanoh, whose warm, husky voice resonates with echoes of the blues. Also, acoustic world-beat music from Wozani. WILSHIRE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 4350 Wilshire Blvd.; 8 p.m. (818) 508-4377 or (323) 655-TKTS (8587). See Picks of the Week.

BHAKTI: An Evening of Devotional Music and Sacred Poetry With Kirby Shelstad and Suzanne SterlingYOGA WORKS, 2215 Main St., Santa Monica; 8 p.m.; $12. (310) 393-5150.

SACRED MUSIC AND DANCE OF CAMBODIA AND BALIwith Gamelan Sekar Jaya, Danse CelesteSCHOENBERG HALL, UCLA, Wstwd.; 8 p.m. (310) 825-2101/

ZEN DANCING, SHAMAN’S DREAM WORLD MUSIC ENSEMBLEEverybody joins Craig Kohland and Micheline Berry in "urban temple dancing to awaken the healing body-prayer within." MAHA YOGA, 13050 San Vicente Blvd., Second floor, Brntwd.; 8:30 p.m. (310) 281-7738.