Intro to Tango is a welcoming weekly class for anyone interested in exploring the beauty, connection, and artistry of Argentine Tango. Whether you're stepping onto the dance floor for the first time or looking to strengthen your fundamentals, this class offers a supportive environment to learn at your own pace. Students will develop the core principles of tango, including posture, musicality, balance, partner connection, and basic footwork, while building confidence through guided instruction and practice. No partner or previous dance experience is required just bring comfortable shoes and a willingness to learn. Tango is more than a dance; it's a conversation built on trust, presence, and movement. Join us each week and discover the joy of connecting through dance. Wednesdays | 5:30 – 7:00 PM All levels welcome • No partner required The 418 Project • 155 River St. S., Santa Cruz

Jeff Stasi returns with Baby Jam! A joyful, interactive gathering for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers. Baby Jam with Jeff Stasi Weekly on Wednesdays- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Nearly 25 years after first bringing families together through music and movement, Jeff Stasi returns with Baby Jam—a joyful, interactive gathering for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers.

The morning begins with everyone gathering in a welcoming circle before Jeff leads the group into a playful musical journey. Drawing on nearly 25 years of experience creating family-centered music and movement experiences, Jeff combines live guitar, accordion, percussion instruments, and curated recorded music creating a rich and engaging environment for children and caregivers alike. Families are invited to dance, sway, spin, play, and connect as the music unfolds organically throughout the gathering. Designed for babies through approximately 2–3 years old, Baby Jam offers a relaxed environment where little ones can move freely, listen, spin, sway, and engage at their own pace. Babies are welcome on a rug in the center of the room, while caregivers participate alongside them, creating opportunities for bonding, shared discovery, and meaningful connection. Jeff is a dancer, musician, caregiver, gardener, painter, and longtime community builder whose work has helped families connect through music and movement for decades. Participants often describe Baby Jam as a special opportunity to slow down, share joy, and deepen their connection with their children. Older siblings are welcome when appropriate, but all children must remain under the supervision of their parent or caregiver at all times. This is a family participation event and not a drop-off program. This event has historically been offered as a free community gathering, with donations welcomed at the door for Jeff and/or the venue. Come sing, dance, play, and connect in a warm community space where movement, music, and family come together.

Wednesdays 7-10pm Drop-in $10 Beginners and all levels welcome! Come join us for a fun night of Argentine Tango Practica at The 418 Project! The dance floor we enjoy in the main lobby is large enough to be divided into two areas, one designated for learning the basics & the other for sequence practice for beginners. This offering requires proof of vaccination, the use of a mask during class is optional.

We are offering two tracks for this series:

• Level 1 & 2 • Level 2 & 3 Please read the descriptions and register on our website :)

Each level is the same price ($65) and each includes: Three classes (1 hour and 15 minutes each) from 7PM to 8:15PM Three social dances from 8:15PM to 9:15PM All classes and dances are located at the 418 Project in Downtown Santa Cruz. Note: all classes are focused on Blues, East Coast Swing, or Lindy Hop, NOT West Coast Swing.

Santa Cruz Swing began in response to the growing interest and excitement the Santa Cruz community has shown for swing dancing. The teachers and those who have supported SC Swing have been swing dancing for over a decade and want to share the silly, playful, cool, and fun nature of the dance.

During our series, we host social dances from 8:00pm - 9:30pm immediately following the dance lessons at the 418 Project. Students from the lessons get into the dances for free. Dancers from the general public are welcome to join as well, for $5 during a regular DJ'd social, and $10 If we have a band.

Our Mission of Movement

To introduce and increase the use of Argentine Tango in the Santa Cruz Tango Community

Teachers with Experience

Sharon and Terry have been teaching Argentine Tango in Santa Cruz County since 2006. They stay current on technique by participating in Tango Festivals & Encuentros, not only dancing at the milongas but participating in the classes offered so they can bring back the techniques and sequences to share with the students.   In addition, they host teachers from Argentina on a regular basis to bring the real thing to the local community. 

Last Sundays 5:15pm 5 minute Sign-ups Begin 5:30pm to 8:30pm Open Mic Entry: $7-10

Mic Drop is an “All the Way Open”  Open Mic!  featuring a featured artist. 5-minute sets are available, all modalities of expression are welcome and encouraged.

Mic Drop is an "ALL the Way Open" Community Open Mic that meets once per month, every Last Sunday 5:30pm-8:30pm. with a 5 min sign up list. Our intention is to come together to provide a safe space for unseen, unheard groups allowing them to realize they are valuable, worthy of being heard, seen, & have great potential. For the last 3 years we've hosted a diverse hip hop crowd as well as acoustic guitar players, pianists, singers, poets and spoken word artists, occasional dancers, comedians, & theater performances.  We have an on going partnership with The 418 Project in Santa Cruz as our home, our shared goal is to provide people from all walks of life & all creative levels a safe space to express themselves and share their life experiences and talents, in a beautiful professional space. 

    Additionally as open mic veterans (all of our organizers have lead Art and Music Events in the community), we know the value and magic of how being received and reflected by a community, and feeling welcomed is, as well as encouraged and supported can change a life. In addition to booking and acquiring submission packets from our planned featured artists every month and preparing to launch the event, we utilize an active weekly presence on our Instagram & Facebook pages, as well as sharing our live streams  on our Youtube Channel. Every month we share about our features, as well as creating a unique expressive social media presence.  We additionally share events, videos, & photography from the arts community at large in Santa Cruz on our Instagram. 

We have always found ways to bring the community together every month, this is very much a labor of love.  The community shows us how invaluable this space is for all of us to share our expressions consistently.

We’re opening our doors and inviting artists, performers, and media makers to join us at The 418 Project on every First Friday of the Month for 2026 at 5 - 9 PM. Visual artists can table in our lobby and share their work with the community. Performers and media artists can take the stage in our small theater for live performance, short films, video art, and more. This is about connection. Collaboration. Showing up for each other’s creativity. Interested?

Check back in before the show for links to signups for next month!

Tuesday Sober Karaoke at The 418 Project

1st & 3rd Tuesdays 7-9pm By Donation

Step into the spotlight-- or just cheer from the audience-- at Tuesday Karaoke! Whether you're a seasoned performer or someone who's never held a mic, you'll find a warm, welcoming group ready to cheer you on as you belt your favorite tune. Come as you are and sing your heart out in a judgement-free and sober environment designed to support creative expression and connection. Bring a friend or come solo. It's a perfect space for letting go of the day's stress with some silliness, giving voice to your emotions, overcoming stage fright, building confidence, and laughing a lot along the way! All voices welcome.

Show up & get on our WhatsApp group for weekly themes- but you're always welcome to sing what's in your heart.

For more info, email programming@the418project.org

Hosted by Yuki and Aaron

A Practilonga is a place to dance Tango as if you were in a regular milonga, following the same rules and etiquette of a traditional milonga, but also open to experimentation, asking questions, and a less formal dress code.

Whether you're attending your very first tango event or you've been dancing for years, dancers of all experience levels are warmly welcome. Come to dance, practice, connect with the community, and enjoy an evening of traditional Argentine tango.

Tango Class 7PM-8PM

Dancing 8PM-11PM

Traditional tango music by DJ Yuki.

Cash donations welcomed at the door.

The 418 Project complies with all local health regulations.

Friday, November 6th – 8:00 PM – SMALL THEATER

DNA Presents Comedy on First Fridays: An Evening with Master Crowd Work Comics Kaseem Bentley and Joe Klocek

Join comedian DNA for new comedians every month.

DNA is a comedian, journalist, producer and filmmaker. His first album, *Dark Horse*, arrived last year from Punchline Records and is available on all the doodads. 

Doors at 7:30 PM.  Show at 8:00 PM.

Ticket Price:  $20 advance / $25 at the door.