This weekend in San Rafael, CA

Start your salsa journey in a welcoming class that focuses on the essentials. Build a solid foundation with core footwork, simple turns, and body movement that builds confidence on the dance floor. Instruction also covers directional steps, a comfortable frame for partner work, and easy-to-remember turn patterns. No partner or prior dance experience is required, and partner rotations ensure everyone gets time to practice. The atmosphere is relaxed and beginner friendly, keeping learning enjoyable and stress free. Wear non-marking shoes to protect the floor, and plan to arrive about 10 minutes early to warm up and get settled. Expect a fun, beginner-focused session that helps you feel ready for your next dance.

An LGBTQ+ 5Rhythms Sweat Your Prayers class with Sylvie Minot invites participants into a movement meditation rooted in the work of Gabrielle Roth. The practice travels through five distinct rhythms, Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, and Stillness, to inspire creativity, release stored energy, and cultivate self-awareness. Sylvie facilitates without spoken instruction so dancers can sink into the experience, moving to music as a form of embodied prayer. This session is exclusively for LGBTIQ individuals and offers a supportive, affirming environment that welcomes all ages and physical abilities. There are no set steps, only an invitation to notice your patterns, trust your body’s wisdom, and express yourself freely. No prior dance experience is required. Capacity is limited, so pre-registration is recommended. Sliding-scale donations are available at 20, 25, or 30 dollars.

Build on your salsa foundation with a welcoming class that focuses on adding flair and fluidity to what you already know. Intended for dancers who have completed Salsa Beginners 1 and are comfortable with the basic step, left and right turns, the cross-body lead, and maintaining a steady frame, this session expands your social dance vocabulary with the Cross Body Lead series featuring inside and outside turns, the I Turn, You Turn for timing and hand changes, smooth walk-through transitions, and a shine that spotlights clean footwork. Instruction also explores the how of great dancing, including a clear lead and follow frame that balances tension and compression, upper body isolation for expressive movement, and a connected arm feel that is responsive without force. No partner is required, and participants are asked to wear non-marking shoe soles. Instruction is led by Lucie Ebnerova.

The Mighty Neptunes return to Sailing Goat at San Pablo Harbor with a mix of blues, R&B, and soul on the bay. The venue offers food and drinks and beautiful waterfront views.

Enjoy an upbeat, welcoming samba class with instructor Mary Dollar. The approach is authentic and open to all experience levels, with sequences that are simple to follow. Move to Afro-Brazilian and samba rhythms while building technique and performance skills. Practice foundational steps, hip movement, arm styling, and lively choreography that builds confidence on the dance floor. The class features a full-body warmup, stretching, and exercises on a floor mat. Wear comfortable clothing with soft-soled shoes, and bring a floor mat and a towel. It is a high-energy experience that also provides a solid workout.

KC Turner Presents brings California songwriter and guitarist Chuck Prophet to HopMonk Novato’s outdoor stage with His Cumbia Shoes as part of the 13th annual Cookout Concert Series, sponsored by JAMBAR. Inspired by his collaboration with Cumbia group ¿Qiensave? on the album Wake The Dead for Yep Roc Records, he leans into a Cumbia-driven sound that intersects with elements of rock, surf, soul, and punk, shaping a rhythm-forward performance. This outdoor show is largely standing at ground level, with limited seating on the lawn and additional first come table seating at the top of the hill. All ages are welcome. Children need a ticket, and babies in arms are not permitted. Low back chairs are allowed in the lawn section. Parking is free and plentiful. Venue policies prohibit pets, coolers, backpacks, outside food, and umbrellas.

This inclusive celebration features music, dancing, vendors, and a petting zoo. After two years of lively fun, this year's edition is expected to be even more enjoyable for everyone.

Explore the essentials of Argentine tango with instructor Suzanne Bare in a welcoming class that fosters confidence and a sense of community. Those who want to go further can take part in performances and be part of her formation team. A practica is included at the end of class to help reinforce what you learn on the dance floor.

A benefit gathering is planned in support of Bill Bowker, a longtime promoter, music supporter, and DJ at KRSH. The focus is on giving back and recognizing his role in championing music.

Enjoy an afternoon of ballroom dancing at the B Street Ballroom inside the San Rafael Community Center with live music from SwingSet. The $20 admission includes snacks, mixer dances, and a raffle. Sponsored by the San Rafael Goldenaires, the program features a versatile set suited for foxtrots, swing, cha cha, waltz, rumba, nightclub two step, and tango. SwingSet features Mike Z on guitar and vocals, Bob McBain on keys, Alex Peters on sax, Marek Webb on bass, and Roland Tolosa on drums. Singles and couples of all ages are welcome to dance to live music. For questions, contact Jim B. at (415) 609-6758 or email bozdog36@gmail.com.

Synergy at The Freight brings together Pandit Nayan Ghosh and Ishaan Ghosh for an evening shaped by deep tradition and family heritage in Indian classical music. Nayan Ghosh is celebrated internationally for rare mastery of both tabla and sitar, grounded in rigorous training with his father, Padmabhushan Pandit Nikhil Ghosh, and further guidance from Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa and Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta. His performances are prized for tonal richness, expressive clarity, and an expansive repertoire, and he has partnered on stage with luminaries including Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, among many others. His recordings span labels in India, the United States, and France, and he received the 1998 Achievement Award from California’s Lieutenant Governor Gray Davis for advancing Indian music in the West. Ishaan Ghosh carries the lineage forward as a leading young tabla artist. A prodigy who presented his first solo at the age of three, he has developed a style that blends articulate phrasing with intricate rhythmic design, drawing from a broad repertoire learned under his father’s guidance. Active as both soloist and accompanist, he has appeared with prominent artists such as Pandit Jasraj, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, Ustad Aashish Khan, Ustad Nishat Khan, Pandit Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, Dr. N Rajam, Kaushiki Chakraborty, Rakesh Chaurasia, and Purbayan Chatterjee. His creative reach includes collaborations with guitarist Max Clouth and musicians from Iran, China, and Estonia, as well as talks at TEDx. He tours and teaches to grow interest in Indian classical music among young listeners worldwide, and in 2016 he performed for the Habitat for Humanity project in Atlanta and was felicitated by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Together, their appearance highlights a meeting of generations, rigorous training, and a shared devotion to the art of rhythm and melody.