Bachata classes and socials in San Francisco
- Every Friday
- Classes 8pm
- Three levels
- Social until 1am
- 1830 17th St
A judgment-free space to experiment and dance. Classes at three levels, then three and a half hours of social dancing. Most people come alone.
An ordinary Friday
What the room actually looks like
The warm-up on an ordinary Friday. Everybody does this part together, whatever level they are dancing at, before the room splits into three circles for the classes.
Book Fridayfrom $15(opens Eventbrite in a new tab)Every Friday · Smuin Center for Dance
How a Friday runs
- 8:00pmto 8:30pm
Footwork & body movement
Arrival time and warm-up, for everybody at every level. No partner, no pressure.
- 8:30pmto 9:30pm
Partnerwork
Three concurrent classes at beginner, intermediate and advanced level. Partners rotate every 90 seconds or so, so you can come alone.
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- 9:30pmto 1:00am
Social dancing
Three and a half hours of it. Practise what you just learned, or just dance.
Doors from 8pm at Smuin Center for Dance, 1830 17th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Come at 8 for the full night, or at 9:30 if you only want to dance.
What it costs
Book ahead
- Class + social$20
- Social only$15
Booked ahead on Eventbrite or Gomry, plus booking fees.
At the door
- Class + social$25
- Social only$15
Paid at the door by Venmo, PayPal or Zelle.
Booking ahead saves $5 on the class and social. The social alone is $15 either way, in advance or at the door.
A few things worth knowing before you come
You do not need a partner
Partners rotate every 90 seconds or so through the whole class. Coming alone is the norm here, not the exception, and by the end of the hour you will have danced with most of the room.
Wear whatever you can move in
There is no dress code. We do ask for non-scuffing shoes, and spike heels are not permitted — a stiletto puts a person's whole weight on a few square millimetres and the floor does not survive it.
Please use the shoe cleaning station
It is by the entrance, and we encourage everyone to use it. The studio has a ballet floor, and keeping street grit off it is what keeps it good to dance on.
Private and corporate
We also run bachata for teams and for weddings
Corporate and team events
Icebreakers, offsites and holiday parties, from 25 to 60 people, at your venue or ours. One hour to a full afternoon with a performance.
Corporate packages, from $1,500Wedding first dance
Four private lessons, one song, choreographed around what you can actually do. Most couples start having never danced together.
First dance lessons, from $800Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a partner?
- No. Partners rotate every 90 seconds or so throughout the class, so most people come alone. You will dance with a dozen different people in an hour.
- I have never danced before. Is the beginner class actually for beginners?
- Yes. The beginner class assumes you have never heard a bachata song, let alone danced to one. It runs at the same time as the intermediate and advanced classes, so you are never the only person starting out.
- What should I wear?
- Anything comfortable that you can move in. We ask for non-scuffing shoes, and spike heels are not permitted because they damage the floor. There is a shoe cleaning station at the entrance and we encourage everyone to use it — the studio has a ballet floor and street grit is what ruins it.
- Can I come just for the social dancing?
- Yes. Social dancing starts at 9:30pm and runs until 1am. Social only is $15, in advance or at the door, and you are welcome to arrive at 9:30 without taking the class.
- Where exactly is it?
- The Smuin Center for Dance, 1830 17th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, in Potrero Hill.
- What kind of bachata do you teach?
- Mainly Bachata Moderna and Bachata Sensual, with elements of BachaZouk. We have visiting artists from time to time, who teach workshops alongside the weekly classes.
- Do you take photos and video?
- Yes, on most Fridays, and we use them on this site and on Instagram. If you would rather not appear, tell any instructor on the night and we will keep you out of shot. If something is already up and you are in it, email us and we will take it down — no reason needed.
Learning to dance bachata in San Francisco
If you have been looking for bachata classes near you, a Friday night bachata social in SF, or somewhere to start dancing without booking a course and committing to a term, this is that. One night a week, at Smuin Center for Dance in Potrero Hill. Pay for the night you turn up to.
The night opens at 8pm with a warm-up that everybody does together, whatever level they are dancing at. The three classes run alongside each other in the same room from 8:30, so you can move up whenever you are ready rather than waiting for a new term.