Ballroom Dancing San Diego

This Ballroom Dancing San Diego Guide is a directory resource for ballroom dance. We include ballroom venues, clubs, lodges, studios and ballrooms in the greater San Diego area. Fortunately, ballroom dance has continued to be popular since it started in the 16th century through the present. In addition, it evolves and embraces other categories of dance under the umbrella iterm ballroom like swing, country western, club Latin, Afro-Cuban and others. For over fifty years, local dance studios, ballrooms and dance center’s have offered ballroom dancing San Diego activities. These include local competitions, dance parties, group dance classes and private ballroom dance lessons. Also, there are many different types of dance genres included in ballroom dancing, read more about them at Types of Ballroom Dance Styles!

The word, ballroom, is thought to have originated from the Italian word, ballare and room, which referred to the hall where people ballroom danced. Historically, the ballroom dancing San Diego community has thrived since the early days of San Diego with beautiful ballrooms on the pier at Crystal Pier and on Coronado.

Ballroom Dancing San Diego Venues

Balboa Park Club
Senior Dances (Ballroom)
Ballroom Dance sponsored by San Diego Senior Citizen Services Scroll
2150 Pan American Rd., W. Balboa Park, San Diego
Phone: 619-236-6905
2nd &4th Thursdays monthly, 12:15 to 3:00 PM
Balboa Park Club

Dancessense Studios
2441 Impala Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92010
760-438-2580
Dance Essense Website

Dance For 2 Studio
Mary Manzella’s Social Dance Party
Every Wednesday, 7:30 to 10:30 PM, Guest Deejays
7528 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: 858-565-9575
Dance For 2 Website Info

Infinity Dancesport Center
Friday night ballroom dancing, 8:00 PM
4428 Convoy St #288, San Diego, CA
Phone: 858-560-4372
infinitydancesportcenter.com website

Mary Murphy’s Champion Ballroom Academy
Ballroom Open Dancing every Friday
Featuring Host Ashley & DJ Jack
3580 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: 619-291-7722
Day/Time: Fridays, 7:30 -10:30 PM
Champion Ballroom Website

Starlight Dance Studio
3rd Saturday Ballroom Dances
6506 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92115
619-287-9036
starlightdance.com website

Synergy Dance Zone
Friday Night Ballroom 7:30 PM Lesson, 8:00 PM Open Dancing
7480 Miramar Rd, San Diego, CA 92126
Admission: $5, $3 Students
Phone 858-578-7111 or syndance@san.rr.com
synergydancezone.com website

Town and Country Resort Hotel
Trellises Garden Grille (Ballroom)
500 Hotel Circle North San Diego
Pier Group plays Fridays & Saturdays 8-11 PM
Phone: 619-908-5017
Town and Country Resort Hotel

USA Dance@ Dancessense Studios
Ballroom Party Every 3rd Saturdays
2441 Impala Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92010
760-438-2580
Dance Lesson 7 PM, Dancing 8-11 PM, $10, $5 students & members
USA San Diego Facebook

Ballroom Dance & Ballroom Dancing

The terms Ballroom Dance or Ballroom Dancing are umbrella terms for most partner dance genres including:

International Latin: Samba, Cha cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive
International Standard: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep, V. Waltz
American Smooth: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz
American Rhythm: Rumba, Cha Cha, Bolero, Mambo, E.C. Swing
Swing Dance: Jitterbug, East & West Coast Swing, Lindy, Balboa
Afro/Latin Dances: Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Kizomba
Nightclub Dances: Hustle, Nightclub Two Step

Ballroom Dancing San Diego Lessons

Here is a list of qualified and experienced ballroom dance instructors in San Diego:

Pattie Wells, bio @ DanceTime.com
Carrie Kloss, bio @ Independent Dance Instructor
Mary Murphy, bio @ Champion Ballroom
Michael Kiehm, bio @ Starlight Dance Studio
Peter Edwards, @ Synergy Dance Zone
Shawn Torgerson, bio @Dance For 2 Studio
Yolanda Vargas @ Infinity Dancesport Center

Here is a comprehensive list of ballroom dance studios that offers lessons including group dance classes, private lessons, dance parties and events:

Read more at Dance Studios San Diego.
More info on starting Dance lessons in San Diego!
Discount Wedding Dance Lessons San Diego

Ballroom Dance Review Videos

Here is a video channel updated weekly with dance pattern review videos focusing on American style social partner dance genres: Dance Class Review Videos

Ballroom Dance Music Playlists

Recommended dance music playlists for most dance genres at Dance Music Playlists

A Brief History of Ballroom Dancing

The first ballroom dance was the Viennese Watlz. In addition, in its day it was scandalous because the partners faced each other and held hands unlike the earlier more proper Minuet forms of dancing. Meanwhile, most of the social partner and Dancesport styles of dance evolved in the early 20th century. In the European countries, the dance genres evolved into what we call the International style ballroom dances while in the United States we dance mostly American ballroom style dances. However, the two styles have been merging in the last couple of decades to become much more similar. To read more about the two categories of partner ballroom dancing, Ballroom Dance.

Tango is a special case in that it now has many different styles including International, American and Argentine tango. It is thought that the Argentine tango is closest to the original form and is also the most authentic style since tango started in Argentina, read more about Tango here.

Ballroom dance is considered one of the healthiest forms of physical activity for general health. However, it is also especially healthy for the brain. In fact, it is rated as a top contributor to delaying dementia and Alzheimers, read more here: Ballroom Dance Health Benefits Part 1.

Ballroom Dance Tips

All partner dance genres involve crucial fundamentals that are essential for becoming a great dancer like partner connection, learning dance concepts rather than just pattern dancing, learning about flexion and extension in movement and knowledge about the various different types and styles of dancing and where to start when you are ready to begin learning to dance.

American Waltz – Rise & Fall Technique