Sarasota Latin Dancing: Your Guide to the Best Latin Dance Classes and Events 2024

80. That’s at least how many years salsa has been around. Starting in the 1940s in New York City, this combination of Cuban and Afro beats that began in the Big Apple has other roots in Jazz. Having taken off in New York by no means diminishes its Latin roots, however.

Add to salsa a little sensual bachata, some sultry rumba, a playful cha-cha or merengue, and you’ve got a well-rounded repertoire of Latin dancing.

The salsa, bachata, cha-cha, rumba, and merengue scene is as hot as it has ever been in Sarasota, Florida. Salseros and Latin dancers are growing by the day in the sunniest city in America. And there is no better time to indulge, whether you’re a beginner or experienced dancer.

On that token, we’ll take you on a virtual tour of where to go in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and Bradenton to satisfy all your Latin dancing desires.

Where to Go Latin Dancing in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch?

There are four great venues that offer Latin dancing as a social event in the Sarasota and Bradenton areas. These nightclubs and restaurants bring in some of the best DJs, bands, and instructors from the area on a regular basis. Let’s take a look at each one, and what they have to offer!

Sara Dance Center Latin Dancing Events

Sara Dance Center is one of the longest running dance studios and clubs in the Sarasota area. In addition to Latin dancing, it offers a healthy dose of ballroom classes and events. In fact, our very own Sanda Lungu teaches both beginner and intermediate Salsa classes at Sara Dance every Friday night. It’s a great date night, or a great way to get out and meet new people while learning some new moves.

In addition to the Friday social dancing classes, Sara Dance also hosts a monthly Saturday night event with a live DJ spinning up the best bachata, salsa, and merengue beats.

The dance floor is one of the best around, with real hardwood floors ready for you to spin the night away. Bathrooms are super clean, and there are two dance rooms for you to choose from.

Joyland Nightclub Latin Dance Nights

While Joyland is mostly known for its country line dancing, it is one of the most popular midweek venues for Latin dancing in the area. Every Tuesday night, Joyland plays host to a local dance instructor for a beginner - intermediate Latin dance lesson. These lessons rotate on a weekly basis between salsa, bachata, and cha-cha. The cover is only $10, and includes the lesson plus social dancing until 1am.

Joyland definitely has that nightclub feel with a huge bar and a big stage and dance floor. The quality of the instruction is usually pretty good and bathrooms are clean.

The only drawback to Joyland is often the heat. Sometimes they forget to turn the fans on for the Latin nights and it can get as hot as a Havana night in July. That being said, the turnout is usually amazing, and sweaty or not, everyone is having a blast. You’ll get the chance to dance with some of the best latin social dancers in the area.

Motorworks Brewing Latin Fridays in Bradenton

Motorworks Brewing in Bradenton, Florida, is another great venue for Latin dancing. At least one Friday each month, they host a free, no-cover salsa and bachata event. While the dance floor leans towards the small side, it’s still a big hit with the local dancers.

The free dance lesson at Motorworks is usually geared towards beginners. For that reason, most of the experienced dancers don’t show up until after 9:30 pm. However, if you’re a beginner and want to try out salsa or bachata for free, keep an eye on their event page. You won’t want to miss it.

What’s better than a locally brewed beer with a free dance lesson to burn those carbs away?

Latin Dancing WEPA Wednesdays at Gator Club Downtown Sarasota

Two weekends each month the upstairs dance floor at Gator Club turns into an all out Latin dancing fest. From 9pm to 12am a local DJ spins up the best of salsa, bachata, and merengue. Occasionally, he’ll mix in a little cha-cha and kizomba if you request it. Note that this event doesn’t come with a free lesson.

The upstairs isn’t the biggest dance floor, but the quality of dancers is superb. It’s almost like a Latin dancing speakeasy that no one really knows about unless you’re on the in.

Gator Club is a historic bar in itself with one of the most prolific whiskey menus in the city. And if you get tired of dancing, you can always head downstairs for karaoke night.

The Best Latin Dance Instructors in Sarasota

Dance instructors in Sarasota are an eclectic bunch, but there are a few that really stand out from the crowd. For the purpose of focusing on the main styles of Latin dancing, we’ll mention only those instructors with a solid following and emphasis on Salsa, Bachata, Cha-Cha, or Rumba proficiency.

1. SouL Dance Studio Elegant Latin Dance Classes in Lakewood Ranch

SouL Dance is one of the best all-around dance studios in the area. Owner and dance instructor Sanda Lungu has one of the most well-rounded CVs in the dance world with over 20-years of professional experience. Her roots are Eastern European, and she is classically trained in the more elegant styles of Latin dancing.

SouL Dance regularly hosts popular weekly group classes that rotate between salsa, bachata, cha-cha, and rumba. In addition, she offers private lessons, professional coaching services, and choreography for Latin dancing. Some of her students have received top awards in Latin categories at professional ballroom competitions.

Sanda stays booked pretty consistently, so you may want to reach out in advance for private lessons if you’re on a tight schedule. For the SouL Dance monthly calendar, follow this link.

2. Jae Phillips Salsa Dancing

Another great instructor in the area who focuses mainly on salsa dancing is Jae Phillips. Jae has been dancing for decades, but mainly focuses on private lessons in his home now. Occasionally, he’ll put together a 2-hour group class in Tampa or Sarasota, but they are not regularly scheduled. Your best bet is to take a private with him.

That being said, Jae has a lot of salsa tricks up his sleeve and is a able to explain moves very well. He can take a beginner to a more advanced level in a very short amount of time if you are consistent with his lessons.

3. Bachata Fuego Bachata Lessons

Bachata Fuego is one of the more respected bachata dance studios in the Sarasota area. Natasha, the owner, is focused heavily on bachata sensual movements and regularly hosts her own annual workshop in the Bradenton area.

Every Monday through Thursday, Bachata Fuego hosts group classes in the evenings, as this is their focus. With a location close to the Sarasota airport, the best way to take advantage of the classes is to buy a punch card that you can use to drop in and take lessons from Natasha. Her classes are typically very structured around learning the vocabulary of dance moves, rueda-style practice, and short social dance sessions at the end of each class.

In addition to classes, Bachata Fuego hosts “takeover“ social events at local studios and restaurants. Her most recent venture is with Sara Dance Center on Saturday nights.

Where to Find More Information on Latin Dance Classes and Events in Sarasota

We hope you’ve found our guide to Latin dancing in Sarasota helpful. We believe that everyone should have access to the best events and instruction. If you are looking for great classes and events as a beginner or experienced Latin dancer, we’d love to support you.

Send us an email at sl.danceworld@gmail.com or schedule a free call with us. We’ve got the best classes and the insider’s scoop on where to go for Latin dancing in the area!