The Bus Is Back!

One of Texas Dance Hall Preservation’s most-loved programs is rolling again — and you’re invited!

Join us on Saturday, May 2, 2026, for our One-Day Bus Tour, a fun-filled Hill Country road trip to three historic Texas dance halls: Kendalia Halle, Anhalt Halle, and Twin Sisters Dance Hall.

We’ll depart Austin at 3:30 pm from Cavender’s Boot City and spend the afternoon and evening exploring these legendary halls with stories, history, music, and plenty of Texas flavor along the way. Erik and Laurie McCowan of the Texas Dance Hall Road Show will help bring each stop to life, and Julie Wilmer of Blue Moon Dance Company will be on hand with two-step pointers.

One of the biggest highlights is Kendalia Halle — a beloved 1903 dance hall that closed in 2024 after 30 years of successful operation. With its future uncertain, this is a rare chance to step inside and experience a hall at a pivotal moment in its history. 

The night wraps up at Twin Sisters Dance Hall with live music and dancing to Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys. BBQ and refreshments will be available for purchase, and you’re welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks on the bus (no glass containers, please).

No hotel, no driving, no hassle — just one unforgettable night.

Tickets on sale now! TDHP members get a $10 off discount. Log in to your account once you are on the ticketing page.

Texas Dance Halls: Still Swingin’ Is Already Making Waves on KLRN

KLRN’s new five-part series, Texas Dance Halls: Still Swingin’, has already been on the air for two weeks — and the response has been tremendous.

After months of filming and traveling across Texas, this new series is shining a well-deserved spotlight on the people, places, and traditions that keep Texas dance hall culture alive. Texas Dance Hall Preservation was proud to help connect the KLRN team with dance halls and resources in their viewing area, and we’re thrilled to see so much interest and viewership for these stories.

If you’ve missed the first two episodes, don’t worry — you can catch up online through KLRN Originals.

New episodes continue to air on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on KLRN 9.1, following On The Record with Randy Beamer.

Upcoming episodes include:

• April 9 — Anhalt Halle & Quihi Gun Club & Dance Hall
• April 16 — Floore’s Country Store & Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar Saloon
• April 23 — Luckenbach & Texas Star Inn

The series is drawing plenty of attention — now all we need is for folks to get out and dance!

Preservation Fund Grant Applications Open April 15

Texas dance halls across the state will soon have another chance to apply for much-needed preservation support. Applications for the Texas Dance Hall Preservation Fund open April 15 and close June 15, 2026.

This year, Texas Dance Hall Preservation will award up to $50,000 total, with grants of up to $10,000 each for eligible preservation projects. Applicants must provide a dollar-for-dollar match to help stretch the impact of every grant and encourage strong local investment in these treasured community spaces.

This new round follows our 2025 grant cycle, when TDHP also awarded $50,000 to support preservation work at historic dance halls across Texas.

But the impact goes beyond the grants themselves. Every award helps spark local fundraising, strengthen stewardship, and build momentum for keeping these halls active, visible, and valued in their communities. And behind every grant is the broader work TDHP does year-round through advocacy, education, awareness-building, and programs that keep Texas dance hall culture alive.

Want to help us do more? Your support makes these grants possible — and helps us continue the work beyond the check.  Donate or become a member today!
Below: Taiton SPJST Hall (1923) and Moravia Store (1889)

TDHP Board Member Profile: Megan Ortiz

City: Clear Lake, Texas (Hometown: Cut 'n Shoot, Texas)
Occupation: External Relations at an aerospace startup

How long have you been on the TDHP board?
I joined the TDHP Board in the fall of 2023.

How did you get involved with the group?
I heard about TDHP from a friend and I was inspired to join based on my family's history with Texas dance halls

How does your professional background help as a board member?
I've spent over 18 years of my career working in digital marketing, events management, communications, and nonprofit fundraising. It's exciting to be able to utilize what I've gathered in my career for the benefit of TDHP.

What’s your first memory of a Texas dance hall?
I can't quite recall my first memory but collectively, some of my fondest memories are two stepping and dancing around various halls across Texas with my children. Dance halls have a way of bringing families together.

What’s one of your most memorable experiences at a dance hall?
My most memorable dance hall experience is one that I was not necessarily present for -- my maternal grandparents met at Dom Polski in the 1940s, what we, up until more recently, referred to as Fitzgeralds. It was deconstructed and turned into a parking lot but back in the day it would host regular meetups for the Polish community in the Houston area. I think it's fun to reflect on how a Texas Dance hall is the reason my cousins and I even exist.

Why is it so important to preserve these buildings?
Dance halls served as some of the foundational community centers across Texas, providing a place where people could gather to see a familiar face, inquire about work opportunities, or feel more at home hearing their native language in a new world.

What does TDHP do that most people don’t know about?
Something that TDHP does behind the scenes is actually attached to one of the most notable activities: grant funding. An element of grant funding that is so special to me is the amazing relationships our Executive Director has throughout Texas with the dance hall owners. When we are not giving out grants, we are in regular communication with the halls to hear about what is new in their area and how we can best support them in their various hall-related activities. 

What upcoming dance hall shows are you looking forward to?
My favorite thing about dance halls across Texas is showing up on a random Friday or Saturday night, listening to some live music, twirling my kids around the room, and seeing what good fun we can get into.

Preservation grants don’t happen by accident. Your gift helps fund grants, support urgent preservation needs, and power the year-round work that keeps Texas dance halls active, visible, and valued across the state.