Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center (TWDCC) is a cultural hub located at the Tannery Arts Center serving 500 people weekly. TWDCC presents both adult and youth dance programs that are designed to be accessible to everyone and make all students feel seen, heard, and part of something larger than themselves. The only Black led organization of its kind in Santa Cruz County, we serve a large population of Black and BIPOC artists, educators, students, and families. Our fourteen years in service at the Tannery Arts Center has created a stable, central hub for community engagement, healthy after-school dance and cultural programming, and a community support hub that umbrellas the livelihood and platform for over three dozen professional artists each year. TWDCC also provides need based scholarships to 22% of our student body, supporting young artists in their journey as leaders of tomorrow.

Our Diaspora Performance Project gives professional support to 5 selected artists. Launched in 2018, the Diaspora Performance Project seeks to support our thriving community of artists of the African Diaspora, providing opportunities for the development of new work, deep and meaningful connection to our community, as well as teaching and performance opportunities. It’s a priority in our mission to sustain a dance and cultural space supporting Santa Cruz artists of the African Diaspora, and artists who have left their country of origin who are now navigating a professional career as immigrants. Our program provides direct services to securing grants, leveraging opportunities for job placement, and commissioning work for the continuation of their professional career in a new country.

We produce and curate many cultural community events each year, including the World Arts Festival, the Deep Roots Dance Fest, the Winter Dance Fest, as well as host multiple African drum and dance conferences in our studios.