Beginner Bay Area Street Dance Resource Guide

Ever wanted to get more into street dance but dunno where to start? Read this!

We’re Connie and Iris, two Bay Area freestyle dancers who started dancing and exploring the local community in recent years. We want to share our knowledge of the Bay Area street dance scene, especially with folks who have always been curious but might feel intimidated or uncertain about how to get started.

We met at a Physical Storytelling class (more on that later) and bonded over our efforts to get into the local dance scene as beginners and wanting to share what we’ve learned with others.

**What initially motivated us to start dancing?**
**Iris:** I grew up quite cerebral and disconnected from my body and feelings. Although I grew up drawing and writing, I had no cultural or familial experiences around dance… but I always felt awed when I got to witness skilled dancers express themselves with confidence. As I got older and got in touch with my embodied self, I felt drawn toward a screen-free, real-life form of creative expression. I also didn’t want to look back on my life and regret never learning to dance, so I started exploring in earnest when I was 34yo. To me, dance is an antidote to the alienation of modern life; dance is about being present with other humans and communing through our ~bodily vessels~. I’ve loved discovering how unique every dancer is… despite our finite physical forms, we all have vast range. Dance at its best is fun, grounded, authentic, and connecting!

**Connie:** I took baton lessons as a kid and joined my high school’s belly dancing club, but I bailed out of both before I had to perform publicly. I started dancing on my own after high school, when I started listening to classic dubstep and wanted to find ways to move to the beat. I watched silly videos of people trying (anyone remember[ this classic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrctMvIWpG0)?) and found myself using isolations and waves from bellydancing. I’d spend hours dancing to myself in the mirror to music. In college, I picked up flow arts (American for “dancing with props”) with my friends. It was a social thing for me - we’d meet to share our progress, show new poi moves we learned, help each other get unblocked, and get a dopamine rush every time a stranger complimented us at shows. So I started with freestyle, but I kept it relatively to myself or in the shadows at shows. I kept coming back because I liked how it tickled my brain, how it allowed me to instantly connect with friends and strangers (later even internationally), and seeing the joy it sparked in others.

**What were some barriers we faced when getting started with dance?**
**Iris:** I remember taking my first “Beginner Hip Hop” class around 2017. As a total beginner, I wasn’t able to keep up with even the most basic moves, while everyone around me bounced around with ease. Being asked to perform in a small group at the end of class kicked up all of my insecurities. I felt duped by the “beginner” description! After that, I spent years avoiding dance, and only got back into things in 2024, when I found a fundamentals-focused “Hip Hop Grooves” class at Rae Studio that was attended by true beginners like me. I began to thrive when I moved away from choreo and found a collection of fundamentals classes in various styles, movement exploration workshops, and community-run open sessions. Once I found spaces that were attuned to beginner needs, I started learning how to learn — it’s pretty vulnerable to flail and contort your body weirdly in front of others, and it’s very much a psychological skill that improves with practice and exposure. I still find it difficult to step into a cypher of super experienced dancers, but I’ve honestly never gotten judgment, even from expert dancers.

**Connie:** I had a similar experience. I took a belly dance workshop series in college, but I was bored by the content and annoyed by the teacher’s smug attitude. I also tried a hip hop class at Koresh in Philly during a heavily discounted week. I thought it was meant to welcome newbies, but instead found myself floundering next to experienced dancers. I was put off by the choreography, which I found difficult to memorize with my ADHD. When I tried to get clarification on a section of the choreo, the teacher was a little condescending. I don’t think I went to another dance class for years.

Despite avoiding studio dance classes, I never lost interest in movement. I attended international flow festivals and made friends with random people with props in the park, but I felt stuck in my flow and dance. I eventually realized what I was missing — a cohort to explore with. I tried multiple times to create my own, but adults are so busy. I think it’s easier to make friends with people who are dedicated to dance than to compete with your friends’ priorities. I’m now less averse to choreo myself — forgetting is part of the journey apparently — but I still don’t think learning someone else’s expression is the most effective way to develop your own.

Talking to our friends, we’ve discovered that many people enjoy dancing and want to do more of it, but don’t know how to get started. That’s why we’re sharing our offerings & knowledge below! 

**What is the Physical Storytelling Workshop Series at Decentered Arts?**
**Connie:** I basically got tired of not being able to find the experience I wanted. If I wanted a great dance floor experience or a chill freestyle class and I didn’t know where to find it… then maybe I just gotta create it myself? If you love movement, but don’t know how to start, this series is for you. Physical Storytelling is meant to help individuals develop their own freestyle or performance. We bring in experienced local dancers to teach us their movement philosophy or process. Think movement prompts and exploration. We’ve also added another format, group movement lab, which is focused on group or ensemble movement to explore rules-based movement. So instead of long choreography to memorize, what if we developed rules of road for the dance floor? Could we reverse engineer the rules ants, schools of fish, or birds follow? Or did you get inspired by a performance you saw?

The goal with these programs is manyfold:
- Offer people a fun, creative, accessible space to get into movement and dance
- Connect people with and support the vibrant local dance scene
- Foster multimedia performance art

We’ll have a movement class every Third Sunday, minus a month or two. Keep an eye on Decentered’s Heylo or website or IG for the next one!

**What are some other entry points for dance-curious folks in the Bay Area?**
Generally, we recommend looking for… 
- “Grooves” classes, which are usually more focused on fundamental moves and less on complex sequences/choreo
- “Movement exploration” sessions or classes, which typically involve guided freestyle exercises
- “Lab” sessions or classes, which usually entails drilling or experimentation
- “Jam” sessions, which usually entail collaborative experimentation
- Open sessions, which sometimes include instruction but are also just communal dance gatherings to practice, drill, exchange, and learn from each other. 
      \*\* Experienced dancers are typically happy to share their knowledge — just introduce yourself and ask! If you’re nervous, bring a friend and check out the scene together. 
- Follow-along classes (think Zumba)
- “All levels” classes — this usually means the class is focused on widely applicable fundamentals/concepts and accessible to everyone, from true beginners to advanced pros. Maybe choreo.

More specifically, here are some Bay Area offerings we’ve attended and enjoyed, or come highly recommended by friends:

- [Days Like This Community Party ](https://www.instagram.com/dayslikethis.oakland/?hl=en)(Oakland): Free weekly Friday all-ages community party attended by many dancers; starts with a dance class every week 5:30-6:30pm
- [Home Bass](https://luma.com/homebass-oakland) (Oakland): Always NOTAFLOF; a community space for dance & connection that hosts lots of different workshops and events
- [Bounce Back](https://www.instagram.com/bouncebackhiphop_/) (Oakland): Free-donation-based, a biweekly hip hop open session on Tuesdays
     \*\* Every ~two months, they also host a session for women/enbies
- [BeMovement ](https://www.instagram.com/bemovementcollective/)(Oakland): A dance collective that hosts a few beginner-friendly, NOTAFLOF movement exploration workshops each year
- [Textures](https://www.instagram.com/textures.wav/) (Oakland) - An experimental freestyle session at Destiny Arts Center with live DJ’s a few times a year
- [Embodiment Project](https://www.embodimentproject.org/) (SF/Oakland): Community organization that offers workshops + performances
- [Gatherings in the Bay](https://www.instagram.com/gatheringsinthebay/) (SF/Oakland): Rotating, peer-led class series tailored for the dance community folx in the Yay Area
- [Bodies of Empowerment](https://www.boe.dance/) (SF): Free/donation-based, range of levels & styles
- [Art of Mentorship with Salim](https://www.instagram.com/aom.mentorship/) (Oakland): Structured 8-week mentorship program, with 6 choreo- and drills-focused sessions and 2 freestyle-focused sessions. 
- [Freestyles @ UC Berkeley](http://www.instagram.com/freestyles_at_berkeley/) (Berkeley): A freestyle session open to all levels & styles
- [Izakaya Squad ](https://www.instagram.com/izakayasquad/)(Berkeley): Biweekly Monday popping sessions
- Popping session @ Mission Dolores Park (SF): Regular popping sessions hosted by [\_jackliang\_ ](https://www.instagram.com/_jackliang_/)/ [harshamohan](https://www.instagram.com/harshamohan/) (DM them to learn more)
- [Breaking session at Acro Sports](https://acrosports.org/class/open-breaking/) (SF): 7-9pm Monday Wednesday and Friday, $12
- Breaking at Oakland Grove: Mondays 7-8pm class $20, 8-10pm open session $7
- [Breaking session at The Mats (Daly City)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcObLrvgTop/): Tuesdays and Thursdays 8-9:30pm, $10
- [Bay Bvck Sessions](https://www.instagram.com/baybvck_sessionz/) (Oakland): Weekly Wednesday krumping sessions & community
- [Breaking session at Dance Mission](https://dancemissiontheater.org/2026/01/05/breakdancing-sessions/) (SF): Wednesday, $5
- All Styles Open Session @ Dolores Park (SF): Thursdays 8:30 - 10:30PM every week 
- [Tutting Sessions with Nuance](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYBKadsiYQk/) (Fremont): Thursdays 8:30-11pm
- [City Dance](https://www.citydancesf.com/book-classes) (SF): City Dance offers many fundamentals + choreo classes and special pop-ups, including turfing, popping, and house classes
- [In The Groove](https://inthegroovestudios.org/) (Oakland): Lots of fundamentals + choreo classes and special pop-ups, including turfing, waving, popping, and house
   \*\* Special callout for Salim’s Adult Beginners Class! Salim teaches a weekly class that’s suitable for true beginners, because he focuses on drills that build into accessible sequences
- [RECLAIM](https://www.reclaimdance.org/) (Oakland): A monthly daytime dance party for people who are BIPOC, queer, or both
- [Elements](https://www.instagram.com/elementsoakland) (Oakland): A monthly dance ritual centering soulful, deep, afro diaspora house music every 3rd Saturday
- [Bay.dance](https://bay.dance/): A listing of Bay Area events where people actually DANCE

Of course, we’d love to have you at Physical Storytelling and Group Movement Lab workshops at Decentered Arts. Keep up to date via [Heylo](https://www.heylo.com/g/5ffa5b7d-3feb-43d4-bea2-4e890cd09f11), the [Decentered Arts website](https://decentered.org/) or [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/decenteredarts/), or contact Connie on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ggllittcchh/).

Other dance or dance-adjacent spaces to check out include…
- [Dancers Group](https://dancersgroup.org/calendar/list/): A Bay Area dance resource hub often listing interesting workshops, grant, and employment opportunities
- [Shawl Anderson](https://www.shawl-anderson.org) (Berkeley): Dance studio offering youth + adult classes, as well as the amazing Queering Dance Festival
- Battles! There’s so many different crews organizing battles and performances with ridiculous talent. In general any battle offering 1k prize or above is probably gonna draw serious talent. Rally a friend or two, buy your tickets, show up an hour late at most, and just ride the high till the end. Bring snacks. Get off IG. It’s way more entertaining.
     \*\*  [TURFinc](https://www.instagram.com/turfinc/)
     \*\*  [All The Way Live](https://www.instagram.com/allthewaylivefoundation)
     \*\*  [Battles in the Bay](https://www.instagram.com/battlesinthebay/)
     \*\*  [Bay Area Street Dance alliance](https://www.instagram.com/basdalliance/)
- [Bandaloop Studios](https://www.bandaloopstudio.com/) if you want to get into vertical dance (rappelling + dance/gymnastics)
- [The Training Ground SF](https://www.thetraininggroundsf.com/) (SF): Offers a yearlong professional dance training program, as well as [The Hatchery](https://www.thetraininggroundsf.com/the-hatchery) summer incubation workshops and occasional one-day CoLabs. These tend to be a bit more advanced and geared towards pre-professional dancers, on the costlier side given their longer length, and more physically demanding, but the curriculum is amazing for those adventurous.
- [RAWdance](https://rawdance.org/) (SF): Bicoastal contemporary dance company
- [Axis Dance Company](https://axisdance.org/): Performances, summer intensive, occasional workshops. Highly inclusive dance company; geared physical disabilities, deaf, neurodivergent dancers
- [Hipline](https://www.myhipline.com/) (Oakland): Follow-along dance classes for women, enbies, & femmes
- [POC Contact Improv Community](https://www.facebook.com/groups/bayareapocci/) (Berkeley): Contact improv jam for POC every 1st & 3rd Tuesday at Berkeley Finnish Hall 8:00-9:30 PM
- [SF Neo-Futurists](https://www.sfneofuturists.org/classes) (SF): An experimental theatre collective that sometimes offers workshops

The best way to learn about the community is to attend a dance event and talk to people there! Ask dancers you admire how to get plugged into the scene and what folks they would recommend you follow. You’ll probably learn about an active groupchat, a pop-up session, or a cool workshop you wouldn’t have come across otherwise. 

You may also want to check out circus/flow/contact improv sessions, which are less traditionally dance-y, but still involve freestyling (with props). Props can help you feel less self-conscious than moving your own body. There are cheap DIY options for most props.
- [Sunday Dolo Flow](https://www.facebook.com/groups/847914001916585/) (SF): Weekly summer jam by the tennis courts with extra props and people excited to teach
- [Wednesday Flowjams ](https://flowtoys.com/pages/flowspace?srsltid=AfmBOorISWfE8o8xT-8-t5_iog5Ku8qHumaPnLYXjkeE3VjplpVYhsp4)(Emeryville): Weekly jams at Flowtoys headquarters where they have lots of props for you to try and people down to teach, 6-9pm 
- [Circus Saturdays](https://www.instagram.com/circusartsflow/) (SF): Washington Square Park in North Beach
- Friday Night Lights (Oakland): Weekly fire jam 10pm - 2am by the Bandstand by Lake Merritt. You can come watch, practice not on fire, and make some friends! On the weeks with a full moon, there’s a live DJ and more people.
- [Game of Throws](https://sites.google.com/view/gameofthrowsjuggling/) (Palo Alto): Free annual juggling/flow festival in Palo Alto

If you have other resources you recommend, please let us know! We’re happy to add things to the list.



PHYSICAL STORYTELLING: 

monthly movement workshops designed to be non-dancer friendly (no choreo! no judgement) to help you expand your creativity.

This will be our last of the year!

WORKSHOP:

Participants will be led through a 30min yoga warm-up, to open up and strengthen the body. Following the warm-up participants will be led through a series of prompts to get them acquainted with moving through and interacting with the space surrounding them as well as the building and retention of a short phrase of movement. Eventually, participants will be broken up into small collaborative groups, and instructed on creating a short piece of dance which will be heavily influenced by and in relationship with geometry founded in the space.

ARTIST:

Babatunji Johnson was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii. Though never formally trained as a child, Babatunji was always moving his body to the beat. At the age of 15, he discovered the art of hip hop. Following over a decade of self-taught street performance, he has developed a unique approach to various styles of hip hop such as breaking, popping, and krump. While cultivating his own movement language, Babatunji simultaneously trained in ballet, modern, and contemporary. Babatunji has performed with Lines Ballet, Post Ballet, SFDanceworks, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Misty Copeland. In 2015 Babatunji was given a Princess Grace Award, as well as a Chris Hellman Award for his outstanding achievements and promise in the world of dance, and in 2024 he was given the Gerbode Dance Award.
IG: 
https://www.instagram.com/babatunji/

Site: 
https://babatunjijohnson.com/


Physical Storytelling with Babatunji

Join Babatunji Johnson for a welcoming movement workshop exploring yoga, improvisation, geometry, and collaborative dance—no choreography or experience needed!


Physical storytelling is a beginner-friendly movement workshop series at focused on exploring storytelling through movement and developing your individual freestyle or performance. Every third Sunday at Decentered Arts, we’ll have Physical Storytelling or Group Movement Lab.

**Workshop:**
In this workshop, we’ll go over drills & excercises for basic Tutting & Turfin, a style developed in Oakland. We’ll learn a bit of Turf Dance History through a small lecture at the end of class. The goal is to have students understand Tutting & Turf Dancing.

**Breakdown of the day:**
3:00 - 4:30 workshop
4:30 - 5:00 optional social!

**Artist:**
Hector "Intricate" Ascencio is a world-class dancer and educator repping Rock Force Crew and Assassins Crew out of Hayward, CA. As an ambassador of Oakland and the Bay Area, he's credited with spreading T.U.R.F dancing, the Oakland-born style also known as "turfing" worldwide, and is equally recognized as an elite Tutter.

His blend of tutting and turfing has taken him to stages across the globe, with wins and standout appearances including RF Jam in Vietnam (with Assassins Crew), 2x WOD Champion, Red Bull Dance Your Style Champion, a finalist spot at Just Dance It Out in Bali, and two guest invites to Fusion Concept in Paris. He's also performed alongside hip-hop artists G-Eazy, Troyboi, and Kendrick Lamar. With 19 years in the game, Intricate keeps traveling, competing, and teaching Bay Area west coast culture around the world.

Instagram: 
<https://www.instagram.com/intricacito>

If cost is an issue, please reach out to the hosts or Decentered about volunteering!


Physical Storytelling with Intricate

Join Physical Storytelling with Intricate to explore Oakland-born Tutting and Turf dancing through playful movement, cultural history, freestyle, and expression.


On Wednesday, September 9, Saint Joseph’s Arts Society will once again come alive with **Poolside Poets,** presented by Connie Lin, Rhea Joseph, Liz Cahill, and Decentered Arts.

For one dreamy evening, poetry, live music, dance, and fashion will share the same space, creating an atmosphere where imagination and community can unfold together.

The night will invite guests to embrace the theme **“Surreal”** —drawing inspiration from surrealism and optical illusions. Think looks and accessories that make people look twice, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination, with thrifted, upcycled, and creatively reimagined pieces encouraged.

The evening’s poetry lineup will feature **Connie Lin**, **Ada Genavia**, **jawno**, **Fidelius**, **Sage**, **Jeremy Michael Vasquez**, **Aracely Knox**, and **Cadence McCracken**, while **Silver Swoon** will provide the live music. **Hector “Intricate” Ascencio** will bring the evening into motion through dance.

As the doors open, guests will gather, mingle, and settle into the atmosphere before the performances begin. From there, the soaring halls of Saint Joseph’s Arts Society will become a meeting place for words, movement, sound, and surreal self-expression.

For a few hours, Poolside Poets will blur the line between poetry and performance, fashion and fantasy, inviting everyone to step into a world where the unexpected feels entirely at home.



Poolside Poets at Saint Joseph's Art Society

Poolside Poets returns with surreal fashion, poetry, live music, dance, and community, transforming Saint Joseph’s Arts Society into imaginative celebration.

On a Sunday afternoon at Decentered Studio, participants gathered for a Group Movement Lab dedicated to playful experimentation and collective improvisation.

The session began with guided movement explorations, inviting the group to observe and draw inspiration from the natural world—imagining the coordinated movements of ants, birds, and fish, while reinterpreting ideas inspired by performance and everyday life.

As the workshop unfolded, participants proposed their own rules and creative prompts, transforming the studio into a collaborative space where movement emerged through curiosity, shared decision-making, and spontaneous play.

Together, the group explored how simple ideas could evolve into collective choreography, celebrating imagination, connection, and the joy of creating movement as a community.



Group Movement Lab

Group Movement Lab explored improvisation, collective choreography, playful experimentation, and creative collaboration through guided movement and shared imagination at Decentered Studio.

On a Sunday afternoon at Decentered Arts Studio, the Physical Storytelling series welcomed movement artist and choreographer Moscelyne ParkeHarrison for a workshop exploring the rich terrain between language and embodiment.

Participants arrived carrying fragments of text that inspired them—poems, song lyrics, messages, articles, and personal writings. Through guided movement practice, they began to explore how words could live beyond the page, transforming language into gesture, rhythm, expression, and physical presence.

The workshop unfolded as an investigation into the relationship between text and movement. Participants remixed their chosen materials, experimented with literal and abstract interpretations, and discovered new ways of communicating through the body. Under Moscelyne’s guidance, the group explored how meaning shifts when language is embodied rather than spoken.

Throughout the afternoon, beginners and experienced movers alike shared discoveries, questions, and creative experiments. What emerged was a playful exchange between writing and movement—one where stories, emotions, and ideas could be felt as much as understood.

Following the workshop, many participants stayed to connect, reflect, and continue conversations sparked by the day’s exploration, extending the spirit of curiosity and community that defines the Physical Storytelling series at Decentered Arts.



Physical Storytelling with Moscelyne ParkeHarrison 

Physical Storytelling with Moscelyne ParkeHarrison explored movement, text, and embodiment through creative exercises, shared discoveries, and community connection.


On a gentle Sunday afternoon in April, Decentered Arts opened the doors of Decentered Arts Studio for Physical Storytelling with Ava Maag--a two-hour movement workshop devoted to imagination, presence, and the quiet stories our bodies hold.

Part of the ongoing Physical Storytelling series, the gathering invited participants into a beginner-friendly space where movement became a language of curiosity and discovery. Each month, the series alternated between Physical Storytelling sessions and Group Movement Labs, cultivating a community that explored connection through the body.

The afternoon began inward. Through guided prompts, participants allowed their imaginations to wander through the inner landscapes of the body, letting intuitive gestures and spontaneous motion unfold. Slowly, attention widened outward--toward the room, the rhythm of shared space, and the subtle influence of moving alongside others.

Throughout the workshop, participants practiced witnessing: learning to hold space for themselves and one another with care.


Physical Storytelling with Ava

Physical Storytelling with Ava Maag at Decentered Arts Studio invited intuitive movement, imagination, witnessing, and playful collective composition.

On a gentle Sunday afternoon in April, Decentered Arts opened the doors of Decentered Arts Studio for Physical Storytelling with Ava Maag - a two-hour movement workshop devoted to imagination, presence, and the quiet stories our bodies hold.

Part of the ongoing Physical Storytelling series, the gathering invited participants into a beginner-friendly space where movement became a language of curiosity and discovery. Each month, the series alternated between Physical Storytelling sessions and Group Movement Labs, cultivating a community that explored connection through the body.

The afternoon began inward. Through guided prompts, participants allowed their imaginations to wander through the inner landscapes of the body, letting intuitive gestures and spontaneous motion unfold. Slowly, attention widened outward - toward the room, the rhythm of shared space, and the subtle influence of moving alongside others.

Throughout the workshop, participants practiced witnessing: learning to hold space for themselves and one another with care.


Physical Storytelling with Ava 

On the evening of April 2, 2026, poetry glowed softly beneath candlelight inside the Exploratorium, as Decentered Arts presented Decentered Poetry Lounge: After Dark - Immersed in Verse.

Set within the museum’s beloved Exploratorium After Dark, the evening transformed part of the Exploratorium into a cozy oasis of words, rhythm, and reflection. Surrounded by interactive exhibits exploring science, perception, and art, guests stepped into a quieter corner of the night-one filled with poetry.

Bay Area poets took the stage to share their work, while soft candlelight, ambient visuals, and the hum of creative energy invited visitors to slow down and listen. The lounge also opened space for participation: guests sat down to write, shared their own lines, or simply let the poetry carry them through the evening.

Nearby, the immersive installation The Green Fairy offered a playful ritual-guests could swap a poem for a sip of a nonalcoholic cocktail, turning creativity itself into currency.

Throughout the night, a freestyle poetry workshop welcomed both seasoned writers and first-time poets to experiment with language and voice. Whether arriving to listen, write, or simply vibe, the lounge offered a space where curiosity, imagination, and community met.

For one Thursday night, inside the Exploratorium’s world of experiments and discovery, poetry became its own kind of exploration-an invitation to romanticize life, line by line.


Decentered Poetry Lounge (After Dark: Immersed in Verse) 

Decentered Poetry Lounge at the Exploratorium featured candlelit readings, interactive visuals, freestyle workshops, and poems traded for sips at the Green Fairy.

On the afternoon of March 14, 2026, North Beach transformed into a surreal wedding procession during the beloved Brides of March. Among the many stops along the route, The Golden Sardine hosted a particularly poetic celebration.

For a brief, magical window between 4:00 and 5:30 PM, the bar became a chapel of verse. Guests arrived dressed in bridal whites and playful wedding attire-lace veils, thrifted gowns, satin gloves, bouquets tucked under arms, tiaras slightly askew. Some wore vintage wedding dresses, others layered veils over everyday clothes, all joining the whimsical tradition of becoming brides for the day.

The reading gathered a radiant lineup of poets-each a “Bride of Poetry.” Voices rose one by one from the bridal party: Betsy Alma Ramazzini, Connie Lin, Elena Pinnen, Eyra Dordi, Katherine Okpara, Liz Cahill, Rhea Joseph, and Spinelli-each offering poems that moved between humor, tenderness, longing, and celebration.

The ceremony of words was accompanied by the “Bride of Song,” Anne‑Marie Russo, whose voice filled the room with music that wove gently between the readings, turning the gathering into something between a performance and a communal toast.

For that hour and a half, the Golden Sardine held a joyful congregation of poets, singers, and wandering brides from the streets of North Beach. Strangers became witnesses, laughter mingled with lyric lines, and the room glowed with the playful spirit of a wedding where everyone-performer or passerby-was welcome to join the bridal party.


The Brides of March 

Brides of Poetry gathered at The Golden Sardine during North Beach’s Brides of March-veiled poets and song filled the room.

Ever wondered if you could join a larger dance performance without memorizing choreography?

Flocks of birds, schools of fish, swarms of ants—they all moved together through shared rules, not rigid routines. We gathered to explore how humans could do the same.

The lab began with facilitation by Evan Johnson, followed by an open session where participants proposed new rules for the group exploration. Scarves and bandanas added color and motion to the room.

Evan Johnson (he/they), a San Francisco–based cultural producer and theatre maker with over 15 years of experience, created playful, embodied creative spaces rooted in physical theater and collaborative performance. Their work centered connection, care, and collective creativity—inviting participants to explore, express, and build together.

The lab opened with Evan’s facilitation and unfolded into a shared experiment in inventing new movement rules together.


Group movement lab with Evan Johnson 

Participants explored collective movement through shared rules, guided by Evan Johnson—no choreography required, just playful, embodied experimentation together.

On September 29th, Decentered Studio came alive to celebrate the debut of Jessica Kie McCallum’s poetry collection, _Yang Sayang_. Friends, family, and community members gathered for an evening of art, poetry, and conversation in honor of this landmark publication from Decentered Press.
The evening opened with live music by Nic Hampton—who also designed the book’s striking cover—setting the tone for what followed. A lineup of powerful poetry readings by Connie Lin, Lilly Shi, and Lorrie Change brought their unique voices to the stage before the spotlight shifted to Jess, who shared selections from _Yang Sayang_.
The program continued with a lively Q&A featuring members of the publishing team—Rhea Joseph, Liz Cahill, and Ben Draffin—who discussed the book’s journey to publication. The night closed with a book signing, where attendees had the chance to connect with Jess personally and leave with signed copies of _Yang Sayang_.
Guests dined on Indonesian snacks catered by Dakota (@kamu\_siapa\_kitchen), and Jessica's famous coconut sticky rice Mia Terracotta captured the warmth and beauty of the evening in her lense. The book is available for purchace [here](https://decentered.org/books). 


Yang Sayang by Jessica Kie McCallum Book Launch

Jessica Kie McCallum's debut poetry book Yang Sayang launched on decentered press. This was also the first solo book published off Decentered Press. 

Gen Blend: A monthly intergenerational writers potluck and open mic

**Every First Thursday | 5:30 - 7:30pm**
Ruth's Table, 3160 21st St, San Francisco, CA 94110 | Free
Join Decentered Arts and our partners [Ruth's Table](https://www.ruthstable.org/), [Community Living Campaign](https://sfcommunityliving.org/), [Adobe Books](https://www.adobebooks.com/), and [Litquake's Elder Project](https://www.litquake.org/elderproject.html) for this inspirational event. Featuring Writers from the Community Living Campaign Writing Program, the Elder Project workshops, local writers across a wide age range, and YOU! Limited Open Mic time available for pieces under 3 minutes.

This is a free event and potluck! Bring something to share! Beverages available. Each month a delectable culinary creation by Amirali Mir will be shared, as a generous contribution to our potluck.

**Visitor Guidelines: **Face masks are optional.
**Access: **Ruth’s Table gallery and adjacent green space are wheelchair accessible.
**ASL Interpretation: **ASL interpretation is available upon request. 72-hour notice required.

**Registration: **_Free and open to all. [RSVP here](mailto:contact@ruthstable.org?subject=RSVP%20For%20Gen%20Blend&body=Hello%2C%20I%20would%20like%20to%20RSVP%20for%20Gen%20Blend%20on%20Thursday%208%2F8%20at%205%3A30-7%3A30pm.%20Name(s)%3A)._

**Donate: **The program is free, donations are welcome.

Support our mission further by making a tax deductible donation to DCA:
<https://givebutter.com/decentered>

**Support the Arts**

At Decentered Arts we believe in building resilient community through art of all mediums. To help achive this we produce Decentered Open Mic, Eventracker, Writers Group, Poolside Poets, curated events, and more to come!
Your support helps us keep this up and dream bigger.

[Donate](https://givebutter.com/decentered)



Gen Blend January 2025

An intergenerational writer's potluck and open mic. Every first Thursday at Ruth's Table.

On an evening in September the Phoenix Hotel hosted Poolside Poets.

Guests came dressed in their best "Wonderland Tea Party"

Think: demure hats and extravagant fascinators, flowing fabrics and whimsical prints, lace gloves with chunky boots, velvet waistcoats and floral crowns, oversized bows and feathered berets, slip dresses with statement hats, psychedelic patterns with vintage coats, tea-length skirts and platform sneakers, sequin vests with frilly collars, powdered cheek and smudged eyeliner, mismatched gloves, flowy capes and bold fascinators — mix & match: lace, chiffon, velvet, tweed, tulle, sequins, florals, vintage finds, festival flair, whatever evoked a mad, marvelous tea.

Featured Poets: Rhea Joseph, Jessica McCallum, Andrew Paul Nelson, Tureeda Mikell, Lorrie Change, Jorell, Connie Lin, Grace Chao, Kevin Madrigal Galindo, Zara Jamshed

Featured Musician: Breezy ( Spotify: <https://open.spotify.com/artist/7bvfenePiLz7CDxOPBBwQD?si=MJHCBE0WST-ch8bD0fHHPQ> )


Poolside Poets September 2024

Psychedelic hats, tea-stained lace, and poetry soaked the Phoenix Hotel—guests dressed like Alice tripping through a spoken-word wonderland.

On an evening the Phoenix Hotel hosted Poolside Poets.

Guests came dressed in their best "Mystical Seduction"

Think: lace and velvet, sheer layers and harnesses, forest-fairy wings with leather boots, lingerie as outerwear, cutouts with mossy textures, corsets under billowy capes, sultry slip dresses and thigh-highs, iridescent body paint and avant-garde makeup, floral crowns with chains, chiffon layered with leather, mesh and velvet mashups, feathered collars and harness straps, moonlit sequins and earthy boots — mix & match: lace, velvet, mesh, leather, chiffon, sequins, harnesses, whatever summoned enchantment and desire

Featured Poets: Ben Draffin, Rhea Joseph, Liz Cahill, Baruch Porras-Hernandez, Giovanna Lomanto, Denise Maisel, Blake Sugarman, Theory, Spinelli, Connie Lin, Jane

Featured Musician: Major Butta (Spotify: <https://open.spotify.com/artist/69whnvOI33go5sIHpIKpVq?si=Ziy8grTbR6OT1YazU1K_DA>)

Dancers: Jessica McCallum, Eline Castro & Gabby Wei


Poolside Poets June 2024

An evening of sexy poetry, live music and dance at the historic Phoenix Hotel. Brought to you by Decentered Arts, Rhea Joseph, Ben Draffin, Liz Cahill, and friends.

On an evening in early October the Phoenix Hotel hosted Poolside Poets.

Guests came dressed in their best "Meet Me at Sunset"

Think: sunset silks and sand-streaked denim, gauzy linens and terracotta, slip dress with sandals, straw hat and sunglasses, bronzed skin and bronzy highlighter, flowy kaftan and bare feet, linen blazer over a silk slip, crochet cover-up and heels, sundown sequins, warm ombre prints, driftwood neutrals, thrifted glam, sundress with combat boots, layered scarves and loose shirts, sun-kissed lipstick, last-light layers — mix & match: linen, silk, cotton, mesh, chiffon, leather, denim, whatever caught the golden hour glow

Featured Poets: Liz Cahill, Rhea Joseph, Spinelli, Theory, Giovanna Lomanto, Lorrie Chang, Denise Masiel, Charlie Getter, Jess McCallum, Maya Cowan, Sara Saavedra, Paul Reginato

Featured Musician: Alex in Waves <https://open.spotify.com/artist/71dmPddi53mtjP9lgacYjQ>

Dancers: Eline Castro, Gabby Wei & Heather Maitland


Poolside Poets October 2023

Guests glowed in golden-hour glam as poets, dancers, and musicians lit up the Phoenix Hotel for a dreamy poolside night.

Connie Lin

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