This winter, the Occidental Community Choir invites you to join us in creating  Light in the Darkness: a concert series filled with music that carries hope through struggle; warmth through winter; and light through the longest night. With songs that uplift, inspire, and celebrate the resilience of the human spirit, this season’s program reminds us that even the smallest flame can guide us home.

Friday, December 5th is Community First night, with tickets for $15. Get tickets/learn more at https://www.occidentalchoir.org/concerts

This winter, the Occidental Community Choir invites you to join us in creating  Light in the Darkness: a concert series filled with music that carries hope through struggle; warmth through winter; and light through the longest night. With songs that uplift, inspire, and celebrate the resilience of the human spirit, this season’s program reminds us that even the smallest flame can guide us home.

Tickets are $25. Get tickets/learn more at https://www.occidentalchoir.org/concerts

This winter, the Occidental Community Choir invites you to join us in creating  Light in the Darkness: a concert series filled with music that carries hope through struggle; warmth through winter; and light through the longest night. With songs that uplift, inspire, and celebrate the resilience of the human spirit, this season’s program reminds us that even the smallest flame can guide us home.

Tickets are $25. Get tickets/learn more at https://www.occidentalchoir.org/concerts

Rest & Renew at our Sound Bath!

Support your nervous system, release anxiety and stress, and harmonize your body, mind and spirit on the 2nd Tuesday of every month! Laura Benson has a Masters in Intuition Medicine(R) and is a certified sound healer who will guide you through a gentle meditation before each sound bath session. Bring your own yoga mat & blanket and come ready to rest and renew! In the OCA Studio.

Sliding scale pricing $25-$35.

A sound bath is a whole-body, immersive listening experience. During a sound bath, participants often sit or lie down, and are surrounded by the mostly non-melodic soundscapes created by a range of instruments played by the sound bath facilitator. Hence, they are “bathed” in sound.

Sound therapy is a non-invasive healing modality that utilizes the physical and physiological interactions of sound on our bodies and nervous systems to produce therapeutic results. In a sound healing session, specific sonic frequencies are used to soothe the central nervous system, calm the breath, and quiet the mind by encouraging the brain to move into more relaxed states, down from beta (fight-or-flight) and into theta and alpha waves. This increases present-moment awareness and reduces stress and anxiety. Sound baths have been found to be effective in improving mood, cognitive function, and overall mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.

Crystal bowl sound baths are particularly powerful in that each bowl is tuned to a specific frequency that corresponds with a different chakra, or energy center, of the body. Based on specific needs, a practitioner can focus on releasing tension or clearing out stuck energy in specific chakras by playing certain bowls or intervals. 

While attending a sound bath, you may experience physical sensations brought out by the crystal sound bowls or gong, such as tingling in your limbs or scalp, slowing of your breathing, eye flutters, or small muscle spasms. Not to worry! These sensations often indicate the release of tension or emotional energy stored in the body’s energy systems.

Regenerative Ayurvedic Yoga with Tirza Dawn

Come, step onto your mat with an open heart and an open mind.

Invest in your self care and join us for morning yoga in the OCA studio. $20 per class, $15 for OCA members. Each Wednesday from 9:00-10:15 AM in our Studio.

Pay at the door for a-la-carte sessions or use the links below to pay ahead for four weeks at a time.

Tirza Dawn Naramore is a yogi, mother, artist, ceremonialist and lover of life.  She has been practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for 30 years and offers yoga retreats and trainings that center on optimum health, self realization and self love.  Her teachers are from many yoga and tantric traditions, but her primary lineages are Iyengar and Kali Ray.

Tirza is deeply devoted to community building and is honored to have created a number of community supported non profits including Mystic Family Circus and The AWAKEN Project, which serves families with children on the autism spectrum.  Tirza is proud to be the mother of 3 wild teenagers, including her incredible son who is diagnosed with autism.

Tirza’s spirituality is one of many influences and teachings. Beginning with a Christian up-bringing and being raised on a Christian commune in her early childhood, she later expanded into more earth-based ways. While in her 20’s Tirza was adopted into the Native American Church, where she learned from her relatives a way of living the “Beauty Way.”

During the 1990’s and early 2000’s, Tirza lived in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, directing the Mystic Family Circus, which was a performance group dedicated to cultural awareness and bridge building. She worked with Cirque du Soleil, Burning Man, Reclaiming, Contraband, CELLspace and other Bay Area art collectives and non profits to provide conscious entertainment and “prayerformances” for the betterment of humankind and the planet.

In 2012, Tirza helped to found the Buckeye Gathering, an ancestral skills gathering in Northern California which draws teachers and students of all ages to learn ancestral ways of tending the earth and survival skills.

Tirza Dawn was the founder of yoga programming and the Ayurvedic Yoga Teacher Trainings at the dhyana Center of Ayurveda in Sebastopol, California, which operated a community center of healing and education from 2010 to 2020.

Theme for December: Magic

Stories teach us about life, about ourselves & about each other. Help to create west county’s newest storytelling community. 7 Minutes Max is an evening of 7 live stories told in 7 minutes or less. Hilarious or sublime, poignant and personal tales told through the ancient oral tradition of storytelling, this evening will be sure to move, delight & intrigue you. This is an event for mature audiences & not intended for children. Interested storytellers will have a chance to throw their name in the hat to present their story. Remember no notes & 7 minutes max!

$10 GA, $5 for OCA members. Pay at the door. Storytellers will be selected randomly from willing participants.

🎶 Tony Furtado & Luke Price Live at Occidental Center for the Arts 🎶

Occidental Center for the Arts is proud to present an unforgettable evening with Tony Furtado and Luke Price, two virtuosic musicians whose artistry seamlessly blends roots, Americana, and folk traditions with breathtaking originality.

Tony Furtado, celebrated banjo and slide guitar master, is a genre-bending musician with a sound that bridges bluegrass, blues, folk, and rock. With a career spanning over two decades, Furtado has captivated audiences worldwide with his soulful voice, masterful musicianship, and boundary-pushing creativity.

Joining him on stage is Luke Price, an award-winning fiddler, guitarist, and vocalist known for his fiery improvisations and remarkable versatility. Price, a two-time National Old-Time Fiddle Champion, brings a dynamic energy that perfectly complements Furtado’s artistry. Together, they create a musical experience that is both intimate and exhilarating—filled with raw emotion, dazzling technique, and joyful collaboration.

Set against the warm, welcoming backdrop of Occidental’s redwood-surrounded performing arts center, this concert promises to be a night of world-class musicianship you won’t soon forget.

✨ Don’t miss your chance to experience two of the most compelling performers in roots and Americana music—right here in West Sonoma County!

Tickets are $30 advance, $35 at the door. Discount for OCA members, free for kids 12 and under (no tickets required for kids)

OCA is wheelchair accessible. Fine refreshments for sale. Art gallery open during intermission.

Regenerative Ayurvedic Yoga with Tirza Dawn

Come, step onto your mat with an open heart and an open mind.

Invest in your self care and join us for morning yoga in the OCA studio. $20 per class, $15 for OCA members. Each Wednesday from 9:00-10:15 AM in our Studio.

Pay at the door for a-la-carte sessions or use the links below to pay ahead for four weeks at a time.

Tirza Dawn Naramore is a yogi, mother, artist, ceremonialist and lover of life.  She has been practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for 30 years and offers yoga retreats and trainings that center on optimum health, self realization and self love.  Her teachers are from many yoga and tantric traditions, but her primary lineages are Iyengar and Kali Ray.

Tirza is deeply devoted to community building and is honored to have created a number of community supported non profits including Mystic Family Circus and The AWAKEN Project, which serves families with children on the autism spectrum.  Tirza is proud to be the mother of 3 wild teenagers, including her incredible son who is diagnosed with autism.

Tirza’s spirituality is one of many influences and teachings. Beginning with a Christian up-bringing and being raised on a Christian commune in her early childhood, she later expanded into more earth-based ways. While in her 20’s Tirza was adopted into the Native American Church, where she learned from her relatives a way of living the “Beauty Way.”

During the 1990’s and early 2000’s, Tirza lived in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, directing the Mystic Family Circus, which was a performance group dedicated to cultural awareness and bridge building. She worked with Cirque du Soleil, Burning Man, Reclaiming, Contraband, CELLspace and other Bay Area art collectives and non profits to provide conscious entertainment and “prayerformances” for the betterment of humankind and the planet.

In 2012, Tirza helped to found the Buckeye Gathering, an ancestral skills gathering in Northern California which draws teachers and students of all ages to learn ancestral ways of tending the earth and survival skills.

Tirza Dawn was the founder of yoga programming and the Ayurvedic Yoga Teacher Trainings at the dhyana Center of Ayurveda in Sebastopol, California, which operated a community center of healing and education from 2010 to 2020.

Celebrate the season with the Annual Winter Solstice Concert by longtime Windham Hill recording artist, Barbara Higbie. Joined by her brilliant musical friends; guitarist, Vicki Randle, percussionist, Michaelle Goerlitz, cellist, Mia Pixley, bassist, Kofy Brown and mandolin prodigy, Jasper Manning, Barbara performs selections from the multi-platinum selling Windham Hill Winter Solstice series and her new "Chillogy" series. It is a warm, joyful and inclusive holiday tradition made new each year.

Barbara Higbie, a Grammy nominated, Bammy award winning pianist, singer-songwriter and violinist was the first female instrumentalist signed to Windham Hill label. She has released 20 original albums, worked with Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Terry Riley and the Kronos Quartet and appears on over 120 albums.

Tickets are $35 Advance, $30 for OCA members. Get tickets early - this show is expected to sell out.

Doors open at 6:30 PM.

Join us for a fun evening of Django-Style Jams at OCA! Bring your acoustic instrument and songs to share (instrument required/songs optional).

Led by Rick Fulkerson, this fun meetup for Django-Style Jazz enthusiasts is a great way to make new friends, learn new songs and spend an evening making music. No charge to participate/donations gratefully accepted. Meets in the OCA Studio, 3820 Doris Murphy Court.

Regenerative Ayurvedic Yoga with Tirza Dawn

Come, step onto your mat with an open heart and an open mind.

Invest in your self care and join us for morning yoga in the OCA studio. $20 per class, $15 for OCA members. Each Wednesday from 9:00-10:15 AM in our Studio.

Pay at the door for a-la-carte sessions or use the links below to pay ahead for four weeks at a time.

Tirza Dawn Naramore is a yogi, mother, artist, ceremonialist and lover of life.  She has been practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for 30 years and offers yoga retreats and trainings that center on optimum health, self realization and self love.  Her teachers are from many yoga and tantric traditions, but her primary lineages are Iyengar and Kali Ray.

Tirza is deeply devoted to community building and is honored to have created a number of community supported non profits including Mystic Family Circus and The AWAKEN Project, which serves families with children on the autism spectrum.  Tirza is proud to be the mother of 3 wild teenagers, including her incredible son who is diagnosed with autism.

Tirza’s spirituality is one of many influences and teachings. Beginning with a Christian up-bringing and being raised on a Christian commune in her early childhood, she later expanded into more earth-based ways. While in her 20’s Tirza was adopted into the Native American Church, where she learned from her relatives a way of living the “Beauty Way.”

During the 1990’s and early 2000’s, Tirza lived in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, directing the Mystic Family Circus, which was a performance group dedicated to cultural awareness and bridge building. She worked with Cirque du Soleil, Burning Man, Reclaiming, Contraband, CELLspace and other Bay Area art collectives and non profits to provide conscious entertainment and “prayerformances” for the betterment of humankind and the planet.

In 2012, Tirza helped to found the Buckeye Gathering, an ancestral skills gathering in Northern California which draws teachers and students of all ages to learn ancestral ways of tending the earth and survival skills.

Tirza Dawn was the founder of yoga programming and the Ayurvedic Yoga Teacher Trainings at the dhyana Center of Ayurveda in Sebastopol, California, which operated a community center of healing and education from 2010 to 2020.

Regenerative Ayurvedic Yoga with Tirza Dawn

Come, step onto your mat with an open heart and an open mind.

Invest in your self care and join us for morning yoga in the OCA studio. $20 per class, $15 for OCA members. Each Wednesday from 9:00-10:15 AM in our Studio.

Pay at the door for a-la-carte sessions or use the links below to pay ahead for four weeks at a time.

Tirza Dawn Naramore is a yogi, mother, artist, ceremonialist and lover of life.  She has been practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for 30 years and offers yoga retreats and trainings that center on optimum health, self realization and self love.  Her teachers are from many yoga and tantric traditions, but her primary lineages are Iyengar and Kali Ray.

Tirza is deeply devoted to community building and is honored to have created a number of community supported non profits including Mystic Family Circus and The AWAKEN Project, which serves families with children on the autism spectrum.  Tirza is proud to be the mother of 3 wild teenagers, including her incredible son who is diagnosed with autism.

Tirza’s spirituality is one of many influences and teachings. Beginning with a Christian up-bringing and being raised on a Christian commune in her early childhood, she later expanded into more earth-based ways. While in her 20’s Tirza was adopted into the Native American Church, where she learned from her relatives a way of living the “Beauty Way.”

During the 1990’s and early 2000’s, Tirza lived in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, directing the Mystic Family Circus, which was a performance group dedicated to cultural awareness and bridge building. She worked with Cirque du Soleil, Burning Man, Reclaiming, Contraband, CELLspace and other Bay Area art collectives and non profits to provide conscious entertainment and “prayerformances” for the betterment of humankind and the planet.

In 2012, Tirza helped to found the Buckeye Gathering, an ancestral skills gathering in Northern California which draws teachers and students of all ages to learn ancestral ways of tending the earth and survival skills.

Tirza Dawn was the founder of yoga programming and the Ayurvedic Yoga Teacher Trainings at the dhyana Center of Ayurveda in Sebastopol, California, which operated a community center of healing and education from 2010 to 2020.

Rest & Renew at our Sound Bath!

Support your nervous system, release anxiety and stress, and harmonize your body, mind and spirit on the 2nd Tuesday of every month! Laura Benson has a Masters in Intuition Medicine(R) and is a certified sound healer who will guide you through a gentle meditation before each sound bath session. Bring your own yoga mat & blanket and come ready to rest and renew! In the OCA Studio.

Sliding scale pricing $25-$35.

A sound bath is a whole-body, immersive listening experience. During a sound bath, participants often sit or lie down, and are surrounded by the mostly non-melodic soundscapes created by a range of instruments played by the sound bath facilitator. Hence, they are “bathed” in sound.

Sound therapy is a non-invasive healing modality that utilizes the physical and physiological interactions of sound on our bodies and nervous systems to produce therapeutic results. In a sound healing session, specific sonic frequencies are used to soothe the central nervous system, calm the breath, and quiet the mind by encouraging the brain to move into more relaxed states, down from beta (fight-or-flight) and into theta and alpha waves. This increases present-moment awareness and reduces stress and anxiety. Sound baths have been found to be effective in improving mood, cognitive function, and overall mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.

Crystal bowl sound baths are particularly powerful in that each bowl is tuned to a specific frequency that corresponds with a different chakra, or energy center, of the body. Based on specific needs, a practitioner can focus on releasing tension or clearing out stuck energy in specific chakras by playing certain bowls or intervals. 

While attending a sound bath, you may experience physical sensations brought out by the crystal sound bowls or gong, such as tingling in your limbs or scalp, slowing of your breathing, eye flutters, or small muscle spasms. Not to worry! These sensations often indicate the release of tension or emotional energy stored in the body’s energy systems.

ZipLine Improv

Fast, funny, and completely unpredictable—ZipLine Improv returns to Occidental Center for the Arts for a night of spontaneous comedy and side-splitting laughter! Every scene, character, and punchline is made up on the spot, inspired by audience suggestions and the quick wit of these fearless performers. No two shows are ever the same, but every performance guarantees big laughs, clever surprises, and a joyful reminder of how much fun live theater can be. Grab your friends and get ready for an evening where anything can happen—and probably will!

Tickets are $30, $25 for OCA members. OCA is wheelchair accessible. Free parking.

Refreshments available. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

Rhythm Future Quartet Returns to Occidental Center for the Arts!
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of dazzling musicianship and infectious energy as the acclaimed Rhythm Future Quartet returns to OCA! Renowned for their dynamic performances and innovative spirit, this world-class ensemble brings fresh excitement to the timeless sound of Gypsy jazz, blending masterful technique with modern flair. With virtuosic improvisation, irresistible rhythms, and a joyful sense of swing, Rhythm Future Quartet captures the heart of Django Reinhardt’s legacy while charting their own bold musical path. Don’t miss this thrilling night of toe-tapping brilliance and inspired artistry—one of OCA’s most anticipated performances of the year!

Nationally Acclaimed Speaker, Creative Consultant, Writer and Performer, Julie Gieseke leads this workshop that will unlock your wild, creative spirit!

Do you want to experience the liberating power of radical self-reflect? 

‘I coach people who long to feel more creatively free by helping them express their truest selves — exploring the shadows we all have…seeing what is there, bringing it into the light, and releasing it.’ 

Join Julie on Feb 1st for this All-Day Workshop in OCA’s Studio. 

Cost: Non-OCA Members $125/ Members $115

Lunch break 12-1, BYOL. Light refreshments and water will be provided. Limited to 12 participants. Register early!

Learn more about Julie’s body of work in coaching and teaching.

Words + Music

A Unique Blend of Folk Music Brilliance!

Some might call it a song circle, but when Laurie Lewis, Don Henry, Claudia Russell, and Nina Gerber share the stage, it becomes much more than that. These four exceptionally talented folk musicians create a pop-up band experience that is nothing short of magical. They're back for their sixth annual OCA performance that is guaranteed to leave you enchanted.

Tickets for this event are $35 GA, $30 for OCA members.
Fine refreshments for sale, art gallery open during intermisison.

OCA is wheelchair accessible. People with disabilities are encouraged to contact us ahead of time for accommodation, please email info@occidentalcenterfortheats.org.

Laurie Lewis: A name well-known to Bay Area audiences and beyond, Laurie is a world-renowned singer, songwriter, fiddler, guitarist, producer, and educator. Her voice, described by Linda Ronstadt as "a rare combination of grit and grace," has earned her two International Bluegrass Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year awards. With nearly 20 albums to her name, Laurie has garnered multiple Grammy nominations and won for her contribution to "True Life Blues: the Songs of Bill Monroe." Here in Words+Music, Laurie’s songwriting truly shines.

Don Henry: Don is a songwriter's songwriter, infusing humor, depth, and profound humanity into his songs. Artists like Miranda Lambert, Ray Charles, and Patti Page have recorded his works. Don's Grammy-winning song "Where've You Been" (recorded by Kathy Mattea) is a testament to his songwriting prowess. His music, often compared to Randy Newman's, delves into thought-provoking themes, making every performance an engaging experience. Don’s “day job” is playing and singing backup on tour with folk legend Tom Paxton.

Claudia Russell: The brainchild of Words+Music, Claudia’s heartfelt and humorous songs have won her accolades on both sides of the Atlantic. According to Britain’s Country Music People UK, “Few singers can construct a song as well as Claudia Russell, and her sharp, well-observed lyrics have an engaging, timeless feel.” American Songwriter hailed her 2013 CD, “All Our Luck Is Changing,” as “a masterpiece,” and Sing Out magazine called her “an outstanding talent in the crowded field of singer/songwriters.” Boston’s WUMB-FM named Russell Artist of the Year, and the East Bay Express selected her as Best Musician.

Nina Gerber: Adding her virtuoso guitar skills to the mix, Nina Gerber is one of the West Coast's most sought-after guitarists. Her intuitive style and ability to blend seamlessly with a range of artists have made her a favorite collaborator. She's played with a wealth of renowned artists, including Chris Webster, Karla Bonoff, Nanci Griffith, Dave Alvin, Kate Wolf, and many others. Her album "Good Music with Good People" showcases her exceptional talent alongside Jackson Browne, Eliza Gilkyson, Bruce Cockburn, and more.

This extra-special evening promises savvy songwriting, superior singing, and beautiful accompaniment. Don't miss your chance to witness the enchanting collaboration of Laurie Lewis, Don Henry, Claudia Russell, and Nina Gerber. Join us on February 1st for an unforgettable Words + Music experience.

Benja Soul

Experience an evening of soulful music, deep groove, and powerful storytelling with Benjamin Mertz and Friends at Occidental Center for the Arts. Known for his rich, expressive voice and passionate performances, Benjamin brings together an ensemble of talented musicians for a night that blends gospel, blues, jazz, and soul into a sound that is both timeless and alive with spirit. With songs that speak to justice, joy, and the resilience of the human heart, this concert promises to uplift, inspire, and move you from the first note to the last. Come be part of a musical journey that celebrates community, connection, and the transformative power of song.

TWO SHOWS WILL BE PERFORMED on Feb 7. This listing is for the 3pm Show. For the 7pm show, click here.

Tickets are $30, $25 for OCA members. These shows will sell out! Get your tickets early.

Benja Soul

Experience an evening of soulful music, deep groove, and powerful storytelling with Benjamin Mertz and Friends at Occidental Center for the Arts. Known for his rich, expressive voice and passionate performances, Benjamin brings together an ensemble of talented musicians for a night that blends gospel, blues, jazz, and soul into a sound that is both timeless and alive with spirit. With songs that speak to justice, joy, and the resilience of the human heart, this concert promises to uplift, inspire, and move you from the first note to the last. Come be part of a musical journey that celebrates community, connection, and the transformative power of song.

TWO SHOWS WILL BE PERFORMED on Feb 7. This listing is for the 7pm Show. For the 3pm show, click here.

Tickets are $30, $25 for OCA members. These shows will sell out! Get your tickets early.

A special Valentine's Show with Erika Tietjen and Ben Morrison

Celebrate love, music, and the magic of connection this Valentine’s Day at Occidental Center for the Arts! Hearts in Harmony features the incomparable Erika Tietjen of the T Sisters and Ben Morrison of The Brothers Comatose—a married pair whose chemistry on stage is as rich as their harmonies. Enjoy an intimate evening of soulful songs, heartfelt storytelling, and the kind of musical spark only true love can create. Perfect for couples, friends, and anyone who believes in the power of music to move the heart.

Advance tickets are $35/$30 for members

$5 more at the door (if available)

OCA is wheelchair accessible. Refreshments available, art gallery open during intermission. Reserved seating available for OCA members.

About the performers:

TERRIER, a captivating folk duo, was born from the unique confluence of Ben Morrison of The Brothers Comatose and Erika Tietjen of T Sisters. Partners in life and on stage, their musical journey together began during the challenging days of the pandemic, a time when creativity and resilience were needed most.

As destiny would have it, Erika was pregnant with their first child when the idea of TERRIER took root. The pair's harmonious collaboration emerged in the midst of anticipation and transformation, weaving the joy of new life into the very fabric of their music. Together, Ben and Erika create a sound that's both intimate and enchanting, a testament to the strength of their partnership, but they also create a fun and light space to laugh about their very relatable challenges as spouses and parents.

TERRIER's songs reflect the universal themes of love, family, and the human experience. Their lyrics, infused with the wisdom of life's changes, resonate with audiences as they share their journey of becoming parents and making music that carries the warmth of family bonds.

With their voices in harmony, TERRIER brings an authentic, heartfelt experience to every stage they grace. Their sound and dynamic harken to great duos of the past like Johnny Cash and June Carter and John Prine and Iris Dement, with a contemporary spin of their own. TERRIER’s music is not just a performance but a celebration of love and the creative spirit that thrives even in the most challenging times. As they continue their musical and life journey, TERRIER is set to inspire and connect with audiences, inviting them to share in the beauty of their story through music.

Occidental Center for the Arts Literary Series hosts the writers of Red Flag Warning: Mutual Aid and Survival in California's Fire Country: edited by Dani Burlison & Margaret Elysia Garcia. (AK Press) A guide for living physically, mentally and emotionally amid ecological destruction. Readers are invited to examine what fire can and does mean to them and what it means for us to re-imagine the world. Presenters from this collection include Dani Burlison, Manjula Martin, Hiya Swanhuyser Beatrice Camacho, and  Amy Elizabeth Robinson.

Free admission, all donations gratefully accepted. Selected readings, and conversation with the audience, followed by book sales and signing. Refreshments for sale.  OCA’s facilities are accessible to people with disabilities.

Dani Burlison (she/her) is a writer and teacher from rural Northern California. Her books include “Red Flag Warning: Mutual Aid and Survival in California’s Fire Country” (co-editor, AK Press, 2025), “Some Places Worth Leaving” (Tolsun Books, 2020), and “All of Me: Love, Anger and the Female Body” (PM Press, 2019). She makes zines, is a co-founder of the CAW anarchist collective, and has been a staff writer at a Bay Area Alt-weekly and a columnist at McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. Dani’s writing can also be found in Ms. Magazine, Yes! Magazine, KQED Arts, The Rumpus, Earth Island Journal, Portland Review and elsewhere. She teaches at SRJC and is a single mom of two young adults.

Manjula Martin is author of The Last Fire Season: A Personal and Pyronatural History. She is coauthor of Fruit Trees for Every Garden, which won the 2020 American Horticultural Society Book Award. Martin edited the anthology Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living, and she was managing editor of the National Magazine Award–winning literary journal Zoetrope: All-Story. She lives in western Sonoma County, California.

Hiya Swanhuyser is a a writer from Northern California. She is a founding member of Substrate Arts, a co-operative online magazine covering Bay Area creative scenes. Her writing has appeared in the Press Democrat, the North Bay Bohemian, KQED Arts, Mission Local, the Believer, Fandor's Keyframe, and others. She is writing a book about the Montgomery Block, a little-known Bohemian mecca that once stood where the Transamerica Pyramid is now. She grew up on a semi-communal family farm in Occidental.

Beatrice Camacho is the UndocuFund Director and a Community Organizer. She is a first-generation Chicana raised in Sonoma County to low-income, working-class parents who immigrated from Northern Mexico. As a lifelong renter, growing up on Section 8 Housing, she knows the importance of dignified and affordable housing. She is trained in Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices. An organizer with the North Bay Organizing Project since 2018, she organized the Sonoma County Tenants Union, organizes community pop-up healing clinics, and co-founded the statewide California UndocuFund Network.

Amy Elizabeth Robinson lived in the eastern mountains of Sonoma County, California, until her family’s home and community were lost to wildfire. She is a poet, writer, reader, historian, and many other things; she studies Zen and the creative process with Rachel Boughton, Roshi at Flower Mountain Zen, and is on the Steering Committee for the North Bay chapter of the Working Families party.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Tap! 

This class offering is for 6 weeks, Tuesdays from 11 am-12 pm, starting February 17th.  This open level class is for those who wish to discover tap dance and those who wish to continue exploring. 

Classes will be led by Starr Hergenrather, Mindy Copeland and Gabe Copeland. A limited supply of tap shoes is available for use at the class. Please contact us ahead of time to ensure we have the right size for you.

Participation fee is $150 for the session, $125 for OCA members.  

Tap Dance provides an avenue for developing coordination, balance, musicality, rhythm, and general love for movement.  We will learn the basics (if a beginner) and beyond, through warm-ups, discover the language of tap dance, learn the Shim Sham, and routines that will launch you onto your own exploration of the dance form.

Tap is an extremely fun and rewarding form of dance. Tap Dance originated in the 19th century through a fusion of African and Irish dance styles, becoming a unique American art form in the melting pot of New York City. It developed through percussive footwork, initially on plantations and in urban cellars, and later gained widespread popularity through minstrel shows, vaudeville, and Hollywood musicals. Innovators like Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, the Nicholas Brothers, Eleanor Powell, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly to name just a few, who shaped its evolution, which continues today with new fusions in contemporary dance. May 26,  Bojangle’s birthday, is National Tap Dance Day.

Starr Hergenrather has been teaching Theatre and Dance for over 54 years, dancing for 70 years, which is amazing since she is only 45 years old!  She received her Theatre Arts and Teaching Credentials in 1971 from Denver, CO.   Starr has taught theatre/creative dramatics/improvisation/dance to all ages and directed and produced theatre for many, many years.  She and her family moved to Sebastopol in 1983.  In 1987, she received her Dance credential and degree from SSU.   Starr loves the theatre and dance and everything about them.  She has performed on stage and in film throughout her teaching career.  Before joining the staff at Analy in 2001 where she became the Theatre Arts Program Director and taught one dance class starting in 2010, when the high school lost its Dance instructor due to No Child Left Behind, she taught at Brookhaven School from 1990-2001 teaching a myriad of subjects, including Theatre and Dance, and Rincon Valley Junior High School from 1987-1997, as BJ Van Noy’s choreographer and asst. director of her Music Program.  Starr’s tap mentor was a Vaudeville and later Broadway song and Dance man by the name of Jack Williams.  Starr studied with Jack for almost 20 years., until his waning years.

Tap, which is a magical form of dance, btw, is Starr’s first dance love, next to swing, salsa, and partner dancing, and then just plain social, wild hippie dancing at concerts.

Starr also teaches Private Tap Lessons for any level dancer.  Starr has a studio at her home.

Will Marsh is an accomplished global sitarist & guitarist who carries on the rich tradition of many genres with elegance, imagination and innovation. This performance features Will along with other master musicians to complete the ensemble, bringing rich melodies and extraordinnairy combinations of instruments that blend cultures and cross traditional boundaries.

Tickets are $30, $25 for OCA members. Get tickets online or at the door.

The Ensemble

The Integration is the creative expression of Will Marsh’s (sitar/guitar) unique musical journey of many years devoted to both western music and hindustani classical music. He became initiated into the rich tradition of hindustani classical music as a sitarist under the legendary Ustad Aashish Khan.

Will has since become a shining expression of this tradition with international performances in the realm of traditional sitar. As a kid, Will had an insatiable curiosity for exploring the world’s music. He found profound depth in the traditional music of the world and nurtured that itch by studying World Music Performance at the California institute of the Arts, completing his World Music performance MFA in 2013. Since then, Will’s musical journey has been rich and diverse. He believes passionately that music is essential to all of humanity.

Hearing the rich tapestry of melody for sitar, guitar, cello, saxophone and tabla in the Integration Ensemble connects audiences to the richness of the world’s traditions in a vibrant, fresh expression of humanity’s greatest gift, music!

The ensemble performs this dynamic music at venues and festivals internationally.

Learn more about Will at willmarshmusic.com

Join us for an entrancing afternoon with two esteemed poets, Donna Emerson and Gerald Fleming, with selected readings from their recent poetry collections, respectively, Daphne Lifts Up and The Bastard & The Bishop. Our audience will be swept away by musical interludes on various stringed instruments from award-winning composer and musician, Jared Emerson-Johnson. Local watercolor artist and college instructor, Barbara Marlin, creator of the Daphne Lifts Up book cover will display the original artwork and selected prints of other work at the event.

Following the readings and music, a Q&A will follow, with book sales and signing in the lobby. Refreshments will be available for sale.

This is free event, all donations always gratefully accepted.

Donna Emerson divides her time between Petaluma, California, and her family homestead near Ithaca, New York. Retired from teaching at Santa Rosa Jr. College and her clinical social work practice, her recent poetry publications include La Pressa, The Paterson Literary Review, and Weber: The Contemporary West. Her chapbooks: This Water, 2007, Body Rhymes, 2009, Wild Mercy, 2011, and Following Hay, 2013. Her poetry books are The Place of Our Meeting (Finishing Line Press, 2018) and Beside the Well (Cherry Grove Collections. 2019). And now, Daphne Lifts Up (Finishing Line Press, 2025).

Donna has received two nominations for the Pushcart Prize, one for "Best of the Net," two nominations for the California Book Award (Body Rhymes, 2009, The Place of Our Meeting, 2018), five awards from the annual Allen Ginsberg Contests, and numerous regional awards for her poetry, creative non-fiction, and prose. Many of her poems appear in journals or anthologies with her black and white or color photography. Anais Nin used Donna's portraits of Anais in her late diaries and press coverage in the New York Times.

Donna has taught poetry to elementary school children and made it part of her community college classrooms (1990-2015). She worked as a volunteer with Alzheimer’s patients at a residential facility to help them create individual and group poems and served as Board member and Events Chair for the Marin Poetry Center (2012-2014). 

Donna’s latest book, “Daphne Lifts Up” includes poems about nature around us, nature within us, and relationships with many different people, from family to counseling clients, to students, colleagues at work, animals, birds, and strangers. It addresses birth, illness, death, and resiliency in all these verses.

Gerald Fleming is the author of the poetry collections The Bastard and the Bishop (Hanging Loose Press, 2021), One (Hanging Loose, 2016), The Choreographer (Sixteen Rivers Press, 2013), Night of Pure Breathing (Hanging Loose, 2011), and Swimmer Climbing onto Shore (Sixteen Rivers, 2005). His work has appeared in many magazines over the decades, including New Letters, Michigan Quarterly Review, Hanging Loose, Carolina Quarterly, New World Writing, Volt, Paris Lit Up, and Versal.

Fleming edited the print magazines Barnabe Mountain Review and Forward to Velma, the vitreous magazine One (More) Glass, and The Collected Poetry & Prose of Lawrence Fixel (Sixteen Rivers, 2021). He has written numerous books for teachers, including Rain, Steam, and Speed (Jossey-Bass/Wiley, 2005), and lives most of the year near San Francisco, part of the year in Paris.

Fleming, a master of the prose poem, is never satisfied to sing the same song, and this adventuresome spirit pays dividends in these new prose poems. Constantly surprising and inventive, The Bastard and the Bishop offers stories within stories that effortlessly merge the personal and the archetypal, breathing new life into a genre that has increasingly, and often sadly, become predictable.

Jared Emerson-Johnson is a video game music composer, sound designer, voice director and voice actor. He is the Music Supervisor and lead composer at Bay Area Sound, an audio production company specializing in sound design, music and voiceover for video games.

Bluegrass, old time and acoustic roots music with outstanding musicianship

Like the powerful mandolinist and composer at its helm, John Reischman and the Jaybirds fashion a stylish take on bluegrass that seamlessly blends original songs and instrumentals with Appalachian old-time music for a truly unique band sound. Now in their 20th year, with seven acclaimed albums and two Juno nominations, the Jaybirds are simultaneously innovative and unadorned, sophisticated and stripped-down, happily old-fashioned and 21st-century contemporary.

Tickets are $35 advance, $40 at the door. Discount for OCA members.

Doors open at 6:30 PM. OCA is wheelchair accessible. Art gallery open during intermission, refreshments for sale.

Bluegrass Unlimited calls John Reischman “one of the world’s undisputed masters” of the mandolin, famed for outstanding tone and taste. Many of his dozens of original instrumentals have become popular favourites for sessions and covers, such as the jam standard Saltspring. He has three critically-acclaimed solo instrumental albums and has recorded on many other projects, including the Grammy-winning True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe. John also plays Latin-based jazz and choro music with highly regarded finger-style acoustic guitarist/composer John Miller; the duo has released three superb albums.

John began his career in the San Francisco Bay area in the early ’80s with the eclectic Good Ol’ Persons bluegrass band. He was an original member of the legendary “new acoustic” quartet, the jazz-influenced Tony Rice Unit, renowned for highly skilled instrumentals. John moved to Vancouver in the early ’90s and in 1999 formed the Jaybirds. Of their latest album, Folk Radio UK said “On That Other Green Shore showcases an accomplished, experienced band at the peak of their powers, with musicianship of the very highest order.” Peghead Nation called it “one of the most beguiling bluegrass-rooted recordings of 2017.”

Los Angeles, CA-based guitarist Patrick Sauber joined the Jaybirds in 2017. The veteran performer has played with, among others, Doc Watson, Richard Greene, John Jorgensen, Peter Rowan, Tim O’Brien and John Fogerty. He played on the 2016 Grammy-nominated album The Hazel and Alice Sessions by Laurie Lewis, and appeared in the film A Mighty Wind with Christopher Guest. Bluegrass Unlimited describes Patrick’s playing on John’s tune Daylighting the Creek as “a glorious flatpicking solo that hews back to the glory days of early bluegrass guitar.”

Chilliwack, BC-based Trisha Gagnon is portrayed by Sing Out! as “one of the most versatile” and “irresistible” lead vocalists in bluegrass, her strong and distinctive style ranging from “mournful and plaintive” to “hopeful and yearning.” Trisha anchors what Dirty Linen magazine calls “gorgeous three-part harmonies.” She’s also known for songwriting, dating back to her early days with the award-winning B.C. bluegrass band Tumbleweed. Her solo album includes guests Vince Gill and Peter Rowan.

Nanaimo, BC-based Nick Hornbuckle has developed his own voice on the five-string banjo – a two-finger roll unlike other contemporary banjo players. “Nick Hornbuckle’s banjo can be downright spine-tingling,” said the L.A Daily News. His solo album 12×2 (+/-1), was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award in 2015, and Nick is a composer who also digs for rare old-time gems. His sprightly instrumental Wellesley Station on the new Jaybird album “showcases Nick’s sharp picking and sense of melody,” said Green Man Review.

Spokane, WA-based Greg Spatz is hailed as a “world-class bluegrass fiddler” by Fiddler Magazine. Audiophile Audition says Greg’s “virtuosic playing is flawlessly delivered time after time,” while Bluegrass Unlimited says he “lays down some seriously fine bluegrass fiddle” on the latest Jaybirds release. His strong chops have made him a popular fixture down through the years on the West Coast, where he’s played with iconic mandolinist Frank Wakefield, resophonic guitar master Rob Ickes, and many others including Laurie Lewis, Bryan Bowers, and Eli West and Cahalen Morrison. Greg also plays and records with Mighty Squirrel, has a solo album called Fiddler’s Dream and a duo recording with his wife called All Along the Sea, and is an award-winning novelist.

Two of Sonoma County’s hottest bands team up for an unforgettable night of psychedelic jams and jazzy funk. Come boogie with us in Occidental!

Tickets are $25, discount for OCA members.

Electric Tumbleweed brings a blend of Psychedelic Rock, Outlaw Country, and soulful Americana, characterized by a hard-driving mix of twangy guitar and psychedelic noise, with a pedal steel guitar layered on top.

Have you ever wanted to tell your tale in front of an audience but didn’t know how to start? Join our introductory class to learn about narrative, truth telling, what storytelling isn’t and get a chance to start creating your Moth style story for an upcoming 7minutesMax storytelling at Occidental Center for the Arts.

Sunday, March 8th. 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. 7minutesMAX - Storytelling Workshop with Jessica Morell, and Suze Pringle Cohan. Join our introductory class to learn about narrative, truth telling, what storytelling isn’t - and get a chance to start creating your Moth-style story for our ongoing 7minutesMax events on the second Fridays (7-8PM) of each month.

Workshop registration $75, $65 for OCA members. Bring your own lunch. This workshop is limited to 20 people - register early !

Instructor Jessica Morell became a storyteller in 2016 when she entered the San Miguel International Storytelling festival and won first place out of 36 participants. Jessica is the host of 7minutesMax at OCA and is a regular contributor at Westside Stories in Petaluma, additionally has appeared at the GrandSlam at the Mystic Theatre a number of times. Jessica is an active local community member and is a passionate board member at OCA. Jessica brings an engaging, gentle and fun approach to teaching.

Facilitator and workshop assistant Suze Pringle Cohan is a published writer and poet. She has been the literary chair of OCA since 2010, hosting book launches, poetry events and workshops on the craft of writing.

Join us for the Occidental Fool’s Parade! This fun, family-friendly event includes a whimsical parade through the village of Occidental led by the Hubbub Club marching band, followed by a community party at Occidental Center for the Arts. Enjoy watching the parade from downtown, or join in!

Meet at the Occidental Community Center at 12:30 PM to join the parade

1:00 PM Parade Starts

1:30 PM Party at OCA Starts

This year we’re excited to feature even more clowns, performers and activities for the kids. Don your finest silly clothing and spend the day frolicking with us at this decades-old town tradition!

Prize for silliest costume. FREE EVENT.

Supported by the Occidental Community Council and the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors

2026 Music by Casual Country

High-energy outlaw, classic & unexpected country hits!

Julio Reyes: An Evening of Virtuoso Guitar at Occidental Center for the Arts

Join us at Occidental Center for the Arts for an unforgettable night with acclaimed guitarist Julio Reyes, whose expressive playing and soulful command of the instrument have captivated audiences around the world. Blending Latin American traditions with contemporary flair, Reyes delivers a performance that is both intimate and electrifying—rich with original compositions, dazzling technique, and heartfelt storytelling through music.

Julio will perform compositions by Bach, Barrios, Tarrega, Albeniz, Villa-lobos, Lauro, Jobim, and Heitmeyer. Experience the warmth, precision, and artistry of one of today’s most compelling guitar voices up close in an evening that promises to inspire, uplift, and transport.

Tickets are $30, $25 for OCA and RAC members. Doors open at 2:30 PM. Refreshments available. OCA is wheelchair accessible.

Tickets for this event will be on sale soon.

Carlitos Medrano will return with his popular Cuban & Latin Rhythms Drumming Workshop

Watch for more workshops and performances to be announced soon!

Occidental World Music & Dance Festival

Celebrate the rhythms, cultures, and global creativity that make our community shine at the Occidental World Music & Dance Festival! This joyful, immersive event brings together extraordinary musicians and dancers from around the world for a day filled with exhilarating performances, interactive workshops, and irresistible beats. From captivating traditional artistry to innovative contemporary fusion, the festival invites audiences of all ages to experience the beauty of global cultures up close. With food, vendors, community activities, and plenty of space to dance, it’s a feast for the senses and a celebration of unity through music and movement. Come be part of one of Occidental’s most beloved and uplifting traditions!

Ticket prices - adults

Early bird pricing $55 through 12/31/25

$65 through April 30

$75 through May 29

$80 at the door

Kids 12 and under free

Teens half price

Discounts for OCA members

Workshops and performers will be announced soon. Get your tickets early and save!

Click here to read about last year's festival.