Mondays 6pm–7:30pm Drop-in $20 - $30 Beginners and all levels welcome! Dandha’s Afro-Brazilian Dance is an invitation to explore the rich world of Afro-Brazilian Dance traditions with a gifted and dedicated teacher. Her classes focus on folkloric and Orixa-inspired dance, Samba-Afro, samba reggae, and other Brazilian dance styles and feature live drumming. Everyone will find challenge and inspiration in her dancing and teaching. All levels and all backgrounds are welcome.   We are centering around equity and discovering what this looks and feels like. We are humbly striving to create an antiracist space to move freely and to embody diversity, equity, and inclusion as an intentional community of movers and shakers. We don't know exactly what this will look like however we are open to ideas and would love feedback. If you have suggestions, please submit them in writing to one of the facilitators or the suggestion box.

Tuesday 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

Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is a class for people with Parkinson’s Disease and their caretakers. The class is based on the innovative and internationally renowned Dance for PD® program designed by the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group. Trained Dance for Parkinson’s teachers use prompts and multiple dance styles to inspire movement, creative expression, and community. Dancers may sit in a chair, use a barre, or stand. Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is open and free to the public. Classes are appropriate for anyone with Parkinson’s, no matter how advanced. Movement modifications will be made available and there is no dance experience required. Dance for Parkinson’s is offered every Wednesday from 1:00pm to 2:15pm, with the exception of the first Wednesday of the month, during which class is not held. Classes are offered in a hybrid format. This means that you can join us on Zoom or in-person, in the Lobby at The 418 Project.

Melissa Wiley started dancing at the age of four and is classically trained in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop and contemporary dance. She competed for several years with Dance Magic Studio, based in Lancaster, CA. She began teaching at her studio through the competition team assistant's program and has been teaching tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop consistently for over 10 years. She loves working and interacting with students of all ages. Currently, she is also working with Cid Pearlman Performance Projects and has been a guest choreographer for Cabrillo College dance concerts.Melissa is also experienced in burlesque dancing, which has taken her to Portugal, Las Vegas and other venues throughout the bay area. She occasionally teaches burlesque workshops for adults and is always excited to perform and become involved with new challenges and projects.

Wednesdays 7-10pm Drop-in $8 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.

In this class, movers will wake up the senses through somatic and improvisational practices. Full bodied warm ups will use both standing combinations and floor work with an emphasis on alignment, breath, strength, and efficient movement. This class will also include across the floor combinations and accumulative phrase work. Throughout, dancers will use the expressive and creative body as a medium to practice internal and anatomical awareness. Some Dance Experience Required

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.