Additional Resources

Let's Go Dancing!

Below are our favorite social dance venues and organizations! You can check out a few of their highlighted events and lessons on our calendar in the next section.

All these lessons and social dances are in the $15-25/person range, except East Coast Swing and Country venues, which may be cheaper. No reservation or particular join date necessary, unless noted (all others you can drop into at any date). Also, no need to buy a package or membership, although some do have memberships available to get discounted entrance rates.

Studios:

Each of these studios has a full monthly schedule of amazing, affordable lessons, and sometimes social dancing.

2155 Ballroom and Events

Particularly great for: West Coast Swing on Wednesday evenings.

@2155ballroom on Instagram

You Can Dance Dallas

Particularly great for: Lessons with Israel, and with TangoAmor, and social dances every Saturday night. Lessons with Israel - start at the beginning of the month, because they build on each other. TangoAmor - drop in any time.

You Can Dance Dallas on Facebook

Studio 22

Particularly great for: Lessons and the occasional social dance.

studio22dallas.com

Events & Organizations:

Any social dance that has a one-hour lesson before - the lesson will be included with admission for no extra charge. All of these locations have free parking, except the elephant parking lot at Sons.

USA Dance Dallas @ Sokol

One-hour lesson of rotating styles, then mixed social dancing (17 different styles) on one of the biggest dance floors in the metroplex! So much fun, and chill, kind atmosphere.

USA Dance Dallas on Facebook

Ballroom Dance Dallas @ Sokol

One-hour lesson of rotating styles, then mixed social dancing (17 different styles) on one of the biggest dance floors in the metroplex! Live bands every time. An awesome event to get dressed up for! (And it's somewhat required ;) )

ballroomdancedallas.net

East Coast Swing @ Sons of Hermann

One-hour basic ECS lesson, then 2-3 hours of social dancing. Regularly $10, I think? Park near the hospital, not the elephants (contact Ivy if you're confused by this). Suggested for young ladies to have someone to walk them in and out, since it's in Deep Ellum. Lively, and only ECS and related style variants all night! Start intermediate classes at the beginning of the month, because they build on each other.

sonsofhermannhall.com

Dallas Swing Dance Society @ Sammons

Intermediate lessons from 6-8; beginner lesson from 8-9. Dancing from 9 until 11:30 or midnight. Buy an (inexpensive) membership and get free intermediate lessons included. An unbeatable steal. Start intermediate classes at the beginning of the month, because they build on each other. There are occasionally homeless people under the bridge?

dsds.org

TangoAmor @ You Can Dance Dallas

Weekly Argentine Tango lessons on Sunday afternoons, in a classy environment, with a lovely group. Milongas (social dances) once a month on the second Saturday at DanceSport! Training Center. Lessons are $20, cash only.

tangoamor.com

Bailart Dallas @ Alpha Midway Dance Studios

We particularly love their Essence of Dance and Con Ritmo monthly social dances on the 4th and 2nd Saturdays of the month, and the excellent one-hour lessons at the beginning, starting at 9:30. They also have a Kizomba room with lesson and social dancing, included with the price! These dances go until late. 1 AM? 2 AM? They have a phenomenal showcase at every Essence of Dance (not sure about Con Ritmo), around midnight. Most of the people who dance here are very excellent dancers, and it can be very intimidating, and not overly friendly, for beginner dancers. It's a great place to grow your dance skills around amazing dancers!! They also offer lessons and performance teams. You can pre-buy tickets online for a discount.

bailartdance.com

Salson Social @ Kumbala Dance Studio

A great, more beginner-friendly, Latin social dancing option! Will update more info after attending. ;)

@salson on Instagram

Kickin' It Country @ Interskate Roller Rink

A safe and positive environment for country dancing, that has become really popular, every Monday night!

@kickinitcountrydance on Instagram

Billy Bob's

A famous and popular country dancing spot in Fort Worth. I've heard great things about it! Sometimes they have famous country artists performing live there, I think.

billybobstexas.com

Note: Cowboy's Red River is one of the biggest country dancing venues in the metroplex, and offers multiple days of dancing every week. I think if you get there in time for lessons, it's free. We cannot recommend it, as we do the other above venues and organizations, for being thoroughly either wholesome or safe. But it does exist. Ladies, bring a guy you trust with you if you want to go. The luck of the draw of standing around waiting to be asked by strangers, as a lady who is not wearing provocative clothing and is new is... lacking. Can be fun for ladies if you bring a group or know people. Generally fun for guys.

Dance Shoes

What you wear can significantly impact your enjoyment of the dance. Whether you are looking to buy the ideal thing, or just find the right thing in your closet, these guidelines can help you get the most out of the evening.

Shoes:

Buying: Dance shoes are different from regular shoes in a few different ways.

1) They usually have suede or a similarly smooth bottom, which allows them to slide and turn on the dance floor easily. Suede, compared to leather, also grips the dance floor a little, making sure your experience isn't a little TOO slick.

2) They are flexible and lightweight, allowing dancers to point their feet, not be weighed down by their shoes, and protecting any toes that might accidentally get stepped on from added weight.

3) Women's Latin shoes usually feature open toes and higher heels, and even men's Latin shoes can have 1" heels, for higher-level dancers! This keeps you on the balls of your feet, which is helpful in Latin dancing. Women's Smooth/Standard shoes usually have closed toes, for added protection in progressive dances, and comparatively lower heels. Men's ballroom shoes have less variance according to the style, with the exception of higher heels than usual on higher-level Latin shoes.

4) Finding the right fit: Dance shoes should be snug, but not painful at all. This keeps your shoes well-fitted to your feet, and prevents blisters - but if dance shoes are painful within a few minutes of putting them on, look for another pair! Dancing in painful shoes can ruin a good dance experience. People often, but not always, go down half a shoe size in selecting dance shoes.

5) While you can find dance shoes online, your best bet for finding an amazing fit is contacting Lee Ann Bradford, owner of Karizmah Dance Shoes, to set up a custom fitting/trying on session, because having the right dance shoes can make a huge difference, and is worth the added time and expense. Her phone number is 214-673--7906.



In Your Closet:

1) Shoes in your closet that might work for dancing should be well-secured to your feet, comfortable, and have bottoms smooth enough to slide and turn. Heavy boots are not encouraged outside of country dancing, because they can really hurt when you step on someone's foot, and don't have much flexibility. Prioritize comfort and being well-secured over having heels or style for a more enjoyable evening - but all else being equal, heels will help ladies dance more easily, especially for Ballroom and Latin dances.

"There is nothing like dancing, after all.

I consider it as one of the first

refinements of polished society."

- Jane Austen