Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Wharf: Salsa by the Sea

Santa Cruz Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Salsa By The Sea is a free, weekly outdoor salsa dancing event held  by the wharf on Beach Street, directly in front of the Santa Cruz Beach Volleyball Courts. The event runs all year long (except when it rains). Some weekends are Bachata by the Sea, with more bachata music played than salsa.

Santa Cruz Wharf: Salsa by the Sea

Santa Cruz Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Salsa By The Sea is a free, weekly outdoor salsa dancing event held  by the wharf on Beach Street, directly in front of the Santa Cruz Beach Volleyball Courts. The event runs all year long (except when it rains). Some weekends are Bachata by the Sea, with more bachata music played than salsa.

World Arts Festival 2024

Tannery Arts Center 1070 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Celebrate the diversity and richness of our community at this year's World Arts Festival! On Sunday June 23rd from 1-5PM, Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center offers free family-friendly performances outdoors at the Tannery Arts Center. The festival includes dance and music performances by new and beloved Santa Cruz and Bay Area artists, including White Hawk Indian Council, Antara Asthaayi Dance, Raizes do Brasil Capoeira, Senderos, and more. Artisans and vendors will be selling traditional crafts and wares, with food and beverages from Areparia831 and My Mom’s Mole.

Free

Brookdale Lodge: FAE Masquerade Ball

Brookdale Lodge 11570 Hwy 9, Brookdale, CA, United States

Enjoy a magical evening at the enchanting Brookdale Lodge. Put on your most whimsical mask and dance the night away with fellow fae creatures.   Get ready for a night filled with mystery, music, and merriment. Don’t miss out on this fantastical experience!

$35

Ben Lomond: Boomeria Lives On

Saint Andrew’s Ben Lomond 101 Riverside Avenue, Ben Lomond, CA, United States

Experience early music, swords, and Irish dancers like it was 300 years ago. Listen to pipe organ, brass players, crumhorn, viola, violin. Delight in watching historical sword play and Irish dancers while enjoying gourmet bites, wine, and other beverages. Organists Extraordinaire, Santa Cruz Brass Quintet, Bonny Doon Baroque, Wings of Fire Irish Dancers, and others will perform for you and yours.

$59

Santa Cruz Wharf: Swing Dancing

Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Whether you dance East Coast, West Coast, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Jitterbug, Balboa, Collegiate Shag or Blues you will find music, friends, and food while you improve your dancing digs! All levels, and various styles plus a social dance with great ambiance are welcome! Go Join the fun on the Second Saturday evening of each month at the Santa Cruz Wharf stage (weather permitting)!

Santa Cruz Wharf: Swing Dancing

Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Whether you dance East Coast, West Coast, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Jitterbug, Balboa, Collegiate Shag or Blues you will find music, friends, and food while you improve your dancing digs! All levels, and various styles plus a social dance with great ambiance are welcome! Go Join the fun on the Second Saturday evening of each month at the Santa Cruz Wharf stage (weather permitting)!

Henry J. Mello Center: Mexican American Celebration

Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts 250 East Beach Street, Watsonville, CA, United States

“Rostros de Mexico” (Faces of Mexico) will take you through a historical, dance and musical tour of different regions to show the diverse cultural faces of Mexico.  You will see dances of the Revolution of the state of Chihuahua, continue with the sounds of tarima from Guerrero, enjoy the huapangos de San Luis Potosí and travel to Tabasco to admire the agile footwork. Your journey takes you to the colorful municipality of Boca del Río, Veracruz with its cheerful boqueño jarocho sounds and ends with a fiesta in the Port City of Veracruz with a traditional carnival.  August 17th 8-9PM & August 18th 3-4PM 

$25

Santa Cruz Wharf: Swing Dancing

Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Whether you dance East Coast, West Coast, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Jitterbug, Balboa, Collegiate Shag or Blues you will find music, friends, and food while you improve your dancing digs! All levels, and various styles plus a social dance with great ambiance are welcome! Go Join the fun on the Second Saturday evening of each month at the Santa Cruz Wharf stage (weather permitting)!

Catalyst: Broadway Dance Party

The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Calling all Musical Theatre nerds, drama geeks, actors, actresses, theatre lovers, and more! Head to the Catalyst for a Broadway Rave, a Broadway Dance Party celebrating the best in showtunes and musical theatre. Sing along to all your favorite Broadway hits while dressed up as your favorite character. There will be surprise guests from some of your favorite Broadway stars! Live out your Broadway fantasies at Broadway Rave — the most POPULAR Broadway Dance party around. 

$23.48 – $26.72

Event Series Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Colligan Theater 1010 River Street, Santa Cruz

Join us for an adventure into your imagination! On a perfect summer day in the park, Alice sees a White Rabbit hurrying by. Curious to know where he is going, Alice follows him into the dark tunnel, thus beginning her adventure. After the Doorknob counsels Alice to drink from a bottle then eat a cookie, Alice shrinks, thus allowing her to fit through a keyhole, beginning her adventures with the Wonderland creatures. The White Rabbit leads Alice into twin jabbering clowns, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, who teach her some manners. Then, she plays a wild game of musical chairs at the Mad Hatter's tea party. Following the advice of the Cheshire Cat, she ends up at the Mad Hatter's tea part along with the evil Queen of Hearts. Waking up, Alice realizes the entire story has been a dream!

$18 – $28

Santa Cruz Wharf: Swing Dancing

Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Whether you dance East Coast, West Coast, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Jitterbug, Balboa, Collegiate Shag or Blues you will find music, friends, and food while you improve your dancing digs! All levels, and various styles plus a social dance with great ambiance are welcome! Go Join the fun on the Second Saturday evening of each month at the Santa Cruz Wharf stage (weather permitting)!

Event Series Disney’s The Little Mermaid

Disney’s The Little Mermaid

Colligan Theater 1010 River Street, Santa Cruz

Featuring a Live Orchestra! Join us under the sea with this classic tale of love and adventure. Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. Directed by Miakela Reed, musically directed by Ruby Cook Fernandes and choreographed by Whitney James-Heskett, this show will have you singing and dancing all the way home. Don't miss out - buy your tickets now for this family friendly spectacular.

$20 – $30
Event Series Disney’s The Little Mermaid

Disney’s The Little Mermaid

Colligan Theater 1010 River Street, Santa Cruz

Featuring a Live Orchestra! Join us under the sea with this classic tale of love and adventure. Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. Directed by Miakela Reed, musically directed by Ruby Cook Fernandes and choreographed by Whitney James-Heskett, this show will have you singing and dancing all the way home. Don't miss out - buy your tickets now for this family friendly spectacular.

$20 – $30

Roaring Camp: Holiday Barn Dance

Roaring Camp 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton, CA, United States

Have you ever wanted to go to one of Travel and Leisure’s top rated mountain towns, and experience the camaraderie of line dancing, but just could not figure out how to learn the moves?  Boy, do we have a suggestion for you!  Head to Bret Harte Opera Hall at Roaring Camp, and instructors will lead you in a variety of line dances to a multitude of hit songs.  Light refreshments will be included with your ticket, including hot cider and apple pie.  Alcoholic beverages will be available to purchase from Hallcrest Vineyards, and Woodhouse Brewing. 

$16