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Dancing to the Beat of the Drums

Dancing as an Expression of Drumming

Drumming and dancing. Dancing and drumming. Like the chicken and the egg, drumming and dancing are as inseparable as the heartbeat and the breath.

Those of us living in the oasis called Santa Cruz have the good fortune to keep company with myriads of gifted dancers representing vast arrays of cultures and styles. Dancing in the Streets celebrates our good fortune, and on this page we share with you our gratitude to the gods and to the dancers who share with us their joy.

We feature Santa Cruz' Dancing in the Streets, which is part of National Dance Week and features local dancers. But we gladly acknowledge dancers from all corners of our world.

We encourage you to alert us of noteworthy events coming up by dropping us a line at DrTom@DrumDr.com, calling or texting us at +1 (831) 428-6626 or filling out a contact form.

A Dance to Tide You Over

The pandemic really put a damper on many of our favorite activites and events. The annual Dancing in the Streets celebration held in downtown Santa Cruz as part of National Dance Week was cancelled for a couple of years.

Still we look to the future with hope, and we look to the past to nurture that hope. Enjoy this performance from the Church Street Fair of 2018. We hope to see Shakti Bakti again soon.

Shakti Bakti on stage dancing.

Don't you love those drumming feet?!

Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center

A group of Indian dancers in a pose.

Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center (TWDCC) facilitates a working home for professional world & contemporary dance artists, while providing dance education that is committed to access, equity, and excellence

Winter Dance Fest 2024

A poster featuring performers at an arts festival.
When: Saturday, February 24 2024
Where: Tannery Arts Center
Fee: ?

More info for TWD&CC's events at https://tanneryworlddance.com/

Duniya Dance & Drum Company

Formed in April 2007, Duniya Dance and Drum Company creates dance and music from Punjab, India, and Guinea, West Africa, as well as unique blends of these forms and beyond.

African Arts Festival

DD&DC is once again partnering with Yerba Buena Gardens Festival for the 5th Annual African Arts Festival!

A poster with South Asian dancer holding up fist in symbolic defiance.
When: September 7
Where: Mission St., San Francisco, CA
Fee: Free!

Raices et Résistance

"Raices et Résistance" directed by Bongo Sidibe and Susana Arenas Pedroso, with dancers and musicians from Duniya Dance and Drum and Arenas Dance Companies, explores the vibrant, layered, and largely unknown social-political relationship between Guinea, West Africa and Cuba.

When: Oct 11-13th & Oct 18-20th
Where: San Francisco, CA
Fee: ?

More info for DD&DC's events at www.duniyadance.com

Abhinaya Dance Company

The Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose was founded by its Artistic Director Mythili Kumar in 1980, to present innovative and professional quality performances of South Indian classical dance forms.

Dancers performing on stage.

Navarathri Natyothsav – student performance

When: Octover TBD 2024
Where: Sanatana Dharma Kendra, San Jose
Fee: ?

Fall Concert 2024

A poster featuring performers at an arts festival.
When: Saturday/Sunday, November 16/17 2024
Where: Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose
Fee: ?

More info for Abhinaya Dance Company's events at https://abhinaya.org/performances/

Dancing in the Streets 2024

This year we had better luck capturing some of the terrific performances presented by our great local dancers. Enjoy.

Ukrainian Duet -->

Ukrainian dancers performing a folk dance.
Dance troupe performing on a Santa Cruz Street.

<-- Modern Dance

Sassy Dance -->

Ballroom dancers enjoying a fun dance.
Duo of ballet dancers performing on Pacific Avenue.

<-- Ballet Duet

Shekinah TBD -->

Belly dancers dancing on Pacific Ave. in Santa Cruz.
Kids break dancing during National Dance Week in Santa Cruz.

<-- Young Break Dancers

Palomar Pros -->

Belly dancers dancing on Pacific Ave. in Santa Cruz.
A Ukranian dancer performing on the street.

<-- Ukranian Dance

Tango -->

Dancers doing a tango on the streets of Santa Cruz.

Dancing in the Streets 2023

This year we were not able to capture many of the marvelous performances presented by our great local dancers. The good news is that the annual event has recuperated from the pandemic, and we gladly share with you what we can.

Tribal Belly Dance -->

Belly dancers performing on Pacific Ave. in Santa Cruz.
An Indian dancer performing a classical Indian dance.

<-- Bharatanatyam Dance

Tribal Belly Dance 2 -->

Shekinah Tribal Belly Dance performing on Pacific Ave. for National Dance Week.

Dancing in the Streets 2019

Another great edition of Dancing in the Streets graced the streets of Santa Cruz on the 18th of April. Some old friends were present and a host of new artists joined the festivities. We hope you were able to attend, but if not, below is a sample of what you can expect next year.

Ballroom Dance -->

Dancers performing a ballroom number.
A Polynesian dancer performing in public.

<-- Polynesian Dance

Odissi Dance -->

Shakti Bakti dancing Odissi, a classical Indian dance.
Youthful dancers dancing in the street.

<-- Hip Hop Dance

Flamenco Nuevo -->

A flamenco dancer dancing on the streets of Santa Cruz.
Troupe of dancers performing a Mexican folk dance.

<-- Mexican Folk Dance

Modern Dance -->

Young dancers performing a contemporary dance.
A couple dances a Ukranian folk dance.

<-- Ukranian Folk Dance

Swingin' Tap Dance -->

Young lady dancers performing a tap dance on the street.
A couple dances a Ukranian folk dance.

<-- Pole Dance

Romantic Dance -->

Young girls dancing to a slow and romantic song.
A couple performing a ballroom dance on the street.

<-- Ballroom Dance 2

Haitian Dance -->

Dancers dancing to Haitian singing and drumming.
A dancer in a hula skirt dancing on the street.

<-- Polynesian Dance 2

Flamenco Nuevo 2 -->

A dancer performing a flamenco nuevo on the street.
Folk dancers in traditional attire dancing.

<-- Mexican Folk Dance 2

Pole Dance -->

A beautiful pole dancer performin in the street.
A couples ballroom dance performed on the street.

<-- Ballroom Dance 3

Dancing in the Streets 2018

This year's edition of Dancing in the Streets was as fun and exciting as expected. We were unable to record some of the finest performances for various reasons, but we did get some great video. We share that with you here. Enjoy.

Tap Dance -->

Dancers doing a tap dance with a Spanish flare.
A dancer performing a ring dance.

<-- Ring Dance

Odissi Dance --<

Shakti Bakti dancing Odissi, a classical Indian dance.
Dancers performing the traditional Zapotec dance - Danza de la Pluma.

<-- Zapotec Dance

Caberet Dance -->

Young girls about to dance.
Young ballerinas dancing on the steet.

<-- Ballet

Contemporary Dance -->

A large dance troupe performing on the street.

Dancing in the Streets 2017

We were unable to attend last year's celebration, but we were present and accounted for at a few of this year's great performances. Below, please find a sample of the evening's fare.

Shakti Bakti -->

Odissi dancers performing in the street.
Kids dancing hiphop in the street.

<-- Hiphop

Agua Doce -->

Contemporary dance on the streets of Santa Cruz.
Tap dancing in the street.

<-- Tap Dancing

Kathak Dreams -->

Indian dancer performing in the street.
Dancers having fun.

<-- Pop Dancing

Jazz Dance -->

Modern dancers dancing to jazz.
Tap dancers dancing the Jitterbug.

<-- Jitterbug Tap

Odissi Dance -->

Shakti Bakti performing and Odissi dance.
Kids dancing a in the street.

<-- Young Kids

Agua Doce 2 -->

Contemporary dance with an Afro-Brazilian flavor.
Kids dancing Capoeira.

<-- Capoeira

Flirtatious Dance -->

Beautiful young women performing a flirtatious dance.
A very modern and contemporary tap dance

<-- Modern Tap

Traditional Bali -->

A dancer performing a traditional Balinese dance.
Kids performing a Brazilian dance

<-- Brazilian Dance

Mexican Folk -->

Dancers performing a traditional Mexican Dance.
Young kids dancing hip hop on the street.

<-- Hip Hop Dance

Dancing In The Streets 2015

While we were not able to attend every performance of this year's event, we did manage to capture on video a good selection from the schedule. Please enjoy.

World Danze Misfits -->

Dancers dancing a fusion of styles in the stsreet.
More fusion fun danced in the street.

<-- World Danze Misfits 2

Young Ballerinas -->

Young girls dancig ballet.
Two ballerinas dance on the street.

<-- Teen Ballet

Teen Ballet Duo -->

A pair of ballerinas dancing on Pacific Avenue, in Santa Cruz.
A ballet dancer in ethnic dress dancing in the street.

<-- Folk Ballet

Sassy Dancers -->

Ladies dancing a sassy dance in the street.
Odissi dancers in full attire dancing on Pacific Avenue.

<-- Shakti Bakti

Break Dancing Kids -->

Young children break dancing.
Dancers performing to Brazilian music.

<-- Brazilian

Modern Ballet -->

Classically trained dancers performing a romantic dance.
A gypsy dance in the street.

<-- Gypsy

Modern Dance -->

Troupe of talented dancers dancing in a comtemporary style.
More modern dance from the contemporary troupe of dancers.

<-- Modern Dance 2

Modern Dance 3 -->

Skilled dancers performing modern dance in on Pacific Avenue.
Ballet in a contemporary style danced in the street.

<-- Modern Ballet

Novice Dancers -->

Young children just learning to dance give it all they got.
Dancers in ethnic attire dance a folk dance.

<-- Spanish Gypsy

Contemporary Dance -->

Contemporary dancers performing and interacting with the audience.
Break dancers entertaining the crowd

<-- Break Dancers

Afro-Brazilian Couple -->

Two dancers performing Afro-Brazilian dance.
An Afro-Brazilian danceuse performs on Pacific Avenue.

<-- Afro-Brazilian Her

Afro-Brazilian Him -->

A male dancer performs Afro-Brazilian dance.
Everyone dances in the street.

<-- Afro-Brazilian Celebration