California Story Fund
Dance Palace
The Dance Palace Community CenterPoint Reyes Station
Project Director: Elizabeth Ptak
Chronicling the history of a dynamic community center in West Marin County
This project recorded oral histories and collected photographs of people connected to the Dance Palace, a community center in Point Reyes Station in western Marin County that has played an important role in the life of the community since its founding in the 1970s.
“The story of the founding and development of the Dance Palace mirrors the history of West Marin and that of other small rural communities in Northern California,” said Project Director Elizabeth Ptak.
Among those interviewed were dairy ranchers, who witnessed the influx of hippies seeking a connection to nature in the 1960s ; long-time residents who have seen housing prices skyrocket; members of the Latino community, many of whom who came to West Marin to work on dairy ranches in the early 1980s; and founders and early participants in the Dance Palace.
The project culminated in a multimedia event — “Dance Palace Stories: How a Community Found its Center" — featuring a live performance, video and music; a historical overview by local historian Dewey Livingston; an exhibit of photographs; and a panel of community residents discussing the meaning and significance of the stories.
“People came together from all facets of the community together to celebrate the accomplishments of the Dance Palace, said project director Elizabeth Ptak.