Table of Contents
Dancing
DC is a great community for dancing. Whatever your preferred style, you can find a place to dance nearly every night of the week. Here are a few listings for dancing based on our personal knowledge and preferences. This NOT a comprehensive list since there are more possibilities than we can count. This is a wiki and we hope others will add their knowledge of different styles and venues.
Glen Echo Park - Spanish Ballroom
http://www.glenechopark.org/dancing.htm
The grande dame of Washington,DC area dance venues, Glen Echo's Spanish Ballroom was designed to accommodate 1,800 dancers. This beautifully restored 1933 Mediterranean style Art Deco building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the best dance halls on the east coast. Come see why serious dancers travel miles to be a part of history. A variety of dance styles (contra, swing, waltz, Cajun/zydeco, salsa) are featured - check the online calendar for specific listings. Limited accessibility by public transportation; directions are on the website. Most events feature a drop-in lesson prior to the dance.
Swing/Lindy
Clarendon Ballroom
http://www.clarendonballroom.com/index.htm
Tuesday night swing dance with Gotta Swing http://www.gottaswing.com, live music from 9-11. Other nights feature contemporary top 40.
Metro accessible: Clarendon Metro Station, Arlington,VA
Chevy Chase Ballroom
http://www.chevychaseballroom.com/index.php?module=PostCalendar
Weekend dance parties featuring swing or Latin dance styles. Mini lessons available before each dance.
Metro accessible: Friendship Heights, Chevy Chase,MD
The Jam Cellar
http://www.thejamcellar.com/
Every Tuesday night, swing dance in a turn-of-the-century mansion in NWDC. Free beginner lesson at 9 pm, dance starts at 9:30.
Metro accessible: Columbia Heights, WoodleyPark or U Street,Washington,DC
Muse Lounge
http://www.gottaswing.com/page01a.htm#muse
717 6th Street, NW,
Wednesday night DJ Dance party, 9-11pm, $5
(Happy Hour! Drinks are half-price 6-10pm)
Metro Accessible: Gallery Place-Chinatown,Washington,DC
SwingOutDC
Offers a local calendar of dances, classes and more.
http://swingoutdc.com/
Jitterbuzz
A guide to Lindy Hop, Swing music, dancing, vintage clothes and Retro Lifestyle in WashingtonDC
http://jitterbuzz.com
Tango
The Capital Tangueros is a volunteer group supporting Argentine Tango in the greater Washington,DC area. Their website contains hyperlinks to a calendar and classes, dances and practices occurring within a 45 mile radius of DC.
http://sites.google.com/site/dctangocalendar/
Salsa
DC Dancenet's salsa page features listings of local venues offering salsa dancing and/or drop-in lessons throughout the week.
http://dcdancenet.com/salsa/places.html
Folk, Contra, English Country
Folklore Society of Greater Washington lists many types of dance and music
http://www.fsgw.org/
Cajun/Zydeco
WhereWeGoToZydeco covers the Mid-Atlantic Area including DC
http://www.wherewegotozydeco.com/
Theatre
Arena Stage
Website: http://www.arenastage.org/
Distance from D.C. Convention Center: Located 2.0 miles
Closest metro: Waterfront-SEU (Green)
Directions: http://maps.google.com
Capitol Steps
Website: http://www.capsteps.com/
Performs every Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center amphitheater
Distance from D.C. Convention Center: Located 1.2 miles
Closest metro: Metro Center (Orange/Blue/Red)
Directions: http://maps.google.com
Ford's Theatre
Website: http://www.fordstheatre.org/
Distance from D.C. Convention Center: Located 0.8 miles, walking distance
Directions: http://maps.google.com
Kennedy Center
Website: www.kennedy-center.org
Distance from D.C. Convention Center: Located 2.2 miles west.
Closest metro: Foggy Bottom (Orange/Blue); shuttle outside Metro goes to the Center, but it can be reached in about 15 minutes of walking
Directions: maps.google.com
Special, free events: Millennium Stage concerts EVERY NIGHT 6-7pm. Check out the schedule here.
National Theatre
Website: http://www.nationaltheatre.org/
Distance from D.C. Convention Center: Located 1.2 miles
Closest metro: Metro Center (Orange/Blue/Red)
Directions: http://maps.google.com
Shakespeare Theatre
Website: http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/
Distance from D.C. Convention Center: Located 0.6 miles, walking distance
Directions: http://maps.google.com
Warner Theatre
Website: http://www.warnertheatre.com/
Distance from D.C. Convention Center: Located 1.0 miles
Closest metro: Metro Center (Orange/Blue/Red)
Directions: http://maps.google.com
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Website: http://www.woollymammoth.net/
Distance from D.C. Convention Center: Located 0.6 miles, walking distance
Closest metro: Gallery Place
Directions: http://maps.google.com
Notes: Stampede seats - Woolly makes 10 or more side balcony seats available for all mainstage subscription performances (except special performances, VIP and opening nights) at $15 each. They are sold 2 hours prior to showtime, on a first-come, first-served basis, 2 per person.
Tickets
- Ticketmaster: Local areas performances for DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
- TICKETplace: Washington area's only authorized 1/2 price ticket outlet lists same day and upcoming discount ticket prices. Some tickets are available for purchase on line.
- Goldstar- Offers discount theater tickets and discounts on other attractions, river cruises, and other fun things to do. You can buys tickets online and they are available at the will call window.
Additional Resources
- WashingtonPost.com Theatre & Dance
- For reviews and/or brief descriptions of current plays, visit Potomac Stages.
- Washingtonian Magazineand the Washington Post's Going Out Guide both review downtown clubs and bars, if you're looking for something different than listed here.
- WETA's Community