DANCING IN HOUSTON


A guide to places to dance in the greater Houston area (Ballroom, Latin, Swing, Country & Western). Information on locations, prices, schedules, directions, and general description of establishments.

This page is no longer actively maintained.

Contents:

* Short List

* Long List

* How to find the information you need?

* About this page


For additional dance related information, see Aria's Dance Page.

Please send comments, additions and corrections to aria@ece.rice.edu. Please read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) before sending any questions.

Note: Starting January 1999, ten-digit dialing is in effect in Houston. The area code must be dialed even for local calls. (Do not dial a ``1'' before the area code)


Short List

(in alphabetical order)

Dance Spot

Address

Telephone

1960 Whip Club Northwest Houston 281-655-5309
713-540-7247
Absolute Dancin' Merged with Dance Arts (see below) 281-870-1188
Albert's 511 511 South Post Oak Lane, Houston, TX 77056 713-621-3333
Backstreets 8101 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX 77061 713-641-2666
Bay Area Whip Dance Club P.O.Box 1196, League City, TX, 77574-1196 281-480-WHIP
Beginners Only Dance Studio 5959 Westheimer Suite 100, Houston, TX 77057 713-789-5959
Bushwackers 3630 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, TX 77504 713-946-8827
Cafe Express 1800 Post Oak, Houston, TX 77056 713-963-9222
Chandelier Ballroom See SPJST Hall #88 .
Chayn's Nightclub 3920 Fm 1960 Rd W, Houston, TX 77068 281-444-4411
City Streets 5078 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77056 713-840-8555
Club Chicago 3400 W Greenridge, Houston, TX 713-781-1989
Coco Loco 3700 Hillcroft, Houston, TX 77057 713-781-5354
Crystal Nite Club 6680 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77074 (at Hillcroft) 713-784-7743
Dance Arts 1570 S. Dairy Ashford, Houston, TX 77077 281-531-1212
The Dance Place 3300 Chimney Rock, Suite 303, Houston, TX 77057 713-266-0066
Dance World, USA 10668 Westheimer,
Houston, TX 77042
713-782-9953
Dancin' Room Only 6103 FM-1960 West, Suite A-17, Houston, TX 77066 281-397-6115
Discover Dance 14520 Memorial Dr. (at Dairy Ashford), Houston, TX 77070 281-558-0369
Eddie's Country Ballroom Off Fm 1128, Manvel, TX 77578 281-489-8181
Elvia's Cantina 2727 Fondren, Houston, TX 77063 (corner of Westheimer) 713-266-9631
Embassy Ballroom 5002-A Westheimer, Houston, TX 77056 713-621-6400
Elysee 5055 Woodway, Houston, TX 77056 713-840-1115
Fin's Club 435 El Dorado Blvd, Houston, TX 77598 281-486-7478
Fred Astaire Dance Studio 12649 G1 Memorial Dr.,
Houston, TX 77024
713-827-8084
Gilbert's Dance Studio Discover Dance, 14520 Memorial Drive, Suite 59 (near Dairy Ashford) 713-781-3208
Houston Argentine Tango Association 3618 Glen Haven, Houston, TX 77025-1308 713-665-3812
Houston Center of Dance 5700 South Rice Ave.,
Houston, TX 77081
713-667-3890
Houston Swing Dance Society P.O. Box 980581, Houston, TX 77098 713-662-3861
Houston Whip Club See below
.
June Burton Dance Network Bellaire and Galleria
Champions and 1960
713-771-7330
713-705-9102
Liquid Lounge 220 Avondale, Houston, TX 77006 713-526-9878
Los Andes 3700 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77046 713-622-2686
Magnolia Ballroom 715 Franklin Street, Houston, TX 77011 713-223-8508
Marilyn's Dance Club 3031 Crossview,
Houston, TX 77063
713-974-2929
Max's 2001 2630 Augusta Dr., Houston, TX 77057 713-781-8838
Melody Club 3027 Crossview, Houston, TX 77063 713-785-5301
Orchid Lounge 2415 Dunstan, Houston, TX 77005 713-524-0228
Il Paesano out of business .
The Q Cafe 2205 Richmond, Houston, TX 77098 713-524-9696
The Rice Ballroom Dance Society Rice University see below
The Roxy 5351 W Alabama, Houston, TX 77056 713-850-7699
Sambuca 909 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002 713-224-5299
Sempers Restaurant and Discoteque 2727 Crossview, Houston, TX 77063
Sons of Herman 120 Yale, Houston, TX 77007 713-862-0018
Southwest Whip Club meets at Melody Club 713-784-7660
SPJST Hall #88
(Chandelier Ballroom)
1435 Beall, Houston, TX 77008 713-869-5767
SPJST Lodge #172 3609 Preston Ave, Pasadena, TX 77505 281-487-3297
Stevens of Hollywood Dance Studio closed .
SSQQ 4803 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77401 713-861-1906
Step'n Style Dance Club 2703 S. Hwy 6, Houston, TX 713-589-9535
Texas Honky Tonk 5406 Highway 6 North, Houston, TX 713-463-0820
Texas Longhorn Saloon 9900 Hempstead Hwy, Houston, TX 77092 713-683-0386
Texas Rose Hall 801 Wheeler Ln, at Hwy 35 Bypass, Alvin, TX 77511 713-331-9193
Texas Two Steppers 3203 Fm 1960 Rd W, Houston, TX 77068 281-821-3560
University of Houston Dance Club UH campus .
USABDA, Houston Dances P.O. Box 572547, Houston, TX 77257-2547 See Below
USABDA, Houston Northwest Dances See below 713-440-6789
Vapor Room gone out of business .
West Houston Dance Sport Center (Steps-in-time) 14919 Bellaire Blvd.,
Houston, TX 77083
281-933-9970
West Side Dance Studio 9743 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77024 713-827-8162
Wild Bill's Dance Hall & Saloon 13101 Kuykendahl, Houston, TX 77014 713-872-0112
Wild West 6101 Richmond, (at Fountain View) 713-266-3455
713-266-2282
YMCA 1600 Louisiana, Houston, TX 77002 713-659-8501




Long List

/Swing/
** 1960 Whip Club
Northwest Houston
281-655-5309
713-540-7247
Formerly known as "North Side Whip Club", this organization is going through some changes, so come back (or visit their web page) frequently for updates. For those unfamiliar with Houston, the name of the club does not refer to its year of inauguration, but to FM 1960, which is a highway in Northwest Houston.

The club operates at "Step In Club," 10635 Veterans Memorial Drive (1/2 mile south of Beltway 8), 281-820-3465. Whip lessons are offered every Monday, according to the following schedule: beginners 7:00 pm, intermediate 7:00 pm, advanced workshops 8:00 pm ($5.00 workshop fee), general dancing 9:00 pm. The club dues are $30 for 6 months, and include admission to beginner and intermediate lessons. The advanced workshops are open to both members and general public (everyone pays $5).

Questions and comments can be addressed to whipclub@hotpop.com. The president of the club is Mary Ellen Araujo, 281-821-3812.

/Country/
** Absolute Dancin'

2360 S. Dairy Ashford, Houston, TX 77077
281-870-1188
Absolute Dancin' was a purely Country Western Dance studio. Due to finantial difficulties it was closed in September 1998 and its teachers absorbed into the Dance Arts Dance Studio.

/Country/
** Albert's 511

511 South Post Oak Lane, Houston, TX 77056
713-621-3333

See Map

/Swing/Country/
** Backstreets

8101 Airport Blvd (close to Hobby Airport), Houston, TX 77061
713-641-2666

Whip dancing on Satruday nights on a decent floor to Blues music (DJ), starting 7:30pm. Admission $3. This is a major dance outlet for the Bay Area Whip Dance Club, and around 100-125 people show up on a typical Saturday. Backstreets went out of business in 1998 but is now reopened and owned by a group of businessmen and whip dancers who have made repairs and geared it more towards dancing.

Sunday nights there is a mix of Whip and Country Western dancing. From 7-8pm there is a free C/W lesson, followed by general C/W dancing. Whip dancing starts at 9:00pm. Also, there are some talks to bring Lindy Hop dancing to Backstreets on one of the weekdays. Stay tuned for more information.

Directions: On I-45 take the Airport Blvd Exit and go West towards the Hobby airport. After roughly one mile, on the fourth traffic light, Backstreets is in a strip shopping center, behind a "Jack in a box". It is located across from the Airport Hilton.
See Map

/Swing/
** Bay Area Whip Dance Club

P.O.Box 1196, League City, TX, 77574-1196
281-480-WHIP
Bay Area Whip Dance Club is a non profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the style of dance known as The Whip. They meet at Walter Hall Park, in the Pavilion. The park is located in League City, TX., on Hwy 3, just as you get into League City from the north. Call their hotline at (281) 480-WHIP for directions, lesson night agenda, special events and announcements, or leave a message and they will call you back to answer any questions you may have.

Sessions start the first Tuesday of each month, dues are $30 for six months, which includes lessons. 7:15 Basic II, Intermediate II, and Advanced. 8:15 Basic I, Intermediate I, and Intermediate III.

/Ballroom/
** Beginners Only Dance Studio

5959 Westheimer Suite 100, Houston, TX 77057
713-789-5959
This is a studio geared towards teaching the beginners. Typically the studio teaches only the first 10 hours of dancing. American style smooth and rhythm; also preparation for wedding receptions and dances. The studio is owned by Allen Darnel, the author of "Beginners Only Dance Book". He offers a one-hour complimentary dance lesson with the purchase of every copy of his book.

Directions: The studio is on the second floor of a business complex, located in a small strip mall on Westheimer, between Fountainview and Greenridge.

/Swing/Country/
** Bushwackers

3630 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, TX 77504
713-946-8827
Bayou City Nights is a big nightclub with several clubs under the same roof (much like City Streets). Bushwackers is a Country Western bar and nightlcub inside Bayou City Nights.

Country Western Dancing on Saturdays, $4 cover charge. On Sundays, the Houston Whip Club holds classes. Workshops at 5:30pm, lessons at 6:30pm, open dancing to R&B and C&W afterwards.

See Map

/Ballroom/
** Cafe Express

1800 Post Oak, Houston, TX 77056
713-963-9222
Free practice dances of the Houston Argentine Tango Association, every Sunday 8-10:30pm.

Directions: Note that currently (mid-1998) there are *five* different establishments in Houston named "Cafe Express." I am unsure if this is a chain. But in any case, be aware if you ask someone for directions that this may cause some confusion. This location is on Post Oak, North of Westheimer and South of San Felipe, on the back corner of Saks Pavilion.

/Ballroom/
** Chandelier Ballroom

See the entry for SPJST HALL #88

/Swing/
** Chayn's Nightclub

3920 Fm 1960 Rd W, Houston, TX 77068
281-444-4411
This is the hangout of the 1960 Whip club (Formerly North Side Whip Club). Whip lessons and dancing every Monday, starting 7:00pm.

/Swing/Country/
** City Streets

5078 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77056
713-840-8555
A conglomerate of clubs. Mostly regular nightclubs. One of them, "The Rose", is a country nightclub (at least on Wednesdays), and members of Merilyn's Dance Club sometimes go there. Opens at 5:30pm, free buffet until 8pm and no cover charge, $3 cover charge after 8pm.

/Swing/
** Club Chicago

3400 W Greenridge, Houston, TX
713-781-1989
30's era style nightclub, featuring swing music and dancing. Opened 21 May 1997, with a "speakeasy" atmosphere. It used to have a lot of swing dancing on a 30x30 sq. ft. dance floor. On Thursday nights especially, it was the favorite hangout of Lindy Hoppers. At various times it also served as a location for whip dancing. Unfortunately it has fallen on hard times. It is no longer open except on Saturdays, offering hip-hop, disco, or anything that will bring in the dough. It seems heading for bankruptcy, which is a shame.

Directions : From 59 South, take the Fountainview exit and make a right on Fountainview (going North). Make the first left onto Skyline Drive. be alert, because there are no traffic lights at this very small intersection. Once on Skyline, W Greenridge is the second intersection. Club Chicago is on your left, and the parking entrance is off of W Greenridge. (NOTE: if you're coming from 59 North, there is no Fountainview exit. Get off the Chimney Rock exit, make a U turn back to Fountainview).

/Latin/
** Coco Loco

3700 Hillcroft, Houston, TX 77057
713-781-5354
Salsa, Merengue and Cumbia to DJ music. Typical nightclub atmosphere.

/Latin/
** Crystal Nite Club

6680 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77074 (at Hillcroft)
713-784-7743
Latin and Salsa dancing, Wednesday through Saturday to recorded and live music. 8:30pm-2:00am. Cover charge varies, $5 and more. Has dress code: men need button-up collared shirt and dress shoes, ladies need to be dressed nicely in general.

This is a typical bar and nightclub, complete with large Disco Ball hanging from the ceiling, smoke machines, strobe lights, and large screen TV's on the wall, showing the action on the dance floor through close-circuit cameras. Include fake palms and inclined mirrors behind the bar and you get the picture. Large bars on the two sides of the dance floor, with an elevated seating area on a third side. 40x40 square ft. dance floor, typically jam packed with people who mostly aren't trained dancers, although one sees a few good dancers on the floor at times. Expect to be bumped around quite a bit on the floor. The DJ music is almost exclusively super-fast Merengues and some Salsas, with a few Cumbias here and there. Most of the patrons are Latino, the DJ and emcee speak Spanish only.

Unfortunately, the bar scene dominates, and the place is somewhat of a meat-market. Asking people to dance is not easy, being asked to dance is not always pleasant, and either of them usually has unwanted connotations. You need to go with a partner, and if you do, count on dancing with him/her all night. Also, the music is very loud, and don't go if you are sensitive to cigarette smoke.

Directions: Crystal is located on the southbound feeder road to Highway 59 (Southwest Freeway), right after the intersection with Hillcroft (Northwest corner of intersection). It is in the corner of an outdoor mall located at the intersection. If you go past the big neon sign for the Colorado club, you have gone too far. The club generally takes over the whole parking lot, blocking parking spots to make you do valet parking. But you can avoid it by parking behind Colorado and walking back to Crystal.
See Map

/Ballroom/
** Dance Arts

1570 S. Dairy Ashford Suite 115, Houston, TX 77077
281-531-1212
Dance arts is organized by Teresa Mason and Lance Estridge. The grand opening of their studio at Dairy Ashford on May 1, 1998. They used to work out of other studios. Pro-Am competitions and private and group lessons.

Group classes Monday through Thursday in Ballroom, Latin, and Country Western, cost is $10 per class per person. Dance Arts has a dance party every Friday evening from 8-10 PM. The activities consist of focus on one particular dance for a group lesson (3 - 5 steps are covered) and social dancing. The cost is $10 per person.

Directions: Dance Arts is located in a shopping plaza on Dairy Ashford (west side of the street) between Westheimer and Briarforest.

/Ballroom/
** The Dance Place

3300 Chimney Rock, Suite 303, Houston, TX 77057
713-266-0066
Large Maple floor (approx. 3000 sq. ft.) with full-length mirrors on both ends of the hall. Lots of seating. Also another dance floor in a separate room that I have not seen used. Open dances every Wednesday 8:15-10:00 pm. Admission $5. open dances on the first Saturday of the month have been discontinued. Latin classes Tuesdays at 8pm, and various classes and private lessons throughout the week. The Dance Place also hosts the monthly USABDA dances on the second Saturday of every month. Unfortunately the music at the Dance Place is quite awful. They play the same tape over and over again, and the music is very tepid and uninspiring.
See Map

/Swing/Country/
** Dance World, USA

10668 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77042
713-782-9953
See Map

/Ballroom/Country/
** Dancin' Room Only

6103 FM-1960 West, Suite A-17, Houston, TX 77066
281-397-6115
  • Open Country & Western dance Tuesdays, 9-10:30 pm
  • Open Ballroom dance, Thursdays, 9-10:30pm
  • Hosts USABDA Houston Northwest dances every fourth Saturday of the month, 8-11pm. See the USABDA Northwest chapter entry for more details.
Admission: Tuesdays and Thursdays $4 individuals, $6 per couple.
See Map

/Ballroom/
** Discover Dance

14520 Memorial Dr. (at Dairy Ashford), Houston, TX 77070
281-558-0369
Opened in March 1997, this studio offers instruction in Ballroom, Latin, C/W, Whip and Swing.

Gilbert's Whip dances as well as classes are now held at Discover Dance.

/Country/
** Eddie's Country Ballroom

Off Fm 1128, Manvel, TX 77578
281-489-8181
Country Western dance establishment located 30 miles south of downtown Houston. Live music on very large dance floor on Saturdays (but call to confirm). The doors open at 8pm and live music starts at 9pm. B.Y.O.B. but beer, wine, soft drinks and food available on the premises. $5 cover charge, $3 with Merilyn Dance Club membership card.

Directions: On I-610 South loop take the exit for Route 288, and head South towards Freeport. Make left at the Pearland sign, into FM 518. Turn right at the fourth traffic light (Exxon station on the corner) into Manvel Hwy/ FM 1128. The club is about 5 miles ahead, watch for the sign on the right.

/Latin/
** Elvia's Cantina

2727 Fondren, Houston, TX 77063 (corner of Westheimer)
713-266-9631
Latino restaurant, bar and nightclub. Dancing to Salsa and Merengue music, 8pm-2am. Admission: $6 on weekdays, $7 on Fridays and Saturdays. The drinks are somewhat expensive and the bar tending isn't that good, but the food is decent. Small dance floor (20x15 sq. ft.) that gets jam packed. A typical night starts with recorded music, and people coming in for dinner. At about 10:30pm, live music starts, and at about the same time, the place shifts from restaurant to nightclub mode. Youngish crowd, no ID check at the door. You could ask strangers to dance if you are prudent, but expect only mixed success, especially if you're not Latino. It is best to go with a partner or with a group.

Directions: Elvia's is located in a shopping plaza at the Southeast corner of Fondren and Westheimer. Look for the Shell gas station, Elvias is right behind it. You can turn into the shopping plaza either going eastbound on Westheimer or northbound on Fondren.
See Map

/Ballroom/
** Embassy Ballroom

5002-A Westheimer (corner of Post Oak), Houston, TX 77056
713-621-6400
Embassy is on the corner of Wesheimer and Post Oak, across from the Galleria shopping center. The ballroom is on the second floor, with the entrance via an elevator directly off Westheimer. It operates on a 4000 square foot dance floor. Nice, even lavish, decorations and furniture. Instruction in mostly American style ballroom. Embassy used to have open dances on Thursdays with live music, but not any more. They now have student dance parties on Tuesdays 9:00-10:30pm, limited to the students of the studio.

Note Embassy has moved to a new address. Information about the new location will appear here shortly.

/Swing/Latin/
** Elysee

5055 Woodway-- between Sage & Post Oak, Houston, TX 77056
713-840-1115
Formerly known as Regines, this is a cigar-lounge, restaurant, and discoteque, where you can get decent food and dance too. Tuesday nights are Latin nights, 8pm to early morning hours (around 2am), where mostly Salsa and Cumbia music is played intermixed with Merengues, some Cha-Chas and a few Rumbas. During the band breaks, DJ music is played, to which one can do Swing as well as a few Latin dances. There is a $6 cover charge. 30x30 sq. ft. dance floor. Gets very crowded. Some people come single, and sometimes one comes across good dancers, but the experience is at best spotty. Go with dancing friends if possible.

Wednesday nights Elysee has either classic rock or blues. Thursday nights varies. Friday and Saturday nights it has a general nightclub atmosphere, with disco and top-40 music. Somewhat of a trendy pickup joint more than anything else. On Mondays it is closed.

The one bad experience at Elysee is with the valet parking staff, who are at best annoying, and at worst downright obnoxious. They try to force you to do valet parking: while the parking lot in front of Elysee is huge and mostly empty, they won't let you park there by yourself. You'll have to park in the cramped space behind the building, or at the adjoining bank parking lot. Sometimes both these parking lots are full. If you don't find space in either, streetside parking is allowed in the street behind the nightclub.

Directions: From 610 loop North, take the Woodway exit. Make left on the traffic light. Elysee is on your left after a few blocks, and some twist and turn of the road (between Sage and Post Oak).

/Swing/
** Fin's Club

435 El Dorado Blvd, Houston, TX 77598
281-486-7478
Large group of whip dancers go to Fin's on Thursdays starting around 8pm. A smaller group on Tuesday nights after 9pm.

/Ballroom/
** Fred Astaire Dance Studio

12649 G1 Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77024
713-827-8084
Dance instruction, mostly American Style. Dances at 9 pm on Thursdays on a small dance floor (roughly 800 sq. ft. of useful area) The dance seems to be intended mostly for studio students, and as a measure to bring in new students. Too much time is spent on demos by students and on promotionals; overall less than 1 hour of net dancing in the evening. Not necessarily the best setup for general dancing, but then again there aren't that many choices for ballroom dancing in the area in mid-week.
See Map

/Swing/Country/
** Gilbert's Dance Studio

Discover Dance, 14520 Memorial Drive, Suite 59 (near Dairy Ashford)
713-781-3208

Operated by Gilbert and Trish Huron. Specializes in Whip. Open dances on Fridays, Lessons from 7-9pm, then open dancing. Admission to the open dance is $4.

The old location was at 9931 Harwin. Gilbert's operations have now moved to Discover Dance, located at 14520 Memorial Drive, Suite 59.

/Ballroom/
** Houston Argentine Tango Association

3618 Glen Haven, Houston, TX 77025-1308
713-665-3812
From the HATA mission statement:
``The Houston Argentine Tango Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the people of Houston concerning the rich cultural tradition of Argentine Tango, including dance, music, and history. We achieve our purpose by sponsoring: weekly dance practices, demonstrations and performances by expert dancers, regular weekend milongas (dances) with exhibitions, workshops by non-local instructors, lectures by local and visiting tango scholars, tango music performances, and other educational and cultural events. Our goal is to create an active and vibrant cultural environment within which the Argentine Tango can be preserved, with abundant opportunities to experience the joy and excitement which is Tango.''

The main events of the society are Tuesday night dancing and practice at the downtown YMCA, and a free practice on Sundays at Cafe Express. There used to be Wednesday practices at Sempers, but they are discontinued.

As a separate entity, Mr. Victor Collins of Argentina 2000 teaches a class in Argentine Tango each Thursday evening, also at the Rive Oaks Community Center, from 7:30pm-9:30pm. Cost: $10/person. You can obtain the latest details about these classes from Victor at 281-443-3322(h), or Joan Bishop at 713-861-7791(h), zall120@aol.com.

/Ballroom/
** Houston Center of Dance

5700 South Rice Ave., Houston, TX 77081
713-667-3890
Studio owned by Barbara King. Most of the instruction is through independents who work in but not for the studio (typically they pay "floor fees" and charge it to their students). Various instructors teach everything from regular Ballroom and Latin to Argentine Tango to West Coast Swing and even Theatre arts.

Center of Dance used to have more-or-less regular dancing every Friday, 9-11pm. Admission $4 for students, $5 for general public, $3 for USABDA members. They now offer that only one Friday every month. More information will be forthcoming.

Directions: Center of dance is located at 5700 South Rice St., South of the Highway 59 (Southwest Freeway). Unfortunately, the Hwy 59 feeder road does not intersect with S. Rice, and Hwy 59 doesn't have a S. Rice exit. On Hwy 59, exit at Chimney Rock, go south on Chimney Rock, make left on Glenmont (brings you back to S. Rice), and make right on S. Rice. Center of dance is in a big cubical building on your right.
See Map

/Swing/
** Houston Swing Dance Society

P.O. Box 980581, Houston, TX 77098
713-662-3861
The Houston Swing Dance Society (HSDS) is a non-profit, educational organization, dedicated to the teaching and preservation of swing dance. The efforts and interests of the club seem to be concentrated on Lindy Hop. Annual membership is $15, and entitles the member to discounts on HSDS events and merchandise, notification of swing dance events in the area, as well as the opportunity to participate in the promotion of swing dancing in Houston.

Jitterbug and Lindy Hop classes at various levels are currently held in Melody Club, 5-8pm every Sunday. Classes are followed by a dance party with recorded music, 8-10pm. The Society also sponsors various dance workshops and local dance events; for more details, visit their web page .

/Swing/Country/
** Houston Whip Club


Holds lessons and open dancing every Sunday at the Bushwackers. Workshops start at 5:30pm, lessons at 6:30 pm, and open dancing afterwards. Also look at Super Dance USA for more regional whip information.

/Ballroom/
** June Burton Dance Network

Bellaire and Galleria areas 713-771-7330
Champions and 1960 areas 713-705-9102
A network of independent dance instructors. Call for more information. Their practice parties are Wednesdays 8:15-10:00 pm at the Dance Place, 3300 Chimney Rock, admission $5.

/Swing/
** Liquid Lounge

220 Avondale, Hosuton, TX 77006
713-526-9878
Swing dancing to taped music. Every first Wednesday of the month, the members of Houston Swing Dance Society go to Liquid for a night of dancing, 7-10pm. Dress code: No T-shirts, jeans, or sneakers.

/Latin/
** Los Andes

12 Greenway Plaza Suite 100, 3700 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77046
713-622-2686
Elegant dining on South American cuisine, and dancing Salsa, Merengue, and Cumbia to live music on Fridays and Saturdays. $8 cover charge, formal dress code (jacket required for men). This is a restaurant and bar with a small (20x10 sq. ft.) dance floor.

Directions: Right across from the Compaq Center (formerly the Summit) on Richmond Ave. between Edloe and Timmons. Valet parking, as well as a large parking structure in Greenway Plaza. But if you are willing to walk a short distance streetside parking should be possible. There is also a bank on the corner of Richmond and Timmons whose parking lot one might use after hours (at your own risk).

/Swing/
** Magnolia Ballroom

715 Franklin Street, Houston, TX 77011
713-223-8508
Formerly was the main center of operations for the Houston Swing Dance Society, but for the time being does not host any regular dance event.

Directions: Be aware that there are two Magnolia Ballrooms in Houston; the other one is at 7347 Canal. Do not confuse them. This one is located at the corner of Franklin and Milam in downtown Houston, just past Travis Square. Franklin is blocked off in the 700 block right at the ballroom, i.e., you cannot get from the 700 block to the 800 block directly. There is a pub called the Brewery Tap below the ballroom, whose sign is more prominent than Magnolia's. There is ample parking on the street; do not park in the bank lots or you will be towed.

/Country/
** Marilyn's Dance Club

3031 Crossview, Houston, TX 77063
713-974-2929
Marilyn's Dance Club offers classes mostly in Country Western, but also some in social ballroom, as well as whip. Group classes meet once per week for 1.5 hours. No partners necessary. Private sessions are also available. Practice parties every Monday 7:30-10:30pm (next door, in the Melody Club), admission fee $3. Free introductory dance lessons are offered on Mondays 6:30-7:30pm. Marilyn's teaching and studio atmosphere are oriented towards social dancing (as opposed to competition oriented), and the lessons and dances reflect that philosophy.

See Map

/Swing/
** Max's 2001

2630 Augusta Dr., Houston, TX 77057
713-781-8838
This is mainly a top 40 joint with music from 70's, 80's and 90's. There is Swing dancing on Sundays, with a short lesson taught by Marylin's Dance Club. Small dance floor. The club is located between Chimney Rock and Fountainview, one block North of Westheimer.

Opens 4:30pm Tuesday through Friday, and 8pm Saturday and Sundays. Cover charge schedule is as follows: Tuesdays and Thursdays no cover, Wednesdays $3, Fridays and Saturdays no cover until 9pm, $5 after 9pm.

/Ballroom/Country/Swing/
** Melody Club

3027 Crossview Dr., Houston, TX 77063
713-785-5301

Formerly known as "Melody Lane Ballroom," this dance venue closed in early 1997 due to financial difficulties, then re-openned in August 1997 as "Melody Club".

  • Sundays: Lindy Hop with Houston Swing Dance Society, 5-11pm
  • Mondays: Country Western night, 7:30-10 pm, $3
  • Tuesdays: Open dance (ballroom) 8-11 pm, $4
  • Wednesdays: Whip lessons and dancing, starting 7:30 pm
  • Thursdays: Swing lessons and dancing with Houston Swing Dance Society

Dancing on a 3500 sq. ft. wooden dance floor in a nightclub atmosphere. Surrounding three sides of the dance floor are tables that seat anywhere from two to eight people. A bar on one end of the room, bandstand on the other end. The place is clean, the decoration is nice, and the place is reasonably smoke-free.

Mondays are Country Western night, starting 6:30pm, admission $3. Free lesson by Marilyn Dance Club instructors 6:30-7:30pm. Open practice and dancing 7:30-10:30pm. The dancing really picks up around 8 to 8:30pm, when the advanced classes from Marilyn's studio (across from Melody club) finish and the students come over to dance.

On Tuesdays, ballroom dancing to taped music. Admission is $4. The dances are comprised of about 20% Foxtrots, and the rest is an even mix of Cha-Cha, Rumba, Waltz, Polka, and Samba. There were also two line dances played through the night. If you are in the 45+ age bracket, you will likely find this an excellent place for a night out on the town. There are plenty of people to dance with, but mostly at the beginner level. So you may want to go with a partner if you are more advanced.

Wednesday nights the Southwest Whip Club holds classes and dancing at Melody Club. Classes 7:30-8:30pm and dancing 8:30-10:30pm. The admission for open dance is $2 for general public, and free for Southwest Whip Club members. A great number of people show up and the average level of dancing is very good. The classes are open only to Southwest Whip Club members (See below). Mario Robau teaches the advanced class.

Sunday evenings the Houston Swing Dance Society holds their Jitterbug and Lindy Hop classes as well as dance party. See under "Houston Swing Dance Society" for details.

Directions: Melody Lane is located on Crossview Dr. (runs parallel to Fondren), between Richmond and Westheimer. Going Westbound on Richmond, make a right on Crossview (small intersection just before Fondren, no traffic lights). Going North on Crossview, Melody Lane is on your right, after passing the Fondren Tennis Center.
See Map

/Swing/
** Orchid Lounge

2415 Dunstan, Houston, TX 77005 (Rice Village)
713-524-0228

Orchid Lounge is located in the northern part of Rice Village, next to Village Brewery. A cocktail lounge with a dance floor, Orchid Lounge presents live or DJ music every day except Sunday and Monday. On Tuesdays, recorded music featuring D.J. Lucky LaRue. Live music Wednesday through Saturday. Latin band on Thursday, swing on all other nights. DJ music in the breaks of the bands. Cover charge can vary, but is generally around $6 on weeknights and $10 for weekend nights. Call their phone number for a recorded message detailing their weekly program.

Orchid Lounge used to have a small dance floor that seemed to be put in as an afterthought. Dancing was sporadic and not always pleasant because of unskilled reckless "dancers" on the floor. It has become somewhat better with time. In September 1998 Orchid Lounge expanded into the neighboring restaurant "Village Brewery" and enlarged the dance floor. On a typical night one sees many more decent (even occationally accomplished) dancers on the floor, so that it is semi-practical to go there on your own and find partners there (although there is still no guarantee).

The manager of the event is Chris Harkness (hark@swbell.net / 713-523-6046), who used to be with Club Chicago. You can contact him for more information.

/Latin/
** Il Paesano

6690 Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77074 (at Hillcroft)
Reservations 713-443-3322
Information 713-977-1388
Latin dancing and Argentine Tango lessons. Dancing at first Saturday of every month, starting 9:30pm, $7 admission.
See Map
Note According to Michael Dorman, Il Paesano is no longer in business.

/Swing/
** The Q Cafe

2205 Richmond (at Greenbriar), Houston, TX 77098
713-524-9696
Used to have Monday night swing dancing, but has gone out of business.

/Ballroom/
** The Rice Ballroom Dance Society

Rice University
Various classes in Ballroom and Swing dancing during the school year. Different classes and practices are held at Brown commons, Rice Memorial Center, or the Rice Gym.

/Nightclub/
** The Roxy

5351 W Alabama, Houston, TX 77056
713-850-7699
Trash Disco on Sundays and Thursdays.
See Map

/Swing/
** Sambuca

909 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
713-224-5299
Sambuca is an upscale Jazz restaurant in downtown Houston. On most Mondays live Swing music is played, starting around 8pm. No cover charge.

/Ballroom/??/
** Sempers Restaurant and Discoteque

2727 Crossview, Houston, TX 77063

Semper's is located close to the intersection of Westheimer and Fondren, behind Elvia's Cantina. This is a restaurant and nightclub, where dance events are sometimes hosted by various Houston dance clubs. The Houston Argentine Tango Association used to have its dance practices here, but not any more. Call for details.

Sempers also provides elegant (and also pricy) dining in a very nice atmosphere. But if you go there for dining, be prepared to pay, and make sure that you don't overlap with the disco times. The loud music can be detrimental to the fine dining mood.

/Ballroom/
** Sons of Herman

120 Yale, Houston, TX 77007
713-862-0018
Big band music every Saturday night starting 8:30pm. This seems to be an organization dating back to WW II, with various activities including dances. The participants in the dances are mainly in their 50's and up. The one night that my friends and I went there, we were conspicuous as a younger crowd, but everyone was very nice. The floor is typically crowded and the dancers do not move, so if you are a dynamic dancer this may not be the place for you. Dancers in their 50's and up will likely find this a pleasant venue for a relaxing night out dancing. Admission $6.
See Map

/Swing/
** Southwest Whip Club

Meets at Melody Club
713-784-7660
The Southwest Whip Club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promotion of Whip dancing (a form of swing similar to West Coast Swing). The club meets Wednesdays at 7:30pm at the Melody Club (formerly Melody Lane Ballroom). Group classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level. Each class meets over one month (four classes), and one can sign up at the first Wednesday of the month. The cost is $20 per class, and is open to members of Southwest Whip Club. Membership dues are an additional $3 per month. For the first-time members, there is a one-time registration cost of $11. The classes finish at 8:30pm, at which time open dancing starts. The open dancing is free if you're in a class, but costs $2 by itself.

Mario Robau, a nationally known teacher of West Coast Swing and Whip, teaches advanced patterns for the club.

/Ballroom/Country/
** SPJST HALL #88 (Chandelier Ballroom)

1435 Beall, Houston, TX 77008
713-869-5767
Live band music on Saturday nights. The music varies: some Saturday nights they have big bands playing mostly Swing and Foxtrot, and on other Saturdays they have "Variety Bands" that play Polka or other variety music. Admission prices are $11 for big band nights and $6 for variety nights. Some Fridays there is Country Western dancing, cover charge varies. make sure to call, because they will not have a dance if the hall is privately rented.

Chandelier has a strict dress code on Saturday nights: Men with jacket, tie and dress shoes, Ladies with evening dress. I've heard that they enforce this policy to the extent that even if someone takes off their jacket for dancing, he will hear from the bouncer! The regular Saturday night clientelle is mostly a more mature crowd, dressing up and spending a night out on town. The average level of dancing is not great, so it is better to go with a partner or with a group of dancers.

Directions: From Interstate 10, take the N. Shepherd exit north to 15th Street. Turn left (west) onto 15th Street -- street will dead end at Beall in front of the SPJST Hall.
See Map

/Country/
** SPJST Lodge #172

3609 Preston Ave, Pasadena, TX 77505
281-487-3297
Dance Hall located in Pasadena, to the southeast of Houston, about 30 minutes from downtown (except during rush hour). Very large (120x90 sq. ft.), well-ventilated oakwood dance floor. Mostly Country Western dancing, although they hold some ballroom dances once in a while.

SPJST features dancing to live music every Saturday night. The music is provided by different bands every time. The doors open at 7:30pm and recorded music is played until 8:30, when the band starts. While one can dance during this period, most people use this time to settle down, socialize and get their drinks. Live music 8:30-12:30pm. Dances are open to the public, admission is $5 per person.

The first and second Saturdays of the month are dubbed ``Singles Nights'', but about half the patrons come as couples. B.Y.O.B., but beer, wine, setups and some snacks are available for purchase. SPJST provides a family-oriented atmosphere and patrons are allowed to bring their children, but children are required to stay off the dance floor and maintain reasonable demeanor and behavior.

/Ballroom/
** Stevens of Hollywood Dance Studio

713-522-7477
2143 Westheimer at Greenbriar, Houston, TX 77098
Used to have Argentine Tango lessons on Tuesdays, 8:30-9pm. But the studio closed in August of 1998.

/Ballroom/Country/Swing/
** SSQQ

4803 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77401
713-861-1906

SSQQ is located on Bissonnet, close to the intersection of the 610 loop (just to the West of 610 N). Director of the studio is Rick Archer. Variety of C/W, Ballroom, and Zydeco dancing classes. The studio has interconnected rooms, all lined with mirrors. The biggest room in which they hold the socials is roughly 3000 sq. ft. There is a metal post in the middle of the floor. The floor used to be somewhat frayed, but SSQQ has installed a new floor (as of January 1999).

Jitterbug dances every Monday, 9:15-11:00pm, and social dances (ballroom) every Tuesday, 9:15-11:00pm. The dances are almost exclusively American style; no one seems to have any interest in International style. There is a heavy lean towards the dances that were taught on the day of the social dance. For example, half the dances on a given night could be Foxtrots or Tangos, depending what was taught that night. There is also some Whip, and surprisingly, a few Hustles (as of 1997 Hustle is all but nonexistent in the Houston area). The crowd is generally friendly and easygoing, with dance levels mostly at beginner to lower intermediate.

Casual dress. The $3 admission price includes light snacks and drinks. The snacks and drinks are really nice: they offer cakes, popcorn, and other snacks, plus there is a big fridge in the kitchen with all kinds of soft drinks available to the dancers. Also, although I don't recommend drinking and dancing, I must note that they offered beer and wine (also free) at the social dance. However, I was pleased to see that no one was drinking alcohol during the dance.

/Country/
** Step'n Style Dance Club

2703 S. Hwy 6, Houston, TX
713-589-9535
Note Step'n Style officially closed on October 31, 1997. This is due to an unfortunate driving accident that happened to Laurie Sepulvado, the co-owner of the studio. More about this is available on the studio web page. Some of the independents that operated out of Step'n Style now work at West Houston Dance Sports Center (Steps-in-time).

/Country/
** Texas Honky Tonk

5406 Highway 6 North, Houston, TX
713-463-0820

/Country/
** Texas Longhorn Saloon

9900 Hempstead Hwy, Houston, TX 77092
713-683-0386
Raised 2000 sq ft. dance floor. The middle is not open, there is a little brick structure in the middle of the dance floor with plants on top. Opens at 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, 7:00pm on Saturday, and goes until 2:00am. Cover charge some nights, including Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. There is a free buffet 4:30-8pm except on Saturday.

Bar atmosphere, complete with big-screen TV's showing whatever sport that's in season. Inexpensive drinks. They play country 2-step and country Waltz about 90% of the time. A couple of whips here and there, but almost no-one does the whip. Some disco, a few jitterbugs, a couple of line dances make up the rest of the 10%. Some of the students of Merilyn's dance club go to Longhorn on Thrusdays. If you show up early you can do some practice on the floor before it gets crowded.

Except for the group mentioned above, the bar scene dominates, especially late nights. Preferably go with a partner, or even better, with a group.

/Country/
** Texas Rose Hall

801 Wheeler Ln, at Hwy 35 Bypass, Alvin, TX 77511
713-331-9193
See Map

/Country/
** Texas Two Steppers

3203 Fm 1960 Rd W, Houston, TX 77068
281-821-3560

Owned by Pat and Gerald Harris, this studio specializes in Country and Western Dance instruction.

/Ballroom/
** University of Houston Dance Club:

President and contact person of the club is Craig Goehring cgoehrin@bayou.uh.edu . Dance classes on Sundays, starting at 4pm.

Directions: Take I-59 North to I-45 South. On I-45, take the Calhoun exit and turn right into the campus on the third stop light. Parking lots are immediately on the left and right, and University of Houston dance events are held in the student center, which is a little ahead on the right.

/Ballroom/
** USABDA, Houston Dances

P.O. Box 572547, Houston, TX 77257-2547

The Houston Chapter of the United States Amateur Dancing Association (USABDA) holds dances on the second and fifth Saturdays of the month. On second Saturday the dances are at the Dance Place, and on the fifth Saturday at the Houston Center of Dance. The dances are 9:00pm-12:00am; admission $8 for members, $5 for college students, $10 for the general public, and free for professionals. There is usually a group lesson right before the dance, from 8-9pm, admission $5. The music used to be uninspiring, but they have changed and improved it considerably.

The crowd at the USABDA Houston dances is very nice and friendly. There is a wide variability in dancing capability: from lower intermediate to very very good (not many beginners, though). Some local professionals also show up at the dance, and do showcases in the intermission. A Foxtrot mixer comes right after intermission.

There is usually a strong presence of students from Rice University and University of Houston, who often sit at the table at the far end of the floor from the door. The attendance from the University crowd fluctuates, and is at it's lowest during final exams or major Holidays. One usually sees a few young, professional types as well. The recorded music is relatively good, with the all-too-familiar inclination to over-represent Foxtrots.

Additional information about Houston USABDA:

Annual membership dues are as follows: Regular $25, Competitor $37, College student and/or junior (under 17) $14, Associate $40. The current president of the Houston Chapter is Joyce Barr (281-531-4146), and the promotions and publicity officer is Ruth Sims (713-869-3664). The Houston Chapter publishes a bimonthly newsletter, Ballroom Dancers, that is available for free at the USABDA dances, and is sent via US mail to all members. It includes information on the upcoming local dance events, as well as happenings on the Houston dance scene.

/Ballroom/
** USABDA, Houston Northwest Dances

713-440-6789
Dances are held on the fourth Saturday of the month at Dancin' Room Only, 8-11 pm. Lessons from 7-8 pm. Admission for lessons is $5, and for the general dance, $5 for members, $3 for junior members, and $7 for the general public.

/Swing/
** Vapor Room

2407 Norfolk St, Houston, TX 77098
713-942-7666
Note: Vapor room has gone out of business.

/Ballroom/
** West Houston Dance Sport Center (Steps-in-time)

14919 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX 77083
281-933-9970
Open dance on Fridays, 9:15-11:00 pm. Admission is $8 for the general public, $7 for USABDA members, and $6 for enrolled (studio) students. Good mid-sized dance floor, decent music, friendly atmosphere, and the average quality of dancing is relatively good. University of Houston and Rice University dancers are also regulars in this studio. There is a dance class from 8:30-9:15pm, just before the open dance, for $5. The subject of the class varies from week to week, call to enquire.

Starting in late 1996, Steps-in-time absorbed many of the teachers and students of Step'n Style, a local country western dance school. During the Friday night dances, there is Country Western dancing in a separate room, and the studio now holds some country western classes, although it is still mainly ballroom.

Steps-in-time plans to have Saturday night dances starting April 1998, first Saturday of the month, 8-11pm, admission $10.

Directions: The studio is about 25 miles from downtown Houston, close to the intersection of Hwy 6 and Bellaire. To get there, take I-10 West to Hwy 6. Make left (South) onto Hwy 6. After a few miles (5 or 6 traffic lights), turn right on Bellaire (Walgreen's at the corner). WHDSC is about 0.3 miles ahead in a small strip-mall on the left, across from Southwestern Community Baptist Church (which is the *second* Church on your right, after the Bellaire/Hwy 6 intersection).
See Map

/Ballroom/
** West Side Dance Studio

9743 Katy Fwy (at Bunker Hill), Houston, TX 77024
713-827-8162
American Style ballroom, Salsa, and Country Western dance instruction on a 2100 sq. ft. dance floor. Operating Monday-Friday 2-10pm. No open dances, but they have dance parties for the students of the studio. Call to enquire.

/Country/
** Wild Bill's Dance Hall & Saloon

13101 Kuykendahl, Houston, TX 77014
713-872-0112
Country dancing and lessons during the week.
See Map

/Country/
** Wild West

6101 Richmond, (at Fountain View)
713-266-3455 or 713-266-2282
The old location of Wild West was on Long Point, but that location has changed format and became a Tejano venue. The new location at Richmond is where Traildust Steakhouse used to be. The dance floor is not as good as the old one used to be, but is still fine.

Every Sunday (starting again July 26, 1998) instructors from Merilyn's dance club teach lessons from 4:30-6pm. 4:30-5pm basic 2-step, 5-6pm basics of some specialty course: Jitterbug, Waltz, Polka or line dance. Cover charge $3. Buffet available. Also on Wednesday nights starting from 7pm there is dancing, cover charge starts at 8pm ($4 for men, $2 for women).

/Swing/Ballroom/
** YMCA

1600 Louisiana, Houston, TX 77002 (corner of Pease)
713-659-8501
Weekly swing classes run by the YMCA (call for times and prices), as well as Argentine Tango classes run by the Houston Argentine Tango Association (Tuesdays 7:30-8:30pm).

The Houston downtown YMCA is located at the south end of the downtown area, at the corner of Louisiana and Pease. There is an adjoining parking lot open at a small cost to members; additional streetside parking as well as parking structure across the street.


Regional Dance-Related:


How to find the information you need?

This page provides dance information in two main sections. The short list is a glossary of the places to dance locally, including addresses and phone numbers. This section should serve as a quick reference. If you already know where you want to go, and need the address or the phone number, this is the place to look. Because of its brevity, finding an item is often easier here.

If you need more extensive information, then the long list will probably serve you better. This section contains comprehensive information on the times, locations, and prices of dance events. In many cases, directions and maps are also provided.

To facilitate the finding of specific dance venues, dance types are grouped into the following classes:

  • /Ballroom/ American & International style Smooth and Latin, Argentine Tango
  • /Country/ Country & Western
  • /Latin/ Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia
  • /Swing/ East and West Coast Swing, Lindy, Jitterbug, Hustle
Each category is denoted by a tag, appearing on the right side of the screen opposite the name of the establishment (for graphics capable browsers) or flush left before the name of the establishment (for text-only browsers). Note that the tags should not be taken literally; interpret them according to the above legend. For example, the /Latin/ tag refers to Salsa and Merengue, but not to Cha-Cha and Rumba, which are included in the /Ballroom/ description. Some items are described by more than one category. For example, some studios now offer Country Western as well as ballroom dancing, in which case they are marked with both tags.

If you feel that the information you need is not represented here, please read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) before contacting me.


About this page:

Standard Disclaimer: While I make every effort in ensuring validity and timeliness of the information in this page, I cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience that may result from the usage of this information.

If you would like to have a studio or dance spot listed in this page, contact me at aria@ece.rice.edu. Any new information on the listed items (including change of schedule, location, or owner) will be appreciated by your fellow dancers who visit this page. Finally, if any of the establishments make a strong impression on you in any way (positive or negative), I'd like to hear about it from you.

Thanks are due to Stan Graves, Michael Dorman, Tyson Storm, Dejan Mircevski, Ann Pan, Steve Hudson, AJ Webster, Lester Buck Linda Brady, Jan LaRocque, and Karl Rorabacher for the contribution of information to this page.

The material in this page constitutes no express or implied endorsements.


Last Modified 3 December 1998

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Copyright (c) Aria Nosratinia 1997, 1998