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Boston's Best Swing Dance Clubs

Swing Dance
(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The best swing dance clubs in Boston are active venues that keep their patrons moving and grooving the whole night through. Many participants take a few dance lessons and then go on to enjoy the very active dance style called swing at area dance halls. Others continue to take weekly (or more) lessons to master the many different styles of swing dance and for the socialization factor, which is a big part of the swing dance culture.

Boston Swing Central
Extreme Danceport
26 New St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
(978) 884-7690
www.bostonswingcentral.org

When: Every Friday night

This swing dance venue offers dance lessons at 8 p.m., before the evening of active dancing begins. No partner is needed to attend a lesson or the actual dance event. There are always eager, seasoned dancers present to welcome and help newcomers at Boston Swing Central.

Related: Boston's Best Dance Classes For Kids

Swing City Dance Club (Boston)
Upstairs in the West Cambridge Youth Center
680 Huron Ave.
Fresh Pond
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 513-9841
www.swingcityboston.com

When: 2nd, 4th and 5th Saturdays for a lesson at 8 p.m. and a dance from 9 p.m. to midnight; swing dance every Friday night

Every Friday night there is a swing dance at this venue, which features live music. Dancers of all ages and experience levels are invited to attend. Start the evening with a free lesson as you nail down the basics of the East Coast and six-step, then test your developing skills with the live bands and orchestras. Swing City Dance Club is committed to keeping the art of swing dancing alive by bringing enthusiasts together.

Uptown Swing Dance
Hop to the Beat Dance Studio
At the Congregation Kehillath Israel
384 Harvard St.
Brookline, MA 02446
(508) 435-2363
www.hoptothebeat.com

When: Lessons are offered on Monday and Tuesday evenings; swing dances are scheduled monthly throughout the year

This venue is close to Coolidge Corner in the city of Boston and specializes in the Lindy Hop, which is the original style of swing dance. Hop To The Beat offers lessons and works diligently to keep swing dancing alive as a form of socialization. They also run the annual Beantown Lindy Hop Camp, which is the first weeklong camp dedicated to the Lindy Hop.

Related: Boston's Best Dance Clubs

New Swing School
First Church (Mondays)
11 Garden St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
Dance Union (Tuesdays)
16 Bow St.
Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 249-3715
www.newschoolswing.com

When: Monday and Tuesday evenings; classes are followed by a dance social

There are year-round swing dance classes at New Swing School, which each run for four-week sessions. They are committed to teaching and keeping the authentic and vintage swing dance styles like Lindy Hop, Charleston and Balboa alive. In addition to taking classes and staying for the dance after class, New Swing School also offers a free weekly practice session, the Lindy Dojo, to their students.

DanceBoston.com
959 Waltham St. (Tuesday)
Lexington, MA 02421
56 Pond Lane (Thursday)
Arlington, MA 02474
730 Broadway (Saturday and Sunday)
Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 623-3134
www.danceboston.com

When: Tuesday in Lexington; Thursday in Arlington; Sunday in Somerville plus a monthly Saturday night dance

DanceBoston specializes in a contemporary style of swing dance called West Coast Swing. This dance style is a combination of traditional swing, Latin, ballroom and hip-hop that can be done to R&B, top 40 and blues music. Classes are offered for every level from beginning to beginning-intermediate to advanced, and also include unique options like intermediate/advanced partnering and musicality, creativity and styling lessons.

Related: Boston's Best Dance Studios 

Nancy is a native Bostonian. She enjoys the sights, sounds and tastes of Boston while exploring the city by day or night. Nancy is also a school nurse at an independent middle/high school. Her work can be found on a variety of websites, including Examiner.com.

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