Robson Square
Grab a partner and rumba down to Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square (Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28) to add a little Latin flavour to your summer. Enjoy a free beginner’s lesson to get your booty shaking, watch a sizzling demonstration by local dance pros or just join in a fun experience that will leave you feeling the beat all week long.—Amanda Peters
MARCH 4 Tap you toes or cut a rug to Five Alarm Funk‘s energetic dance beats. Singer-songwriter Kim Churchill brings his guitar-driven folk songs to the ‘Peg. Tickets: $10 at Kustom Kulture, Into The Music, or at the door. The Pyramid Cabaret, 176 Fort St.
WinterPride photo by Ryan Shanoff courtesy GayWhistler.com
Break out your ski gear and get ready to party as WinterPride takes over Whistler from Jan. 30 to Feb. 6. If dances, dinners and martini parties aren’t your style, how about snowmobile tours, tubing and dogsledding? This week-long gay-pride celebration has something for everyone.—Sheri Radford
Dancers congregate for the Wreck Beach Butoh. Photo by Yuri Kikuchi
One weekend each year (Jul. 10 to 11), dancers clad only in white make-up perform on clothing-optional Wreck Beach. Kokoro Dance provides the choreography, while Mother Nature controls the stage, lighting and score. Audience members have been known to rip off their clothes and join in.—Sheri Radford
Ultra (photo by Device 222)
What better way to work off your dinner than with a dance or two? You’ll find both food and fun at these Toronto supper clubs. The glamour of old Hollywood is prominent at The Roosevelt Room, with its art deco–styled interior and 1920s-inspired cocktail menu. Savour a sumptuous rack of Ontario lamb ($32.95) or Alberta beef filet ($31.95), then enjoy live jazz or vaudevillian entertainment. For a more contemporary experience, swanky Ultra serves steaks, of course, plus East-meets-West offerings like a baked half lobster with chipotle hollandaise ($21) or miso-glazed black cod ($26), before sending you on to the dance floor. And if you like to do the salsa and eat it, too, then a night at Babalúu is in order. Relish Latin fusion options—entrees, tapas dishes and huge shareable paellas—then partake in a complimentary and caliente dance lesson.
Photo of Kickstart by Chris Randle
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, this annual fest (Mar. 12 to 21) truly is an international affair. Artists from all around the world come here to dance on local stages. This year, featured troupes include Los Angeles’ Michael Sakamoto, Denmark’s Kitt Johnson, Taiwan’s LAFA & Artists, New Zealand’s Black Grace and New York’s Evidence. But we’re not short on home-grown talent: Vancouver dancers include Flamenco Rosario, Kickstart, Out Innerspace and Mascall Dance.—Sheri Radford
Photo by Caroline Toth
Since 1929, the Commodore Ballroom has been delighting concertgoers with its huge sprung hardwood dance floor and great musical acts. In the early days as the Commodore Cabaret, this art deco landmark featured big band music, dinner and dancing every Saturday night and celebrity performers including Sammy Davis Jr., Count Basie and Cab Calloway. More recently it has played host to some of the biggest names in rock, hip-hop and pop music, including U2, David Bowie, Nirvana, Tina Turner, The Police, The Tragically Hip, Beastie Boys and KISS. So put on your dancing shoes and enjoy the best bounce the city has to offer.—Leszek Apouchtine
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Stay, Dine, Do
