Preservation Grant Applications are Due June 15th
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Texas Dance Hall Preservation - May 2026

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Saving Texas Dance Halls, one two-step at a time!

The Legend Lives On: New Bielau Dance Hall Reunion

Before it tragically burned in 1999, the New Bielau Dance Hall was a cornerstone of the community. This Saturday, May 30th, join Dance Hall Road Trip at the New Bielau Content Community Center to relive the magic.

This gathering isn't just a trip down memory lane—it’s a chance to capture history for an upcoming episode of The Texas Dance Hall Show. Come for the musician panels and storytelling, and stay for the "marquee moment": the world premiere of rare 1991 footage of the Texas Unlimited Band. There will even be complimentary beer provided by the descendants of J.F. Beken, honoring a tradition started at the hall’s grand opening in 1916.

  • When: Saturday, May 30 | Doors at 1 p.m.

  • Where: New Bielau Content Community Center (1926 FM 155 South, Weimar)

  • What: Stories, rare footage, and community connection.

For more info, go to the Facebook page.

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Final Countdown: Preservation Grant Applications Are Due June 15th!

The clock is ticking! There are less than three weeks left to submit your application for the Texas Dance Hall Preservation Spring Grant round.

We know that when a roof leaks or a dance floor buckles, the music stops. Our mission is to ensure those floorboards keep swinging for generations to come. If your historic hall needs a building condition assessment or critical repairs, now is the time to act.

Grant Highlights

  • Funding: Matching grants are available for up to $10,000.

  • Project Types: We fund building repairs, updates, and professional assessments by architects or structural engineers.

  • The Match: This is a $1-to-$1 matching grant program.  

  • Eligibility: Applicants must be TDHP members and own or lease an eligible historic dance hall.

Last year, we awarded a record $50,000 to six halls across the state. These funds helped replace non-historic windows with historically appropriate designs, leveled stages, and upgraded ancient HVAC systems. No project is too small—every repair helps protect the architectural and cultural integrity of our state’s most beloved gathering places.

Important Details

  • Deadline: June 15, 2026

  • Questions? We are here to help. If you aren’t sure if your project qualifies or need help with the application, please reach out to us today.

Visit our website to review the full guidelines and submit your application. Questions? Call 512-400-4315 or email director@texasdancehall.org

Meet Manuel Pina!
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Manuel Pina is Vice President of the Board of Directors of La Junta Patriotica which manages the Jimenez Event Center in Melvin (60 miles east of San Angelo). Originally built in the late 1930s as Plataforma Jimenez, the site continues to host community celebrations and dances.

 

When did you first see the Jimenez building and what are your first memories of it?

I must have seen the building the first time when I was a toddler because my parents were very active in the community and the building was a place for public discourse among the Mexican families, particularly the segregated Mexican/Anglo school. My recollection into my teen years was that of Mexican celebrations and dances.

 

What’s your favorite story you’ve heard from a patron of your hall?

My favorite story is from eighth grade and high school celebrations held separately by the Mexican community. It was a very interesting time in the era of separation between Anglos and Mexicans. Of course, there were many dances, Catholic Church fundraisers, and many pop-ups that sold tamales, hamburgers, cotton candy, and all kinds of non-alcoholic beverages.

  

Who are some of the most notable performers to take your stage?

Flaco Jimenez, Beto Villa, Little Joe and the Latinaires, Ruben Ramos, Anselmo Martinez, Isidro Lopez, Pepe Avalos, Jaime y Los Chamacos, Los Dos Gilbertos

 

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in preserving your site?

There is much interest among the surviving Mexicans, but not much from their descendants. Therefore, recruiting volunteers for assisting with reconstruction tasks is a challenge.

 

If you could secure one major upgrade for the hall, what would it be?

The one upgrade we direly need is restrooms.

 

How does TDHP help halls like yours remain open and viable?

TDHP help is paramount. It not only gives credibility to the effort, but also is prompting the local community to think of ways in which the building can be used for community events other than dances.

 

 

 Your support fuels everything we do — from preservation grants to emergency assistance and advocacy across Texas.

Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Inc., PO Box 150068, Austin, TX 78715. Phone: 512-400-4315
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