New to dancing? Start here

Pick a style

Not sure? Start with whatever music you like. Each style has its own page of upcoming events.

• Salsa

  Fast, playful Latin partner dancing; Rueda is Cuban salsa danced in a circle, swapping partners.

• Bachata

  A slower Latin partner dance from the Dominican Republic, with a close hold and simple side steps.

• West Coast Swing

  A smooth, slotted partner dance done to pop, blues and R&B; it suits almost any music you already like.

• Kizomba

  A close, slow partner dance from Angola; Urban Kiz, Tarraxinha and Tarraxo are its styles.

• Lindy Hop

  The original swing dance from the 1930s, bouncy and sociable, often with live jazz.

• Ballroom

  Waltz, foxtrot, quickstep and friends: the classic partner dances, taught step by step.

• Tango

  Argentine tango is an improvised, walking partner dance; a social tango night is called a milonga.

• Country

  Country two-step and country swing, danced to country music, easy to pick up at a social.

• Line Dance

  Everyone dances the same steps in lines, so no partner is needed at all.

• Blues

  A slow, relaxed partner dance to blues music; Fusion mixes it with other styles.

• Belly Dance

  A solo dance built on hip and torso movement, usually taught as a class.

• Contact Improvisation

  A free-form movement practice done in jams, with no steps to learn first.

More styles are on the full list, under "More filters".

Find a beginner-friendly night

Look for the Beginner friendly and Lesson included labels on events. A social with a lesson first is the easiest start: you learn a few steps, then dance them straight away.

What to expect at a social

• Many socials start with a short lesson for everyone, then open dancing.
• In a lesson, partners usually rotate, so you dance with everyone and nobody is left out.
• You can come alone. Most people there did, the first time.
• Asking someone to dance is normal, and so is saying "no thanks". One song, a thank-you, and you both move on.
• Nobody expects you to be good. Being new is the one thing every dancer in the room has done.

What to wear and bring

• Comfortable shoes with a smooth sole that lets you turn. Runners grip the floor; leather or suede soles slide.
• Clothes you can move in. Layers help: halls warm up fast.
• Water, and a small towel if you run warm.

What it costs

Our rough assumption: most classes and socials on the Island cost between about $5 and $25, and many beginner lessons are free with the social. Prices vary, so check the event. When an event's own words give a price, it shows on the event.

How this site works

• Every event is read from the dance group's own calendar, about once an hour. Nothing is typed in by hand.
• Tap the star on an event to save it on your phone. No account.
• "Subscribe" adds a town, a style or a group to your own calendar app, which then keeps itself up to date.
• "Add to my calendar" saves one night, with the event's page link in the notes.
• When the app fills in something an event doesn't say (a style, a place), the event says so and points you to the original.

Listing here is free, and the order of events never follows payment. Events are ordered by time and by distance from you.