Social Tuesdays: Salsa Bachata Kizomba (SBK) Latin Dance Night

SUMMARY:

• Latin Dancing (Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba) every Tuesday night!
• Come alone or with a partner
• Beginners welcome

$10 cover per person (cash only, paid upon check-in to the private event space), discounted advance purchase tickets are available online, so buy early to save.

SCHEDULE (subject to change):

• Meet & Greet, 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm
• Bachata Workshop (Open-Level), 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
• Guest Instructor Workshop*, 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Salsa / Bachata / Kizomba Social Dancing, 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm

*Schedule subject to change based on guest instructor availability. When we do not have a guest instructor booked, the social dancing portion will begin earlier (check the schedule below for more details) and we will sometimes have guest performers (mini-show) prior to the social dancing portion. See FAQ for a detailed schedule of the offered classes and specials workshops included in your entry.

LOCATION:

Location is subject to change when conflicts occur and we will notify our attendees when this happens. We are confirmed for The Common Ground (a.k.a., 9910 or 99ten) for the foreseeable future.

For information on other Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, and/or Brazilian Zouk events in Edmonton, see the YEG Dancer Facebook Page, Instagram Page, Facebook Group, or Meetup Group.

You can also checkout our Dance Events Listing page.

FAQ

Who is the intended audience for this event?

Do you love dancing and/or Latin music? Are you ready to meet new people and be part of a welcoming community that celebrates diversity? Then this is the night for you!

New to partner dancing? No worries! Just ask us to show you the basics of Salsa, Bachata, and/or Kizomba.

Don't have a partner? No problem! We typically rotate throughout the night in both the dance lessons and social dancing with many dancers coming alone. Let your partner know you are a beginner and we will make sure you come away with a positive experience.

Can you tell me more about these dances?

SALSA

Salsa is a partner dance with roots in Latin and African cultures. There are many different styles of Salsa being danced around the world with the most popular style in Edmonton being LA Style (On1) Salsa. It is by far the most energetic of the three dances and is highly popular in Latin American countries.

BACHATA

Bachata is a partner dance and musical genre that originated in the Dominican Republic. Over the years, Bachata has evolved into many different sub-styles which fuse elements from Salsa, Brazilian Zouk, Tango, Ballroom, and/or Hip Hop. While Traditional Bachata continues to be danced around the world, the most popular style in Edmonton is Modern Bachata.

KIZOMBA

Kizomba is a partner dance and musical genre that originated in Angola. In recent years, it has become increasingly popular around the world and is now a staple at most Latin dance socials in our city, so knowing the basics of this dance style will ensure you are able to dance all night long at SBK events. It is typically the slowest and most chill of the three dances.

What is this event like?

Every Tuesday, we will have beginner Latin dance lessons with an experienced instructor on-site to help those new to partner dancing. Periodically, we will feature guest instructors for special workshops (included in your cover), so don’t miss these unique opportunities to learn from a variety of instructors. Following the dance classes, we will have a Salsa/Bachata/Kizomba (SBK) afterparty where you can apply your newfound skills.

During the Salsa/Bachata/Kizomba (SBK) Afterparty, DJ Irina will keep you dancing all night with a music ratio of 3 Bachata, 2 Salsa, 2 Kizomba. There will be a mix of Sensual Bachata, Modern Bachata, and Traditional Bachata.

While you are here, be sure to check out the drink and food offerings, including happy hour specials (these vary by venue, see the menu links below).

How much does it cost?

Cover for the Social Tuesdays event is $5 early bird (limited quantities, paid online) or $10 regular admission (cash only, paid either online or at check-in), which includes both the dance lessons and social dancing.

What are the expectations from the venue?

Our ability to book premium, centrally located dance venues, depends entirely on whether attendees support the venue with food/drink sales. It is usually recommended to have a minimum $15 per person spend. We have heard from our regulars that food/drink at dance events is an important component for our Tuesday dance nights, so please help us provide you with the best experience by planning to have dinner/drinks on site.

When does the event start/end?

Tuesdays, 6:00 pm to midnight

What is the event schedule?

• Meet & Greet, 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm
• Bachata Workshop (Open-Level), 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
• Guest Instructor Workshop*, 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Salsa / Bachata / Kizomba Social Dancing, 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm

*Schedule subject to change based on guest instructor availability. When we do not have a guest instructor booked, the social dancing portion will begin earlier (check the schedule below for more details) and we will sometimes have guest performers (mini-show) prior to the social dancing portion.

What are the upcoming guest instructor workshops?

• Tuesday, June 13, 203 - Tap Footwork Foundation for Salsa Dancers
• Tuesday, June 20, 2023 - Intro to Traditional Bollywood Dancing

See our YEG Dancer Facebook Page or Dance Events Listing for more information.

Where is this event?

We work with a variety of venues in downtown Edmonton for this event as due to the popularity of the restaurants/bars we book, conflicts with larger events are always a possibility. Therefore, we encourage all attendees to get their tickets in advance to stay in the loop regarding last minute location changes. If you plan to pay for your ticket onsite, make sure to check the event a few hours before.

The Common Ground (a.k.a., 9910 or 99ten)

• 9910 109 St NW, Edmonton, AB
• The Common is located in the beautiful neighborhood of Grandin, steps from the Legislature and Edmonton's scenic river valley.
• The Common Ground (9910) is equipped with a top of the line sound system, lighting, disco ball, a large dance space, and areas to lounge/socialize.
• The Common is an 18+, minors prohibited establishment.
• The Common kitchen runs seasonal menus that place an emphasis on creativity and quality. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian or gluten free they’ve got you covered.
• Choose a drink from their curated selection of craft, small batch, local and imported beers as well as an innovative mix of herbal, vintage and modern cocktails, spirits and wines.

The Pint Downtown

• 10125 109 St NW, Edmonton, AB
• North side of Jasper Ave and main entrance is facing 109 Street.
• Drinks can be ordered all night, food must be ordered by 10:45 pm.
• Full Menu: https://downtown.thepint.ca/menu/
• All our guests are eligible for FREE parking at The Pint's parking lot (at the back). As you enter the venue, there is a QR code at the door which you can scan to register your vehicle (also on tables throughout the venue).

Central Social Hall Downtown

• 10909 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, AB
• South side of Jasper Ave and main entrance is up the stairs.
• Drinks can be ordered all night, food must be ordered by 10:45 pm.
• Happy Hour Specials: https://centralsocialhall.com/happy-hour/
• Full Menu: https://centralsocialhall.com/dine-in/
• All our guests are eligible for $5 parking after 6:00 pm in Central Social Hall's parking lot (at the back). As you enter the venue, there is a QR code at the door which you can scan to register your vehicle.
• Additionally, free street parking may be found south of Jasper Avenue, see the following City of Edmonton map for parking zones/rates/hours: https://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/driving_carpooling/rates-hours-locations

Boulders Lofts Dance Studio

• 10505 107 St NW, Edmonton, AB
• Behind MacEwan University.
• Food and drinks available at adjacent café until 10 pm.
• Free parking available on site (scan QR code once inside to register your vehicle).

Do I need to bring a partner?

We rotate partners throughout the dance class and the social dancing portion, so we have lots of singles that come out to the events and you do not need to come with a partner. These events are great for both meeting new people as well as a date night.

If you do come with a partner, you have the option not to rotate, though we highly recommend that you do to fully take advantage of the social aspect of the event as well as to enhance your learning experience during the dance classes.

What should I wear?

You can choose to dress up or not, but make sure what you wear is comfortable enough to dance in (not too tight, not too short, not too warm, allows you to move your arms, hips, torso, and rest of the body easily, not a tripping hazard, etc.).

Latin Dance shoes are recommended, but not required. Any clean pair of shoes that is comfortable and not grippy on the floor will work (dress shoes, Fuego sneakers, Taygra sneakers, leather soled ballet flats, suede soled jazz shoes, Toms, etc.).

Note that some workshops, such as any of the hip-hop styles, may be more comfortable to dance in flat soled shoes, so it's a good idea to either bring a pair or check with us beforehand.

We recommend bringing a pair of clean indoor shoes for dancing during the winter months as the dirt/snow/rocks from the outdoors can wreak havoc on other dancer's suede soled shoes.

Are there promotions for first time attendees?

First time attendees of the Social Tuesdays event can use promo code 5OFF at checkout. If you are quick enough to get the limited early bird tickets, this amounts to FREE entry to the event.

Is there anything else I should know?

While we encourage everyone to arrive early, especially if you wish to participate in the dance lessons, dancers are welcome to join the dance class and social dancing portion of the night as they arrive. This is a safe space, so do as much or as little as you are able -- no judgment.

Anyone can lead and anyone can follow, all we ask for is that you stay in your chosen role for the duration of the dance class to ensure you don't miss important details and assist in maintaining order during partner rotations. During the social dancing portion, dancers are welcome to switch between the lead and follow roles, but make sure you are clear with your partner regarding which role each will have during a specific song as only one of you can lead at any given time.

Rotating partners is highly beneficial to both leads and follows, however, if you arrived with a partner and wish not to rotate during the dance lesson/workshop, simply let the instructors know at the start of the class.

What if I have more questions?

If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out via Eventbrite prior to the event start time.

Past Event Videos:

Demos of the Featured Partner Dances:

Upcoming Event Posters:

Our Pages and Groups:

Social Tuesdays Poster: