San Diego Tap & Jazz Dance Festival
November 21, 2026: 8:30 AM - 9 PM
November 22, 2026: 8:30 AM - 9 PM
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San Diego Tap & Jazz Dance Festival 2026
November 20–22, 2026 | San Diego, CA
Get ready for a weekend filled with rhythm, creativity, live music, and incredible artistry! The San Diego Tap & Jazz Dance Festival returns November 20–22, bringing together world-class tap dancers, jazz musicians, educators, and community members for a three-day celebration of American dance, music, and culture.
This year's festival features an exceptional faculty lineup, bringing together acclaimed San Diego jazz musician and educator Gilbert Castellanos with internationally celebrated New York City tap artists Jason Samuels Smith and Michela Marino-Lerman, alongside an extraordinary roster of guest teaching artists. Through master classes, musical exploration, and live performances, these artists will share their knowledge, creativity, and passion for preserving and advancing the art forms of tap dance and authentic jazz.
The celebration kicks off Friday, November 20, with a FREE Opening Jam at Panama 66 in Balboa Park from 6–8 p.m.! Set in the beautiful outdoor sculpture garden, this lively gathering brings dancers and musicians together for an evening of live jazz, spontaneous dancing, and community connection. Come enjoy the infectious energy of tap and jazz in one of San Diego's most beloved cultural destinations. No dance experience necessary!
On Saturday, November 21, experience the magic of live music and dance at our Faculty Jazz Concert, featuring festival teaching artists accompanied by an outstanding live jazz ensemble at the Keiller Leadership Academy Auditorium. Witness the artistry, musicality, improvisation, and dynamic connection between tap dancers and live jazz musicians in an exciting concert celebrating these uniquely American art forms.
Throughout the weekend, dancers of all ages and experience levels are invited to participate in workshops exploring tap, authentic jazz, African dance, musicality, improvisation, and the cultural roots of these traditions. San Diego's own Gilbert Castellanos will lead his special workshop, "Jazz Jam: How to Navigate the Music as a Tap Dancer," offering dancers an opportunity to explore the language of jazz, develop their musical awareness, and discover how to connect with live musicians.
More than a dance festival, this is a celebration of cultural heritage, artistic expression, and community. Rooted in accessibility, education, and cultural preservation, the San Diego Tap & Jazz Dance Festival creates opportunities for emerging artists, seasoned professionals, young dancers, and the greater San Diego community to come together through the universal language of rhythm.
Whether you're a dancer, musician, jazz enthusiast, family, or simply someone who loves live performances and discovering something new, come experience a weekend unlike any other!
Come tap, swing, listen, learn, and celebrate with us!
