Ultimate Guide to Dancing in Sarasota 2024

Whether you're a local of Sarasota, a snowbird, or just visiting the Suncoast, we've got your all-inclusive guide to dancing in the Sarasota area.

Sarasota is a vibrant community with a varied demographic. With a thriving arts scene, local colleges and universities, and the sunniest weather in the US, you won't find a better backdrop for learning how to dance than right here in the Sarasota area.

In fact, you may find yourself overwhelmed by all the choices. There is dancing in downtown Sarasota, dancing in Bradenton, dancing on the beach in Sarasota, and a myriad of ballroom and Sarasota dance academies. So, to help you digest it all, we've condensed this little guide into four categories to help you find the right places to dance!

1. Dancing Bars and Nightlife in Sarasota
2. Dancing Studios in Sarasota
3. Dancing Events in Sarasota
4. How to start dancing in Sarasota

Let's dive into each one. Or should we say, "Let's break a leg!"

Best Dancing Bars and Dancing Nightlife in Sarasota

Several dancing venues in Sarasota offer different vibes. Some have what we'd call split personalities and offer a myriad of social dancing styles on different nights of the week. But to keep things simple, we've narrowed the best dancing bars in Sarasota and Bradenton in 2024 down to the following five:

1. Joyland Live Night Club

Joyland has been a pillar in the social dancing and club dancing nightlife scene in Sarasota and Bradenton for some years now. Though its location has changed a few times, the club has settled not far from the UTC Mall area, just off University Drive.

Joyland offers different themes for each weeknight. In addition to their live music nights, their current "dance night" lineup looks something like this:

• Tuesdays: "Caliente Nights" Latin Dance Lessons from 7:30-9:30pm with a social to follow until 1 am
• Thursdays: Ladies' Night and Line Dancing Lessons from 6:30-8:30pm with a live DJ all night
• Saturdays: Country Saturday Nights with Line Dancing Lessons from 6:30-8:30pm and Live Band all night

Pros

Joyland has one of the largest dance floors in the Sarasota area. They usually do a good job of turning the AC and fans on, and the music is great. Bartenders are attentive to serving up quick drinks.

Cons

Like any nightclub, we always recommend being responsible when going out. Take some friends and have a game plan if you decide to drink and have fun, especially on busier nights like Thursday and Saturday. Oh, and the food isn't that great – but what do you expect from a nightclub? Eat before you arrive. :-)

On that token, here at SL Dance Studio, we occasionally like to go out for social dancing at this venue, especially on Tuesday Latin Night. If you see us there, save us a dance!

2. Latin Quarters on Main

Latin Quarters on Main, otherwise known as LQ on Main, is another great place to go dancing in downtown Sarasota. Their restaurant menu is a bit of a Puerto Rican fusion, but we don't usually go for the food.

In full disclosure, this restaurant group actually has two locations for dancing, though we typically only try the downtown location. The other spot is just off Beneva Rd. Feel free to check it out, too, as both locations have plenty of dancing throughout the week to choose from.

Given the name, you can expect a heavy Latin influence at this restaurant-turn-nightclub. They serve up a hefty dose of live Columbian, Puerto Rican, and International Latin bands and DJs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night.

Pros

You can expect some of the absolute best Latin music at LQ on Main. The location is also great, being in downtown Sarasota. The drinks are great and the bartenders are nice.

Cons

Anyone who's ever been to LQ on Main knows that the #1 drawback is the size and quality of the dance floor. It gets busy and crowded by 10pm and the ability to dance with a partner becomes a challenge, to say the least. The second drawback is the music choice on some nights. You might have to compete with gringos on the dance floor just wanting to booty dance to reggaeton. Oh, and expect to get sweaty. But don't worry, everyone else will be, too.

Nonetheless, if authentic Latin music, dancing, and vibes are your thing, you should try LQ on Main at least once.

3. Sara Dance Center

Sara Dance Center is a long-running staple in the dancing community mostly known as a hub for freelance dance instructors who offer private and group lessons from time to time.

While the center offers classes by day, by night there are a number of social dancing events hosted here in the evenings. These can be hit or miss depending on the season, but they can also be a great way to get your feet wet and practice whatever style of dancing you're currently learning.

As an example, a week of their social dancing calendar might include the following social events:

• Monday: Ballroom Dance open floor from 8 pm
• Friday: Salsa and Bachata w/ Sanda Lungu (Beginner/Intermediate) 6-7:30 pm
• Saturday: Latin Dance Night w/ DJ Nando from 9 pm - 1 am
• Sunday Ballroom Dance w/ DJ Bob from 7-10 pm

Pros

Social dancing at Sara Dance Center in Sarasota Springs is fun when there is good attendance. The floor is superb for dancing, and there is a lot of great space, good bathrooms, and a nice filtered water station. They also offer a good variety of dance styles, like ballroom, Latin, swing, hustle, etc.

Cons

The popularity of this venue and the events can be hit or miss. Some of it depends on seasonality and competition with other popular nightclubs. But, if you're a purist for social dancing, you'll definitely find someone to practice with.

4. Gator Club and El Melvin Latin Dancing

We combined these two as our last choices for social dancing because they aren't as frequent as the others. You might consider them an occasional choice.

Gator Club hosts WEPA Wednesdays on the first Wednesday of every month. This is upstairs at the club and features some of the best salsa and bachata dancing around. Downstairs, you can try your best at karaoke. But don't worry, despite the split personality, both events are well separated inside the building.

El Melvin, just down the street from Gator Club in downtown Sarasota, offers some of the best Mexican food in the area. In addition, they bring in a live guitar player or DJ who spins up great Salsa music a few nights per week.

On these nights, the servers move the tables and chairs out of the way to make room for dancers. The bands usually come on Friday nights, which is a great fill-in between the Saturday and mid-week dancing options in the area.

Pros

These are great restaurants and bars and feature great food and drink menus. The quality of dancing and music is usually on point.

Cons

Except for Fridays at El Melvin, dancing events at these venues are less frequent. But when the dancers show up, it's a ton of fun!

Choosing a Dance Studio in Sarasota

A quick Google search will turn up a lot of Sarasota dancing academies and studios. However, we encourage you to exercise a little caution when deciding where to start your dancing career, spend your hard-earned money to learn a new wedding choreography or enroll your child in ballet lessonsTo. In short, not all dance studios are created equally.

Things to Consider when Choosing a Dance Studio

To separate the wheat from the chaff, we highly recommend doing a little research before just diving in. There are a handful of things you need to consider before settling into any long-term commitment with a dance school in Sarasota. To help you know what to ask and what to look for, here is our 8-count cheat sheet on what to look for in a great dance studio:

1. What do their reviews look like?

This should be the easiest research you do for any new purchase. Nowadays, with Google reviews, Trustpilot, and many other sites offering reviews, you should be able to get a good feel about the studio by the responses of their most recent clients. Always check for feedback online, and even ask your friends if they know about the place!

2. Who will be teaching you?

There are quite a few dance studios that either hire inexperienced instructors from outside the studio or offer jobs to candidates with no prior dance experience followed up with in-studio training. There are a few things to consider here:

• You may not be getting the full expertise that you would from the main instructor or owner of a boutique studio.
• Your instructor may not be properly trained in multiple methods and styles of dance.

3. How experienced is your dance instructor?

This builds on the prior question. We recommend instructors with professional dancing experience, and many, many years of instruction, choreography, and dancing expertise. For example, here at SouL Dance Studio, your instructor is the proprietor of the studio, Sanda Lungu, who brings 20 years of professional dancing, choreography, and teaching in many different styles of dancing. So be sure that when you choose a dance instructor, you know how experienced she is.

4. Do they offer a new client trial?

Here at SouL Dance Studio, we're not a huge fan of long contracts. Dancing is all about connection. That's why we offer beginner packages that allow you to get to know us and our dance instruction style. And vice-versa! On that token, in your search for a dance academy in Sarasota, make sure you give your new studio a trial run of, say four lessons, to properly vet your instructor.

5. Consider the type of studio you’re choosing

Many studios are very large franchises with a varied group of instructors who follow a very restricted curriculum, no matter the student. Other studios are boutique with the proprietor doing most of the heavy lifting for classes and instruction. These studios can build a custom curriculum to fit the needs of each customer. No doubt, you can get a decent dance lesson no matter where you go. Just be sure the type of studio fits your goals and budget.

6. Do they teach the style you want to learn?

Many instructors will focus on just a handful of dance styles, which can be beneficial if you want to learn something very specific. Just be sure that the dance academy you choose has a focus on the styles you desire to learn.

7. Location is important

To become competent at dancing, you need to be able to commit to it for some time. We don't recommend buying "package" deals in cities far away from where you live and work, no matter how popular the instructor is. We all know that life gets stressful sometimes and you just don't want to make that drive. So, don't invest in something that you can't fully commit to. You might lose your investment in the program, and you'll overwhelm yourself with the burden of getting there each week.

8. Do they support you with community and practice?

This might be the most important part of choosing a dance studio. Every studio should introduce you to their community at large. You can tell a lot by the quality of the dancers who take lessons at the studio. This way, you get to dance with other members of the community, showcase your new talents at events, and practice your new moves during group classes!

Private Dance Lessons vs. Group Dance Lessons in Sarasota

There's really no right or wrong answer when deciding whether you want to take private dancing lessons or group dancing lessons. Heremany at SouL Dance Studio, we recommend doing both. However, we understand that some couples and beginning dancers can be a little shy at first. With that in mind, here are a few things to consider when deciding between private or group dance lessons.

Private Choreography

If your goal is to impress your friends and family at the wedding party, then group dancing might not be your thing. In this case, we recommend at least a handful of private dancing lessons with an experienced dance instructor. This will ensure you get the attention to detail that you need, the privacy you want in preparation for your big day, and the confidence to look good when the time comes.

Social Dancing

If your goal is to go out social dancing, then group dancing is an eventual must! While private lessons serve as your foundation to learn quickly, group dancing serves as a means to improve your social dancing skills, practice with other dancers of varying skill levels, and overcome any fear of dancing with multiple partners. It's also a great way to meet people and join a community of fun, healthy, like-minded dancers!

Private Dance Lessons

As with any new hobby or endeavor, learning 1-on-1 is the fastest way to build competency. Our mission at SouL Dance Studio is to empower you to become a confident dancer in whatever style of dance you're passionate about. The best way to learn is by defining your goals, exploring your options, and committing to the process of achieving those goals. And with our private lesson programs for ballroom, Latin, or ballet, you can do just that!

Do I Need a Dance Partner for Lessons?

Absolutely not! Whether you're taking private lessons or group classes, you don't have to have a dance partner. It's certainly fine if you want to bring someone along, but it isn't necessary. Group classes are great for solo dancers, and private lessons are taught by the instructor who can be your lead or your follow. The only exception is for wedding choreography – for that, well, we hope you have a partner picked out!

Best Dancing Events in Sarasota in 2024

Sarasota is a hub for arts. With the Ringling Art Museum nearby, the Ringling College of Art and Design, and a host of artistic venues in downtown Sarasota, you're sure to find plenty of culture to fill your cup. Dancing is no exception here, and there are many events that showcase great dancing talent in Sarasota and the Tampa Bay area each year.

Types of Dancing Events in Sarasota

There are a myriad of events and competitions for dancing in Sarasota. While we don't sponsor or promote any of these, here is a short list of a variety of events in the area you might find interesting:

• Sarasota Challenge Ballroom Competition
• Florida State DanceSport Championships
• Sarasota Ballet
• Sarasota Salsa and Bachata Festival
• Baila Tampa
• Dance at the Bay
• Dancing on the Suncoast Showcases

Showcases are a great way to get your feet wet at both observing and participating in dance. At SouL Dance, our dancers participate in these events, usually three to four times per year. Our seasonal showcases are a great introduction to the community and the different styles we offer.

How to Get Started Dancing in Sarasota

The honest answer to this question is simple: find a great class or instructor and just start moving those feet! Of course, we're biased to think you should start here at SouL Dance Studio. We love teaching! Whether you're a beginner with no experience, intermediate, or advanced, we have the experience and expertise to teach you the proper techniques in a variety of dance modalities. Plus, we're conveniently located in the Tampa Bay area, Sarasota, and Lakewood Ranch.

If you don't know where to start, one of the best ways is to try many different styles, exploring your options. Then, when you feel a connection to one or more dance techniques, you can choose to invest in more specific lessons.

To that end, SouL Dance offers a 4-class special to new clients. If you already know what you want, we focus on that. If you're unsure, we'll introduce you to many different techniques! A lot depends on what your goals are.

Whether you want to learn something fun for your wedding day, introduce your child to classical ballet, or impress the ladies and gentlemen at the dance club, we have weekly private and group classes available. Feel free to schedule a 30-minute call with our owner, Sanda, and we can map out a plan for you!

Chassé by!