Exceptional among modern fiddlers for his versatility and depth, Darol Anger has helped drive the evolution of the contemporary string band through his involvement with numerous pathbreaking ensembles such as his Republic Of Strings, the Turtle Island String Quartet, the David Grisman Quintet, Montreux, the Duo and other ensembles. Today Darol can be heard on NPR's "Car Talk" theme every week, along with Earl Scruggs, David Grisman and Tony Rice. He has recorded and produced scores of important recordings since 1977, is a MacDowell and UCross Fellow, and has received numerous composers' residencies and grants. He is a featured soloist on dozens of recordings and motion picture soundtracks. His latest group, The Republic Of Strings, is the latest step in this process, passing on the knowledge of his mentors' generation to a new generation of brilliant string musicians, with respected guitar innovator Scott Nygaard and a stream of amazing young talent, continuing in the musical tradition of bandleaders such as Bill Monroe, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, and David Grisman.

This four-day non-residential retreat with Richard will encompass asana, pranayama, meditation, philosophy, and chanting. Prerequisites: Ability to practice Shirsasana in the middle of the room, comfort in Urdhva Dhanurasana, and familiarity with seated meditation. Presented by Catherine Shaddix and Kathleen Carroll.

For grades 6, 7, and 8. Featuring a professional disc jockey from Portable Party Crew-West.

Larisa Stow & Shakti Tribe’s music is an East meets West mix of world beat rock fusion in English and Sanskrit. The result is a magic carpet ride for the soul. Their captivating style has earned them slots at numerous festivals in the US and abroad including Earthdance & Harmony, as the opening act for many well known artists, as well as appearances with spiritual leaders including Deepak Chopra. Music to make you sing, dance, think and feel alive.
“A celebration for the spirit no matter what path you travel. The music has rhythm, passion and reverence.” –RJ Lanna, New Age Reporter
“Completely embraces the beauty of sacred chant.” —Music Design in Review
“Engaging chants that reverberate in the soul well after the music ends.” Michael Mollura, LA Yoga Magazine
“This is the music of the future!” -Terri Nunn, Berlin

Join us at White House Pool for a fun-filled afternoon of picnicking and duck-watching with friends and family! Rubber ducks will be released down a racecourse that finishes just upstream from the bridge near the parking lot. Food and drink for sale to benefit the Dance Palace; music with Tim Cain.

Los Compas is a band of seasoned pros playing the hardest hitting salsa and cumbia in San Francisco. A crisp, energetic, tight-knit unit, the band is “one of the hardest working bands in the San Francisco scene. Los Compas is led by Miguel Govea- one time member of the seminal Chicano New Song band, Los Peludos. Cumbias, merengue, Tex-Mex, salsa, Latin jazz…”no se rajan” (they do not shrink) from any musical challenge.” Latin Beat Magazine

Ditch the workout, ioin the PARTY!! If you have been wanting to see what the buzz is all about,now you can come try Zumba for free. It is the hottest new craze on the fitness scene, combining a fusion of Latin dance moves to heart-pounding rythems. No dance experience required. Beginners welcome. Please bring water. Bring your kids - seven years old and up.

Break through a lifetime of old habits and programmed patterns of behavior, allow what is essential to come forth. These practices cultivates qi (vital energy) and break down blocks to the free flow of qi throughout the body. Sifu Fong Ha is well known for his power, graciousness, and cosmopolitan charm. With humor and insight, he encourages students to be true to themselves, to recognize their inner strengths, develop at their own pace, and actualize their potential.

Please join us for a community discussion of end-of-life decision-making and the perils and pitfalls of creating a meaningful advanced directive. Part three of a four-part series sponsored by Hospice of Petaluma, Coastal Health Alliance, and West Marin Senior Services

Don’t miss The Fashion Show Extravaganza at the Dance Palace! This community show will include fashions from local designers and boutiques, drop dead gorgeous local models of all ages showing off incredible wares, raffle tickets for many wonderful and exciting prizes, and delicious food and refreshments from local purveyors. The cost: $10 adults, $5 children and seniors. Come have fun, see an extraordinary theatrical-style performance, enjoy refreshments and win prizes! This event is a fundraiser for West Marin Community Services.

This workshop will cover the fundamentals of nonprofit board governance, focusing on the basic responsibilities of every board. The workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to assess the strengths of your board, talk about how to build on those strengths as the organization grows and expands, stay up-to-date on current law and practice about nonprofit board governance, and provide new energy and creativity based on your board’s dedication to its mission and values. Carol Friedman has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit management as the former Executive Director of the Dance Palace and works currently as a nonprofit consultant in the areas of fundraising, board development, and organizational assessment.

Led by Ricardo Diaz and his Flamenco Guitar the musicians perform each composition with passionate and intense gypsy energy. The music includes Latin, Jazz, World Music, and Moorish beats. Ricardo Diaz has recorded his debut album in Jerez de la Frontera the Craddle of Flamenco.

Caren Armstrong hosts, presenting contemporary singer/songwriters Nashville style; "In the Round". Caren and two other award winning performers will share a high spirited evening of original music. This is a fascinating opportunity to meet the people and hear the stories behind the songs. Come witness the muse at play, be ready to laugh and cry! Check www.carenarmstrong.com for up to date information on this special event.

Collecting five singular abilities and viewpoints into one musical force, Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile have established their place among the most dynamic and talented presences across the full range of contemporary music-making. As performing and recording artists, composers and interpreters, technicians and stylists, they continue to push the boundaries of possibility while maintaining an unerring devotion to the basic audience experience. Chris Thile has changed the mandolin forever, elevating it from its origins as a relatively simple folk and bluegrass instrument to the sophistication and brilliance of the finest jazz improvisation and classical performance. In the 2009-10 season, he premieres his Mandolin Concerto with six orchestras in the US. For more than 15 years, Thile played in the wildly popular band Nickel Creek, with whom he released three albums and sold two million records, was awarded a Grammy® in 2002, and traveled the world on sold-out concert tours.

A performance of Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) Featuring Master Flutists John Singer and Yoshio Kurahashi In this concert Yoshio and John will perform Solo and Duet Zen Buddhist pieces for the Shakuhachi.

This workshop is designed to get nonprofit board members and staff involved actively in fundraising by showing you how many ways it can be done - and how easy and efficient it can be to ask for money. The workshop will demystify the process, help you overcome your fears, give you the tools for successful donor fundraising, and show you how fundraising is based on your own passion for your organization’s mission and goals. Carol Friedman has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit management as the former Executive Director of the Dance Palace and currently works as a nonprofit consultant in the areas of fundraising, board development, and organizational assessment.

Yoshikazu Nagai Piano Concert
Buy tickets
Sunday, October 24, 4 PM
$20 General, $18 Seniors, advance purchase
$23 General, $20 Seniors, at the door/day of event

First Prize winner of the Washington International Piano Competition, Nagai has performed internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, including recently acclaimed recitals in Carnegie Recital Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Taiwan's National Recital Hall, in Hong Kong, Italy and Canada, and at the Aspen and Spoleto Music Festivals. He will play Scalatti, Haydn, Chopin, Shubert/Liszt, and Prokofiev.

Please join us for a community discussion of the nuts and bolts of personal will writing as well as the often neglected consideration of how one can pass along the nonmaterial gifts life brings. Part four of a four-part series sponsored by Hospice of Petaluma, Coastal Health Alliance, and West Marin Senior Services

Cyril Pahinui, the son of musical legend, Gabby Pahinui, is, in his own right, one of Hawai‘i’s most gifted guitarists and singers. Cyril has twice played at Carnegie Hall, has contributed to two Grammy Award-winning albums, received several Hoku Hanohano Awards, and recorded on more than 25 Hawaiian musical releases. As a slack key guitarist, Cyril’s technical virtuosity, rhythmic adaptations, and instrumental harmonics impart the soul of Hawaiian music, and his beautiful, emotive, and well-recognized voice renders an intimate picture of his Pacific island home.

This community event will include participatory art workshops, food, and music.

A party and a brunch to honor our wonderful volunteers. Join us in celebrating our neighbors and friends who have given of their time and talents to make the Dance Palace the liveliest community center in Marin. Presentation of the Volunteer of the Year Award. Music by Bart Hopkins.

The Cultural Heritage Choir is a Grammy© nominated, percussion driven, vocal ensemble whose mission is to help preserve and share the rich musical traditions of African-American roots music. Their music is rooted in the deep south and strongly connected to their West African and Caribbean origins. Performing together since 1992, the Cultural Heritage Choir creates dynamic rhythms and sparkling energy on stage. Their vocals are lush and vibrant, their performances are poignant and uplifting. The groups first collaboration with veteran performers Taj Mahal and Eric Bibb entitled "Shakin' A Tailfeather," was nominated for a Grammy [1997] and their second collaborative effort "Hippity Hop," was awarded a Parents Choice Award (2000). The group's most recent recording entitled "Say Yo' Business", was nominated for a California Music Award (2003).

The San Francisco based Del Sol String Quartet, two-time winner of the Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, is breaking the boundaries of classical music in riveting performances of new music with a global pulse. Del Sol’s members are violinists Kate Stenberg and Rick Shinozaki, violist Charlton Lee and cellist Kathryn Bates Williams. Since its inception in 1992 at the Banff Center for the Arts, the Quartet has worked its magic performing on prominent concert series nationwide, including the Library of Congress and National Gallery of Art in Washington, the Other Minds Festival of New Music in San Francisco, Symphony Space in New York City.

A quirky tale in which a queen puts her subjects to the test: who will move the large boulder from the road? Anyone kind enough to move the stone will be handsomely rewarded with a job as royal counselor to the queen! A host of wacky characters pass through the scene as the queen and her faithful servant, Barcarole, watch from a hiding place to see who will be unselfish. A play about community. The show features West Marin children ages 6–14, with some special roles for 3-5 year olds and is directed by Laura Alderdice. This program is made possible in part through a grant from the Bill Graham Foundation.

Ceramics, toys, ornaments, clothing, jewelry, and more will be on sale at this annual holiday fair—with delicious refreshments on sale.

Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) has protected 41,000 acres of farmland on family farms and ranches in West Marin. Join MALT staff, board members, farmers, ranchers, and other special guests for a taste of the delicious food produced on some of those local farms and get a preview of what's in store for next year when MALT will celebrate its 30th anniversary. No-host bar.

One of our most popular acts from last year is back! Grammy nominated vocalist, composer, and arranger Perla Batalla was born in Los Angeles, CA. Her father was a musician and owned a popular Spanish language record store. She first gained international attention as a backup singer for Leonard Cohen who later encouraged Perla to embark on a solo career. Perla released her debut “Perla Batalla” on the Warner/Discovery label in 1994. Not surprisingly, the critics loved it, calling her singing “sublime” and her talent “stunning”. Like many original artists, Perla opted to go independent, releasing her second album, “Mestiza” in 1998 on her own Mechuda Music label. An immediate favorite on Public Radio shows throughout the U.S. “Mestiza” was selected as Best Independent Release of the Year by Amazon.com. “Heaven and Earth” followed in 2000, along with a nod to Perla as Amazon’s Emerging Artist of the Year. Both “Mestiza” and “Heaven and Earth” celebrate a powerful civilization born from the explosive marriage of separate worlds. A resplendent, vibrant culture nourished by mysticism, imagery, magic and myth.

For over 30 years the Point Reyes Christmas Bird Count has been a definitive census of the status, trends, and distribution of the 200 plus species wintering in the Point Reyes area. At this compilation dinner participants tally the species seen and generally enjoy the birding highlight of the season.

Join us for one of our community’s most fulfilling holiday events at this sing-along of the most glorious and exciting choral masterpiece ever written. Fun for music lovers and listeners of all ages; no experience necessary.