Mirrored Sessions

As part of the 29th National Queer Arts Festival, Mirrored Sessions is a ritual of sound, movement, and queer becoming.

What does it mean to gather in joy when the world tells you otherwise?

Mirrored Sessions is an immersive, multi-arts performance and communal ritual led by Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, and Queer artists. Through live music, embodied dance, and storytelling, the evening unfolds as a journey—one that moves from grounding to release and from remembrance to reclamation.

We begin in stillness. A soundscape to call the body home.
We move into rhythm. Into sweat. Into breath.
Into the knowing that joy is not frivolous, it is survival.

Rooted in Afro-diasporic memory and shaped by lived experience across Tanzania and the Bay Area, this gathering becomes a living mirror—reflecting resilience, sensuality, grief, power, and collective becoming. Mirrored Sessions extends the circle across continents in an act of solidarity and shared presence, connecting queer and trans communities in East, South, and Central Africa virtually through music and dance.

This is not only a performance.
It is a third space.
A reclamation.
A remembering.

Come to be seen.
Come to feel joy.
Come and take up space.

Venue & Arrival:

Hidden beneath the streets where Chinatown and North Beach meet, The Palace Theater is a secret 1920s-inspired speakeasy and cabaret—an intimate performance space known for its velvet-lit atmosphere, hidden passageways, and immersive stage experiences. Inside, guests gather around cabaret tables and beneath low lights as music, storytelling, and live performance unfold just feet away. The room invites closeness, curiosity, and transformation.

Location & Arrival: Enter through Joe's Clock Shop at 644 Broadway, right under the awning beside the guardian lion statues. Bring your photo ID for check-in. Our bar opens one hour before showtime, with last call 15 minutes before the performance begins.

Getting Here: Please plan your travel ahead as there is no late seating. The venue is a short walk from the Chinatown–Rose Pak station and several nearby Muni bus lines. Parking garages nearby include the North Beach Garage, and ride-hailing services are readily available.

Accessibility: If you need elevator access or other accommodations, please contact us as soon as possible at so we can support your visit.

Dining Options: While the venue does not serve food, we encourage you to explore the many restaurants and cafes in nearby North Beach and Chinatown before or after the show.

Please refer to our seating map below for more details on ticketin tiers:

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Host or Publisher Queer Cultural Center