Upcoming Events

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.

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.

Connect with the rich traditions of Central Africa in this Congolese dance class led by instructor Vivien. Accompanied by the grounding energy of live drumming, this class is open to all movement levels from absolute beginners to experienced dancers. Vivien will guide you through traditional footwork and polyrhythms that celebrate community, history, and rhythm. Presented as a Co-Production with The 418 Project, this partnership brings dynamic cultural arts programming directly to the local community. Hosted in our safe and welcoming space, it’s a great opportunity to move your body, de-stress, and connect with others. Grab your water bottle and join us on the dance floor!

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!

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

Local comedy legend DNA returns to The 418 with a 90-minute show featuring two top-tier San Francisco comics: Kaseem Bentley and Joe Klocek will each perform individually before teaming up for a spectacular, interactive conclusion, with opening act and host Paulie Escobedo. And keep an eye out for monthly Comedy Nights Presented by DNA on First Fridays at the 418 -- this is just the first of many!

Many people who watch comedy on their phones, or reels in their spare time, often see comics doing "crowd work." It's become a necessary part of stand-up comedy because content is king on the internet. But what about the original crowd work comics—the ones who were the best of the best? Tonight you will meet two of those original masters.

Be aware: this show is fluid; nothing is predetermined. These comics are more like magicians, taking the personalities of strangers and building a sense of community. This show is about feeling good about ourselves, laughing with each other and finding common humanity.

And, please, no heckling.

Bios:

Kaseem Bentley's no-holds-barred style commands your attention with his brilliance, wit and compassion. Currently, he doesn't have an agent, manager, or a million Twitter followers, but keep an eye on Kaseem, he's a star. Kaseem has appeared on *Viceland, NBC SeeSo, KQED, and Rooftop Comedy, and was named one of SF Weekly's Comics To Watch.

Joe Klocek is a square peg in a round hole sort of guy. He was raised a Midwesterner, so he has manners, but having lived in SF for 20 years, he thinks he’s better than you. Joe excels at two things: telling stories & talking to the crowd. A favorite headliner at the SF Punch Line and throughout the Bay Area.

and your host / opening act:

Paulie Escobedo has been giving cardiac care to the Santa Cruz comedy scene since 2023. He currently runs multiple rooms including the longest running free weekly comedy show in California: The Blue Lagoonies at The Blue Lagoon on Tuesdays at 7:45pm as well as shows around the county.

Paulie is a single dad working his way through the dating world by hanging out in dive bars every night.

IG @pauliejohn408 @bluelagoonies

Doors at 7:30 PM. Show at 8:00 PM.

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

Sat. November 7th – 7:30 PM – LARGE THEATER

THE ZABRECKY HOUR Magic Show

A Comedy, Magic & Variety Show Like No Other with Rob Zabrecky

"Zabrecky - the name means 'Abracadabra,' sideways" - LA Weekly

Prepare to step into a world where the boundaries of magic, comedy, and performance art blur beyond recognition. Rob Zabrecky’s The Zabrecky Hour is an astonishing, one-man tour de force that brings audiences face-to-face with a unique brand of storytelling, offbeat humor, and mind-bending illusions. It’s less a show and more an experience — one that feels like it’s been lifted straight from the strangest corners of your imagination.

If David Lynch turned his attention to the art of illusion, The Zabrecky Hour might just be the result: a fusion of the bizarre, the beautiful, and the unsettling. Onstage, Zabrecky is a figure both distant and magnetic, pulling you into his off-kilter universe with equal parts warmth and coldness. His magic isn’t just for magic lovers — it’s for those who don’t even realize they’re fans of magic.

Zabrecky’s absurd, often chilling persona plays like a character out of a lost 1950s sci-fi/horror B-movie. He's an alien from a bygone era, attempting — and often failing — to relate to the world around him. His charm lies in this dissonance, this tension between the familiar and the utterly unfamiliar. The result? A show that’s at once unnerving and irresistibly engaging.

Zabrecky’s magic breaks the mold in ways that will have you questioning your very perception of reality. Each moment unfolds with a subtle complexity that pushes the limits of your expectations. His performances are at times unpredictable, and darkly humorous. And when you least expect it, the show morphs into a strange reverie, an altered state where magic is more about emotional resonance than mere illusion. With The Zabrecky Hour, you're not just watching magic — you're being transformed by it.

A six-time award-winning act at the Magic Castle, Zabrecky’s reputation for unflinchingly original performances has earned him accolades worldwide. Critics have taken note — including the Chicago Tribune, which declared in 2022: "Zabrecky is very funny, assuming you like your humor cynical and caustic, akin to a horror show of a bygone age. His improvisational genius, mixed with a penchant for pushing boundaries, makes every moment a dangerous gamble."

The show’s eclectic mix — a dose of comedy, a sprinkle of song & dance, a touch of parapsychology, and a dash of audience interaction — all serves to create an unpredictable, one-of-a-kind atmosphere. This is magic for the adventurous soul, a performance that dances between darkness and whimsy with effortless ease.

Zabrecky’s dry wit and deadpan delivery add to the allure. Think Steven Wright’s absurdist humor meets Robert Bloch's eerie storytelling, laced with the offbeat awkwardness of Emo Phillips and the suspense of Hitchcock. His dry, quirky punchlines deliver the goods, pushing everything just far enough into the absurd to keep you hooked. After an appearance on Penn & Teller’s Fool Us, even Penn Jillette remarked, “We were trying to think if there’s ever been a mentalist doing a mentalist act that was sincerely funny and sincerely good. You may be the first ever.”

In The Zabrecky Hour, nothing is predictable — except for one thing: You’ll never forget it.

Running Time: Approximately 60/70 Minutes

Tickets: $25 advance / $30 at the door

Doors open at 7 PM, show begins at 7:30 PM at The 418 Project, 155 South River Street, downtown Santa Cruz at the Dragons Gate.

Sunday, Nov. 8th – 5:00 PM – SMALL THEATER

New Indie Comedy – Santa Cruz Premiere - Cast Q&A!

THE BIG WHOOP (2025, 88 min., dir. Lisa Satriano).

“*The Big Whoop is a hilarious clown caper that made me laugh my socks off. If you’ve found them, will you return them to me, please?” – Eric Idle of Monty Python

“Hilarity battles sadness and, as usual, we all win.” – Patton Oswalt

“Sam Beckett meets Sam Shepard meets Sam Kinison meets ‘What the Sam Hill is this?’” – Jay Martel, head writer of Key & Peele

“Clowns used to make the world laugh. Now they make the world scream.” A trio of desperately out-of-work birthday party clowns, including an Emmett Kelly-wannabe-but-never-will-be, Big Bugs (beloved comedian Jim Turner, MTV’s Randee of the Redwoods), the unintelligibly mumbling Corky (Mark Fite), and the equally-unintelligible Swedish butler, Gustav (Dave “Gruber” Allen), find themselves losing out on jobs to a much younger, sexier and well, better, clown named Darius (Shin Lim). After screwing up their latest gig in spectacular fashion, they go on the run with an accidentally-stolen artifact, pursued by a ruthless thief (Samantha Cole) and cross paths with a Who’s Who of comedy legends including Sandra Oh and Penn Jillette (who co-produced the film with Kristy Pitchford). In the spirit of classic slapstick farces like Peter Seller’s THE PINK PANTHER films and Arthur Hiller’s THE IN-LAWS, THE BIG WHOOP is a dark indie comedy that is both a hilarious and hilariously-tragic portrait of the trials & tribulations of three working (er, barely) comedians.

Bios:

Mark Fite is an L.A. based actor and comedian. Originally from the Midwest, Fite received a B.A. in Communications and Theatre Arts from the University of Iowa. In Los Angeles he's worked in theatre, film, tv, animation, commercials, and comedy for 35 years. Film & TV credits include MOM, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., SpongeBob SquarePants (25 episodes), Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Mr. Show, NewsRadio, Friends, Seinfeld, Embattled, Independence Day, Godzilla, and The Big Whoop.

Dave (Gruber) Allen has appeared as a long-haired, bearded weirdo in all sorts of TV programs (like “Freaks & Geeks” and “Gilmore Girls”) and some movies (“Bad Teacher”). He lives in Salt Lake City.

Jim Turner spent seven years as a series regular on HBO's hit show ARLI$$, playing Kirby Carlisle, the ex-quarterback with a gambling/girls/booze and self-esteem problem.

Film credits include Bewitched, Kicking & Screaming, Meet Dave, Golf In The Kingdom, The Ref, Lost Boys, The Right Stuff, Joe's Apartment and a gob of others that will never even seen the light of straight-to-video day. He appeared regularly, and ran for President, on MTV as Randee of the Redwoods in 1988. Theater credits include Girly Magazine Party, Clowntown City Limits ,The Return of Pinocchio, The Brain That Wouldn't Go Away, and 2 Headed Dog. He's been a charter member of Duck’s Breath Mystery Theater for the past 50 years.

Steven Banks is the Emmy nominated head writer of SpongeBob Squarepants. He wrote and starred in the one-person show, Home Entertainment Center, currently on Amazon Prime. Other plays include Love Tapes, co-written with Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller) and Shadowland, which he co-wrote with the dance/theater company Pilobolus and has been performed in 40 countries. His books include the series Middle School Bites and the YA novel, King of the Creeps. Steven is a drop out of Los Angeles City College and a graduate of the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey’s Clown College.

Discussion following with cast members Jim Turner, Mark Fite and Dave (Gruber) Allen and writer Steve Banks.

Tickets: $10 advance / $15 at the door.

Doors open at 4:30 PM, film at 5 PM at The 418 Project, 155 South River Street, downtown Santa Cruz at the Dragons Gate. Safety protocols will be in compliance with local guidelines at the time of showing.

Designed for youth and teen dancers, the Kaika Class with Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance deepens students' technical skill, artistic expression, and cultural understanding of Polynesian dance traditions.

Under the dedicated guidance of instructor Charmaine Moniz and senior dancers, youth explore both classical Hawaiian Hula and dynamic Tahitian Dance ('Ori Tahiti), developing rhythm, stamina, and ensemble choreography.

What Dancers Focus On:

• Advanced Hula Technique: Moving beyond basic footwork into layered foot combinations, graceful hip transitions, and nuanced storytelling through hand, arm, and eye focus.
• Fast-Paced 'Ori Tahiti: Developing core strength, rapid hip articulation (fa'arapu, varu, afata), and tempo control set to live and recorded Tahitian percussive beats.
• Mele (Songs) & Oli (Chants): Understanding the poetry, historical contexts, and Hawaiian language pronunciation embedded within each dance.
• Ensemble Artistry: Spatial awareness, line synchronization, stage presence, and mutual encouragement within the hālau family.

Class Details:

• When: Tuesdays, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Location: The 418 Project Lobby Dance Floor (155 River St S, Santa Cruz, CA)
• Who: Youth and teen dancers (ages ~11–17), from beginner to continuing intermediate students.
• What to Wear: Pā‘ū skirt or pāreu (sarong) over athletic leggings/shorts and a fitted top. Barefoot.

Step into the welcoming warmth and sisterhood of Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance! The Wahine Beginning Class is designed for adult women of all backgrounds, ages, and fitness levels—whether you have never danced before or are returning to Polynesian dance after years away.

Under the supportive, culturally rooted instruction of Charmaine Moniz, you will experience dance as a celebration of life, community connection, and wellness.

Why You’ll Love This Class:

• Gentle, Welcoming Instruction: Learn the fundamental steps of Hawaiian hula (kāholo, ‘uwehe, hela, ‘ami) at a comfortable, encouraging pace.
• Storytelling Through Movement: Discover how hand motions and facial expressions tell timeless stories of ocean breezes, rainforest flowers, love, and community.
• Tahitian Rhythms: Experience introductory Tahitian hip articulation (tāiri tamau, fa'arapu) that energizes the body and builds healthy core and lower-body strength.
• Holistic Wellness: Low-impact cardiovascular exercise, improved balance, joint mobility, and mindful stress relief in a supportive community space.
• No Partner or Prior Dance Experience Needed: Come as you are, connect with fellow dancers, and enjoy the transformative spirit of aloha.

Class Details:

• When: Tuesdays, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Location: The 418 Project Lobby Dance Floor (155 River St S, Santa Cruz, CA)
• Who: All adult women welcome (teens 16+ also welcome).
• What to Wear: Comfortable clothing you can move freely in (leggings or workout pants). A pāreu (sarong) tied around the hips is recommended to help visualize hip movements. Barefoot or dance socks.

Introduce your keiki (children) to the vibrant stories, rhythms, and spirit of Polynesia! Taught by the renowned Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance, this joyful weekly class offers young dancers a nurturing foundation in both Hawaiian Hula and Tahitian Dance ('Ori Tahiti).

Founded in Santa Cruz in 1997 by master teacher Kumu Lorraine Kalei Kinnamon and continued by Charmaine Moniz, Te Hau Nui shares Polynesian culture through motion, music, and the foundational values of aloha (love and kindness), mālama (caring for one another), and hō‘ihi (respect).

What Dancers Learn:

• Hawaiian Hula Fundamentals: Essential footwork (kāholo, hela, ‘uwehe, ‘ami) and expressive hand storytelling gestures representing the ocean, mountains, rain, flowers, and ancestral legends.
• Tahitian Drumming & Rhythm: High-energy basic Tahitian steps (tāiri tamau, fa'arapu) aligned with traditional Polynesian drumming cadences.
• Cultural Language & Protocol: Chants (oli), song lyrics (mele), basic Hawaiian/Tahitian vocabulary, and reverence for traditional dance arts.
• Movement & Poise: Coordination, rhythm, spatial awareness, and confidence in a collaborative group setting.

Class Details:

• When: Tuesdays, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• Location: The 418 Project Lobby Dance Floor (155 River St S, Santa Cruz, CA)
• Who: Open to all keiki/youth beginners and continuing young dancers (ages ~4–11).
• What to Wear: Comfortable clothing that allows movement (t-shirt and leggings or shorts). A floral sarong (pā‘ū or pāreu) is welcome but not required. Barefoot or dance socks.

The Wahine Advanced Class is Te Hau Nui’s intensive master-level class for experienced adult dancers dedicated to preserving, practicing, and performing authentic Polynesian dance traditions.

Founded in Santa Cruz in 1997 by master teacher Kumu Lorraine Kalei Kinnamon (1957–2024) and carried forward with reverence by Charmaine Moniz, Te Hau Nui ("The Great Peace") honors the sacred genealogies of Hawaiian Hula and the exhilarating power of Tahitian 'Ori Tahiti.

Repertoire & Study:

• Hula Kahiko (Ancient Hula): Sacred chants (oli) accompanied by traditional percussive implements (ipu heke, pahu, kāla‘au), focusing on ancestral deities, voyaging history, and island ecology.
• Hula ‘Auana (Modern Hula): Flowing, melodic storytelling dances set to Hawaiian slack-key guitar, ‘ukulele, and vocal harmonies.
• ‘Ori Tahiti (‘Ote‘a & ‘Aparima): Rapid, syncopated drum dances requiring exceptional core and hip stamina, paired with lyrical, expressive ballad dances.
• Performance Repertoire: Intensive rehearsal of full hālau suites for community festivals, cultural showcases, and seasonal presentations.

Class Details:

• When: Tuesdays, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Location: The 418 Project Lobby Dance Floor (155 River St S, Santa Cruz, CA)
• Who: Experienced wahine dancers by instructor placement or invitation.
• What to Wear: Traditional practice pā‘ū skirt, pāreu, or hālau practice attire.

About Forage Species IV

The objective of Forage Species IV is to give learners and our community a deeper perspective on critical ‘feeder species’ in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). Learners will help the artist model a life-sized school of Pacific Sardines (Sardinops sagax) using their hands and imagination to capture the kinetic movement and schooling dynamics of one of the most vital keystone species in the ocean.

In the background, learners will also explore visual presentations on the historical sardine fishery in Monterey Bay, climate-driven migration shifts, and the profound effects on marine life including seabirds, pinnipeds, dolphins, and whales.

STEM into STEAM: Four-Part Lobby Sculpture Build

Forage IV is a collaborative four-part build for a major hanging sculpture suspended from the ceiling halo in the main lobby of The 418 Project. Each day will focus on building the piece, shaping the fish, and discussing the ecological relationships of forage species. Learners will be asked to write up their takeaways from the build once it is completed.

• Texturing 560 Pacific Sardines made of light aluminum, using hammers and specialty tools to shape the individual fish.
• Creating the wire armature that will shape and hold the swirling school.
• Hanging the sculpture from the halo suspended from the ceiling of the main lobby.

Through a STEAM approach (combining Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), students work in focused collaborative teams:

• Texture Teams: Hammering organic contours and light-catching features onto nearly 600 aluminum sardines, crafting the distinct personality of each fish.
• Wire Teams: Working the structural wire armature and attaching the fish to the lead wire matrix that becomes the sculpture itself.
• Hang Teams: Assisting the artist in suspending and securing the armature from the lobby fixture.

Class Agenda & Build Schedule

Each of the build days will focus on the various aspects of the creation of a major public artwork:

• 11/4 – Kickoff & Introduction: A brief introduction to the Pacific Sardine (Sardinops sagax) followed by students breaking out into teams focusing on the build:
  • Texturing the 560 aluminum fish.
  • Working the wire armature that will suspend the school.
  • Attaching the fish to the wire armature.
• 11/11 – Build Day 1:
  • Focus on hammering the texture onto the fish.
  • Hanging and shaping the armature from the fixture.
  • Wiring the fish to the armature.
• 11/18 – Build Day 2:
  • Continue process of creating the fish, the armature, and the wire.
• 12/02 – Build Day 3:
  • Teams continue to texture fish and attach them to the wire that will hold them.
  • Sculpture takes shape.
• 12/09 – Build Day 4:
  • Student teams continue to work on the fish, the hang, and the wire.

Finishing & Public Reveal

Continued build as needed by the artist, and any students that wish to participate. The build window is tight and any finish work remaining after the student build days will be accomplished by the artist. Student participation in this finishing stage is welcome and can be arranged with parental, 418, and artist approvals.

*Project to be revealed to the public at a date to be determined by 418 management.

About the Artist & STEAM Instructor: Edward Martinez III

Edward Martinez III is an environmental sculptor, designer, serial entrepreneur, and marketing strategist with nearly 4,000 individual pieces created since 2012 from reclaimed materials and metals. His credits include featured installations at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) and The 418 Project. He has been featured at the prestigious Palo Alto and River Art Festivals, The Tannery Arts Center, numerous Maker’s Faires, and Santa Cruz County art galleries. Edward also has major permanent works installed in commercial sites across the country, and private collections throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

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.

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 | 6:00 – 7:00 PM

All levels welcome • No partner required