There was magic in the air this morning! ✨ @franslanting and @motionpacificdance came together for @rippleartsfestsantacruz to capture Dawn and Dancers for the Frans Lanting Photo Walk at lighthouse field. Our team got up at 5:00am, hurried over, and were met with a group of people who all had one mission in 46° morning air: get the shots … a pod of dolphins even got the memo! 🐬✨
Thank you to all who’ve came together to make this extremely moving ripple happen. ✨
Don’t miss out on the magic, tap the 🔗 in our bio to see all the events happening across Santa Cruz County!
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🎥🎞️✨ @wendyspresso
What an incredible evening! Santa Cruz, you all showed up and showed OUT for the opening of Santa Cruz Dance Week - and boogied DOWN for the closing at @abbottsquaremarket with @afrobeats_nite_santa_cruz 🥂🫧✨ Thank you to the beautiful @sambasouldancecompany for ringing in the celebration and to the incredible @djmonkearl for throwing it down 💃🕺
Tap the 🔗 in our bio to plan your itinerary for the week!
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🎥🎞️ @wendyspresso
@scdanceweek was the perfect way to ignite the Ripple Effect Arts Festival!
For the next 10 days you can find performances in unlikely places 👀 of all varieties, all over the county!
Tap the 🔗 in our bio to see all the events happening all over- plan your days and explore the unexpected! Our partners are making ripples, who knows what you’ll stumble across.
We have something happening for everyone, in unlikely and likely places! Pack your week in with art, dance, movement, performance, and creativity.
See you out there, Santa Cruz!!
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🎥🎞️ @wendyspresso ✨🖤
Taking a look back to our in incredible morning shoot on the West Side at Lighthouse Field State Beach, featuring the lovely dancers of @motionpacificdance
This event was curated by Frans Lanting | @franslanting in partnership with @scdanceweek and @rippleartsfestsantacruz
A group of local photographers woke up extra early to capture shots of the dancers at dusk - instructed by @franslanting
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As we reflect on this event, we also wanted to extend a warm thank you to all of the sponsors behind Santa Cruz Dance Week and Dancing in Unusual Places. It takes a special kind of community to bring these experiences to frution, and we are so thrilled to have seen another fantastic year of dance in our county.
Thank you,
Motion Pacific | @motionpacificdance
Downtown Santa Cruz | @downtownsantacruz
City of Santa Cruz | @officialcityofsantacruz
Mad Yolks | @mad_yolks
Verve Coffee Roasters | @vervecoffee
Maverick Mailing |
Lookout Santa Cruz | @lookoutsantacruz
The Goodtimes | @goodtimessc
Arts Council Santa Cruz | @artscouncilsc
Ripple Effect Arts Festival | @rippleartsfestsantacruz
West Coast Community Bank | @westcoastcommunitybank
Bookshop Santa Cruz | @bookshopsc
MyToque | @toque_blanche_store
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Huge thank you to the incredible 📸 @shotbyrose831 for capturing this moment!
Another incredible year of dancing in the streets! Santa Cruz… you all know how to have a great time. ✨
To the dancers - THANK you all for coming out and showing us what you’ve got!
To the dance companies, thank you for all you do in coordinating. This production is huge and your participation keeps the magic in the air!
And to the attendees, this couldn’t be what it is without you and your support. Thank you for coming out to downtown and being apart of the community that makes Dance Week what it is. Till next year!
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🎥🎞️ @wendyspresso
@almost__romantic at @minnow.arts during Santa Cruz Dance week, apart of ‘Dancing in unlikely places’ 🤩 this whole performance held the attention of every person in the room!
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🎥🎞️✨ @wendyspresso
Dancing in the Streets 2026: Latin Spice by Renee Menard is hot and sizzling spicy fun! Spicy like a ginga!
This Latin dance inspired fitness class is an hour of high energy, booty shaking, sweaty fun, filled with the tropical and latin vibes of Samba, Salsa, Reggaeton, Soca, Dancehall, and more.
Join this booty shaking crew as we travel through a global music and dance journey! They dance:
✨Tuesdays 9am
✨Wednesdays 5:30pm
Thank you @scdanceweek for your continued commitment to this annual moving meditation and offering of the rich and diverse dance across Santa Cruz county - reminding us all that Dance belongs to the people - ALL people!
Song Credit: Ginger by Sean Paul
WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT! As part of @scdanceweek and in collaboration with @rippleartsfestsantacruz , we are taking over TWO classes this week to bring you the joy of improv.
✨Tuesday, April 21st at @londonnelsoncenter from 6-7:30pm
✨Thursday, April 23rd @the418project from 5:30-7pm
Dance Week class passes accepted and also no one turned away for lack of funds. We hope to see you there!
Have you gone over to the Heart & Mind Exhibit yet? Presented by @firstfridaysantacruz - curated by @bree.karpavage & @dannyfernandezart + with over 70+ local artists of all varieties!
Located at the former Palace Arts in Downtown Santa Cruz
Location 📍 1407 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
The Gallery is open #Fridays - 2-8pm
Saturday 12-8pm
Sundays 12-5pm
Come dance around the space for yourself and see all the incredible art while you still can! This experience is only viewable through April, 2026.
Make a point to stop by!
🎥🎞️ @wendyspresso ✨💃
We ❤️❤️❤️ dancing in the streets! 🥰😍 interested in catching more of it? Tap the 🔗 in our bio to see the full schedule for dancing in unlikely places 👀 in partnership with @rippleartsfestsantacruz - you can find dances all over the county!
Keep your eyes open—dance is popping up everywhere. From sunrise at Lighthouse Point to spontaneous performances in parks, plazas, and downtown corners, Dance in Unlikely Places brings movement into the everyday. You might catch capoeira at the farmers market, tango in a breezeway, or a surprise performance along West Cliff. These fleeting, joyful moments are what Dance Week is all about—unexpected, accessible, and everywhere you are.
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🎥🎞️✨ @wendyspresso 💃
From dawn to dusk… there’s something going on for EVERYONE during the Ripple Effect Arts Festival! Last night, we got to capture a glimpse of ‘Under The Big Top’ - a queer sideshow presented by @dual_demons_events / @dual_demons ✨ hosted by @the418project
Tap into the 🔗 in our bio to see ALL the events happening all over Santa Cruz County! From morning to night, there are ripples EVERYWHERE!
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🎥🎞️✨ @wendyspresso
