by Saira Lortan
Are you a dancing queen or king at heart, but have no idea where to put your skills to use? Joburg offers many salsa, bachata, and kizomba social dancing events for those who can’t resist tapping their feet to the beat. Even if you’re shy and don’t really know how to dance, there’s still hope for you. Many clubs offer lessons for all levels, from beginners to master dancers. Here are some dance spots, events, and clubs in Joburg where you can dance the night away.
Pro tip: dance sessions make for an excellent date idea. Chances are, neither one of you are pros, so you'll get to fumble through the steps together as an ice breaker. There's also no room for awkward pauses in conversation when the focus is on getting the choreography right.
Baila Afrika
BailaAfrika is an Afro-Latino dance organisation on a mission to spread the love of dance.
They provide Angolan kizomba/semba and Cuban-style salsa dance classes. BailaAfrika is more than just a dance school; it’s a global Afro-Latino dance community that features local and international specialists in African and Afro-Latin dances. Their classes and events aim to grow and upskill the dance community, while promoting local and international cultural exchange.
They host multiple weekly events at different venues in the Sandton suburbs, such as Kizomba Mondays and Salsa Wednesdays. The entrance fee usually includes a group dance lesson and social dancing at the end of the night. This is the place for you if you’re a born dancer looking to connect with a passionate group of people. Visit their website or social media pages for upcoming events.
Details: Website | +27 79 638 7970 | [email protected] | Instagram | Facebook
The Afro-Latin Social
Whether you’re feeling happy, sad, stressed, excited, or all of the above, The Afro-Latin Social is here to tell you that dance will solve all your problems. They are a dance club that hosts a monthly event at Artüro Restaurant in Melville, a tequila garden that offers Afro-Latin-inspired meals and drinks. Afro-Latin flavours coupled with the sounds of kizomba and salsa? The vibes couldn’t get any better.
Follow The Afro-Latin Social on Instagram to keep up with their latest events. Who could be sad when dancing to Afro-Latin sounds while enjoying delicious food and drinks?
Details: 6 7th Street, Melville, Johannesburg | +27 72 336 8983 | Instagram
Salsa Addicts
Salsa Addicts is a dance studio based in Parkhurst, offering lessons in salsa and bachata. Their slogan, “We admit that we are powerless over our compulsion to dance,” tells you everything you need to know about them. They live and breathe dance by offering lessons every day of the week for dancers at different levels.
That’s not all, they also partner with That SBK Party to host salsa, bachata, and kizomba parties that start with a group class and end with social dancing and DJs on deck. Professional lessons and a party, need we say more?
Details: 47 5th Ave, Parkhurst, Randburg | +27 72 992 8536 | [email protected] | Instagram | Facebook
Estilo Cubano Salsa
If you want to take your salsa skills to the next level, Estilo Cubano Salsa is the place for you. They are an authentic Cuban salsa dance school that prides itself on providing a positive and fun learning environment. They offer group salsa classes, private classes, salsa for kids, and even one-off workshops for team-building and events. They also organise salsa social parties that provide their students with a platform to practice what they have learnt. Talk about an all-inclusive experience.
Estilo Cubano offers yet another service by organising annual trips to Havana, Cuba, to learn how to dance salsa the authentic way. We can practically hear the salsa stans screaming right now.
Details: Website | +27 79 872 3319 | [email protected] | Instagram | Facebook
Station Twelve
Cocktails, food, music, and dance! That’s what’s on the agenda at Station Twelve in Bryanston. Besides serving up some tasty cocktails, they host salsa and kizomba nights on Fridays, complete with a free hour-long beginners' lesson and a DJ bringing the beats. With all this on offer, you have no excuse to be bored on Friday nights anymore.
Details: Epsom Downs Shopping Centre, Cnr William Nicol & Sloane St, Bryanston | [email protected] | Instagram | Facebook
Whether you’re looking to learn sultry salsa or are an avid dancer who can’t resist the urge to move your feet, Joburg has a spot for you to jive late into the night. So get your dancing shoes ready, because we know you’ll be paying one of these spots a visit soon. Don't forget to wear comfy shoes!
