About the Twilight Dance Series

Summer concerts on the Pier began in May 1983 with "Save the Pier Week", an eight-day multi-faceted event spearheaded by Louise Kieffer and Peggy Clifford, with assistance from Laura Avery, who now manages the Santa Monica Farmers' Markets. After severe storms damaged the Pier in 1981 and 1983, the newly formed Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation and the Santa Monica Arts Commission decided to put together a series of concerts to raise awareness about the restoration project and build community spirit. Katharine King produced the entertainment portion of the event, featuring continuous concerts from 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Forty-eight distinct musical acts donated their time and efforts in support of the severely damaged yet beloved Pier. On Saturday evening Jim Rissmuller produced a concert with Ry Cooder, Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac as a finale. "Save the Pier Week" was an enormous success, as evidenced by the fact that 24 years later we are still dancing on the Pier.

The following year, the Santa Monica Pier Lessee's Association and the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation put together a small amount of seed money to continue the concerts. Katharine King again produced this series of four concerts, staged under a blue and white tent with seating for 250. With assistance from the Santa Monica Arts Commission, which held an office at the Carousel down the hall from the PRC in its early years, the Series was expanded to seven concerts in 1985, and it was that year that Katharine named the event the Twilight Dance Series. The concerts continued to be successful, featuring higher and higher profile acts and quickly outgrowing the tent. The Twilight Dance Series has now become a firmly rooted Southern California tradition and our long and varied list of talent grows bigger and better each year. Here is just a sample of the many diverse artists that have graced the Twilight Dance Series stage:

In 2005, after twenty years of producing the Series, Katharine handed over the reigns to production partner Rene Engel. A respected force on the Los Angeles public radio scene as a music director, program director and general manager, Engel continues the mission of creating an enriching, cultural, musical and fun experience on the Pier each summer.

The Series continues to be possible and successful through the support of a great many talented people, funding from the City of Santa Monica and support from sponsors. Today the concerts serve as a symbolic block party for Santa Monica and a host of Westsiders. Described as "the greatest annual gift from the City of Santa Monica to its residents"(and the world at large, as the Pier welcomes over 4 million visitors each year), thousands of concert-goers mark the beginning and end of their summers by the first and last concerts. Having matured from its earlier role as a marketing tool, the Twilight Dance Series is an inherent part of the Pier experience and a community treasure.

The 24th Annual Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance Series will begin on June 26 and will run through August 28, 2008. For ten Thursday evenings during the summer starting at 7:30 p.m., prepare to sing, dance, or just rock out to the best in Reggae, folk, rock and eclectic world music.

Admission is and has always been free!

View commemmorative posters from the Series' past!

Click to view large versions in a new window or tab. Make sure pop-ups are enabled.

Copyright © 2008 Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corp
Privacy Policy