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Places to Dance in Connecticut Last Updated: August 2023

Itching to put on your dancing shoes? From ballroom to barn dancing, social clubs to club scenes—Connecticut offers something for every type of dancer to get their groove on. We’ve rounded up some of the most popular places for you to swing, salsa, even country line dance your way across Connecticut.

Nightclubs

World-class entertainment and electric crowds light up dance floors across Connecticut in clubs rivaling those in New York or Boston. 

  • Club Vandome, New Haven
    Move to the sounds of fusion “Cumbia-Bachata-Merengue-Reggaeton” salsa, techno, R&B, and hip hop at this high-energy club, popular with the 20-something crowd. Bonus: Celebrate your birthday with twenty-five of your closest friends for free. 
     
  • Bar Night Club, New Haven
    For heart-thumping tunes and lively dance floor, head straight to the Back Room and join the dance party. Tip: on your way back, a pre-dance dinner detour to grab a local craft brew and some of Bar’s trademark delicious pizza is never a bad call. 
     
  • Avalon, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville
    With state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, impeccably designed décor, and top musical entertainment, Avalon stays in lockstep with its legendary predecessors. This 10,000 square foot mega-club with an oversized dance floor is the perfect place to show off your moves like Jagger.​
     
  • Vista Lounge, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville
    The late-20s/early 30s set flocks to this sophisticated and intimate lounge for staggering planetarium views, bubbly boozy drinks, plush couches and cozy little nooks. But looks aren’t everything. With a state-of-the-art, near-field, bi-amped, 60-thousand-watt mega sound system, crowds pack the dance floor.   
     
  • Partners Café, New Haven 
    Open seven days a week, you can always count on some high-energy action at New Haven’s premiere gay bar. Check the calendar for the scoop on their endless rotation of themed events.
     
  • Shrine, Foxwoods, Mashantucket
    Ranke­­­­d in the Top 100 nightclubs in the world ten years running, Shrine is a litt­le slice of Vegas right here in Connecticut. Expect VIP-level service, a crowd dressed to impress, world-class DJs and entertainment.
     
  • The Palms, Stamford
    With two floors of dancing and DJs mixing non-stop beats, the friendly, laid-back crowds at this Latin lounge erupt into an all-out dance party night after night. 

Swing

East Coast, West Coast, whatever coast, we’ve got it. 

  • Ken Mercik's West Coast Swing, Polish Home, Windsor Locks
    West Coast Swing ventures East every Friday night. Rotating instructors kick off the night with beginner and intermediate dance lessons before the crowds tear up the dance floor to the sounds of DJ Ken Mercik.
     
  • Vinnie's Jump & Jive Monthly Swing Dance, Middletown
    Like their motto states, Vinny’s draws “All kinds of dance. All kinds of people.” Hordes of dancers across New England strut their stuff at these large-scale dance parties every 2nd and 4th Friday. All welcome, no partner needed.
     
  • Hartford Community Dance, West Hartford and Wethersfield
    1st Friday Swing, 1st Fridays, West Hartford Town Hall, West Hartford
    Swing Jam, 4th Saturdays, Griffith Academy, Wethersfield
    Twice a month, swing dancers come out in droves to lindy hop to the sounds of the finest bands and DJs from New York City, Boston, and across New England. For a different spin, Swing Jam throws in the occasional waltz, Latin, foxtrot, hustle and night club two-step. 
     
  • West Coast Swing with Erik Novoa, Dance Dimensions, Norwalk
    Join SwingShoes every Thursday night for West Coast Swing group classes with Erik Novoa, 3-time U.S. Open West Coast Swing finalist and 2-time national Hustle champion. We also feature classes in Hustle, Salsa, and Night Club Two Step. Get ready to have a fun, new experience.

     

Salsa

Share your passion for salsa, connect with other dancers, and enjoy the sounds of congas timbales and bongos at one of the regular salsa socials across the state.

  • Casona, Hartford
    A Hartford hot spot with two huge dancing spaces—one for Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue and the other Top 40s, hip hop and reggae.
     
  • ​Mambos, New London
    A lively restaurant and dance club in downtown New London, this family-owned club offers Salsa dancing every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening.
     
  • Vinnie's Jump & Jive Salsa Socials, Middletown
    Every 1st and 3rd Friday
    This community dance hall draws dancers all across Connecticut and the surrounding states for their salsa socials hosted every 1st and 3rd Friday. No partners needed and all levels welcome.

Country Line

If you’re looking for some boot-scooting, watermelon-crawling, old fashioned fun, we’ve got you covered.

  • Cadillac Ranch, Southington
    For live music and line dancing, look no further than the Cadillac Ranch. You’ll find line, partner, swing, and 2-step dancing—and when your feet need a break, karaoke and a mechanical bull.  

Contra

New England’s take on English country dance and American square dance, contra is a lively, fun line dance perfect for meeting new people and making friends.

  • Hartford Community Dance, Coventry & Wethersfield
    Every 1st Friday, Patriots Park Lodge, Coventry
    Every 2nd Saturday, American Legion/Griffin Academy, Wethersfield
    Live music, contra callers and traditional New England social dance come together twice a month for a night of jigs and reels.
     
  • Mystic Contra Dance, Groton Senior Center, Groton
    Every 4th Saturday
    What takes Contra to the next level? If you said homemade pie, the Mystic Contra Dance is for you. Enjoy a slice of homemade pie in between dances at these lively, family-friendly gatherings.
    Prepare to move – wear cool, comfortable clothing.
     

Ballroom

Whether you’re in the mood for a little Foxtrot or Rumba or Cha Cha Cha, you’ll have no trouble finding a dance partner at one of these social dances. 

  • Ron & Lee Cote's Saturday Dance, Ukrainian National Hall, Hartford
    Every 1st Saturday, every Wednesday and Sunday (except the 1st)
    Join in the festivities as the Ukrainian National Hall comes alive with Ballroom, Latin, Swing, and Disco dancing. Seasoned dancers and newcomers welcome.  
     
  • US Dance Club, Rocky Hill
    Every Saturday
    Join the welcoming community of dancers and mix up your footwork across a whole range of ballroom dance styles including tango, samba, the waltz, and more.
     
  • Waterford Ballroom Dance Studio, Waterford
    Complimentary group classes Saturdays from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. (included with cover charge), followed by open Ballroom and Latin dance parties every Saturday night. Great food, drinks, friends and dancing.
     
  • Vitti's Dance Studio, Danbury
    Every 2nd Saturday
    Ballroom and Latin Social with DJ for all levels, couples and singles.

Whether you have two left feet or twinkle toes, you’ll feel at home on the dance floor at any of these other ballroom dancing events.

Tango

With a vibrant Tango community in Connecticut, you don’t need to go far to perfect your traveling ochos and colgadas.

  • Tango Sueno, Danbury, Milford, Stamford
    Saturdays
    Tango socials, or milongas, held every Saturday at one of three rotating locations—Milford Center for the Arts in Milford, Vitti’s Dance Studio in Danbury, or The Palms in Stamford.

Cajun/Zydeco

When you have a hankering for the joyful, electric music genre and non-stop foot-stomping, there’s Cajun/Zydeco dancing.

Ecstatic

Let it all go and let the music take you in a free-form ecstatic dance party.

From bustling nightclubs to weekly community center takeovers, every corner of Connecticut is crawling with places to dance the night away. But before you put on your dancing shoes, make sure to double-check current schedules and seasonal details.

Want to add to our list? Let us know at @CTvisit.com!