Built in 1914 in the style of classical European architecture, San Francisco City Hall has long been known as the People’s Palace — though its grand design has never fully reflected the histories, cultures, and aspirations of San Francisco’s people of color and marginalized communities.
In May 2024, Zaccho Dance Theatre staged “The People’s Palace,” a free performance installation inside the building, sending aerialists soaring beneath its 307-foot rotunda dome, dancers moving through and against its architecture, and large-scale projections mapped directly onto its walls to tell a more inclusive story of San Francisco. This film, directed by Oakland-based filmmaker Bryan Gibel and Zaccho artistic director Joanna Haigood, immerses viewers in the performance. Intimate shots float inches from the dancers as they move through space, while sweeping panoramics capture the full scale and grandeur of the building itself. The result is a film as unique and breathtaking as the many cultures it was made to honor.
