01
Beginner
0–3 months of bachata
You have never danced bachata, or you have tried it once at a party.
The basic step, basic turns, partner holds and basic combinations. By the end of a first class you can dance a full song with a partner.
Every Friday · Smuin Center for Dance
Bachata classes in San Francisco, at three levels
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- All at 8:30pm
Three classes run at once, so you are never in a room pitched at somebody else's level. There is no term to join and no course to finish — you book the Friday you are coming to.
Which level am I?
The timings below are a rough guide, not a rule. Nobody checks at the door, and plenty of people move between levels week to week. If you are not sure where you fit, ask one of the instructors before class — they will point you to the right level.
02
Intermediate
3–18 months of bachata
You know the basic step and basic turns, which this level assumes.
Foundations of Bachata Sensual, and intermediate Bachata Moderna combinations.
03
Advanced
18 months of bachata and up
You dance socially without thinking about the basic, and you want more.
Bachata Sensual combinations, BachaZouk, and advanced Bachata Moderna combinations. Visiting artists usually pitch their workshops here.
In the room
A class, mid-flow
All three classes run in the same room, as three separate circles. Partners rotate every 90 seconds or so, which is how you end up having danced with most of your circle by the end of the hour.
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 a Friday 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.
Book Fridayfrom $15(opens Eventbrite in a new tab)
Booking ahead saves $5 on the class and social. The social alone is $15 either way, in advance or at the door.
Getting here
Parking in Potrero Hill
The studio is at 1830 17th Street in Potrero Hill, and evening parking here is much easier than most of San Francisco.
- On the street
- The blocks around 17th and De Haro are residential and metered parking has finished by the time class starts. Spaces are usually easy to find from 8pm onward.
- Read the sign
- Restrictions change block by block in San Francisco, and street cleaning schedules run overnight. Whatever a map tells you, the sign on the pole is the thing that counts.
- By Muni
- Several lines stop within a few minutes walk of the studio, and they run late enough to get you home after the social finishes at 1am.
Frequently asked questions
- Which level should I join?
- As a rough guide: beginner is 0 to 3 months of bachata, intermediate is 3 to 18 months, and advanced is 18 months and up. Nobody checks at the door, and you can move between levels week to week. If you are not sure, ask one of the instructors before class and they will point you to the right level.
- Do the three levels run at the same time?
- Yes. All three run concurrently in the same room from 8:30pm to 9:30pm, as three separate circles, so you can come with a friend who is at a different level and still arrive and leave together.
- Do I need to book a course or a term?
- No. Every Friday is bookable on its own. There is no term, no course structure and no commitment beyond the night you turn up to.
- What happens in the first half hour?
- From 8:00pm to 8:30pm there is a warm-up covering footwork and body movement, with no partners. Everybody does it together whatever level they are dancing at — it is arrival time as much as anything, and it is the reason the partnerwork afterwards goes better.
- Is there parking nearby?
- The studio is at 1830 17th Street in Potrero Hill. There is street parking on the surrounding blocks and it is generally free and unmetered by the time class starts at 8pm, though you should always read the sign on the block you park on. Muni also stops within a few minutes walk.