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The Weekender: Boston's Saturday Morning Newsletter
Warm up at these salsa dancing socials and classes in Greater Boston
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's Saturday morning newsletter, The Weekender. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
When was the last time you planned a weeknight rendezvous?
New England winters can make even fun meetups intimidating, when you have to bear pinching cold temperatures on the other side of the door. But if you — like me — are in the midst of your hermit era, just remember: Other places have heating systems, too. And sometimes, the party might keep you warmer than you would have been at home.
Enter: Salsa dancing.
Salsa can make your night go from frosty to fiery. And in the Greater Boston area, there are several monthly — and even nightly — salsa socials where you can get your feet moving and blood pumping. (Newcomers, don’t fret — there are classes around the area, too!)
I’ve collected a few recurring salsa nights and learning opportunities you’ll want to mark in your calendar, as well as some restaurants where you can enjoy a more casual dance and some tasty food, too.
So layer up — we’re going dancing!
Salsa socials (and classes) around Boston
Havana Club — 288 Green St, Cambridge
Located in Central Square, the Havana Club hosts both salsa and bachata dance parties five nights a week during the winter (and six nights a week starting in March). These parties go late, usually starting around 8-9 p.m. and ending anywhere from midnight to 2 a.m., depending on the night of the week.
- Know before you go: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night dances allow admission for those as young as 18 (with no alcohol served at the event). Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are 21+.
- Top tip: If you’re new to salsa and would like a lesson, you can pay $15 for an hour of instruction (from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.) before the social dancing starts. If you’re just going for the social, admission is $10. Don’t forget to stop at the ATM beforehand — the Havana Club requires guests pay admission in cash.
J&L Underground Social — 7 Temple St., Cambridge
J&L Dance Studio hosts an energetic salsa/bachata night on the first Saturday of every month at Rumba y Timbal Dance Studio within the Cambridge YWCA (also in Central Square). The party starts at 7 p.m. with a crash course for beginners, and then social dancing goes from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m.
- Know before you go: This event is cash only, and admission is $15 at the door.
- Top tip: This social is great for large groups of friends. The venue can accommodate a big crowd.
Salsa y Control — 161 Harvard Ave, Allston
Salsa y Control in Allston offers a full slate of dance classes you can take before showing off your moves at a local salsa night. Check out the list of class times here, or visit the studio during their Salsa Vinyl Jam Social this Sunday for some vintage vibes.
- Know before you go: Drop-in classes are $18 each, and you can register ahead of time or pay the studio directly with Venmo. If you’d like to learn more, you can also sign up for a class package.
Dante’s Salsa Inferno — 41 Hampshire St., Cambridge
There’s nothing hellish about this party — except, maybe, the heat on the dance floor. Dante’s Salsa Inferno is a salsa social held on the first Friday on every month at the Dante Alighieri Society in Cambridge. (Dante’s Salsa also offers dance lessons and themed dance nights, too.) Doors open at 8:45 p.m. and dancing goes until 1 a.m.
- Know before you go: This salsa social is 21+. Admission is $15.
- Top tip: There’s a full bar, which takes both cash and card. Just remember to bring at least $15 in cash for admission.
Noche Latina Dance Company 735 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester
Noche Latina Dance Company offers classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays where you can learn salsa, bachata and kizomba in a dance studio at Dorchester’s Luna Fitness Club. You can view all the class times, organized by level, here.
- Know before you go: Drop-in classes are $20 each. Class packages of eight weeks will run you $128.
La Fabrica Central 450 Mass. Ave, Cambridge
Every Wednesday night, Central Square’s La Fabrica transforms its nightclub into the “Bachata Room,” where you can dance salsa, bachata, merengue and kizomba from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The night starts with beginner-friendly lessons, before it turns into a dance party.
- Know before you go: La Fabrica’s nightclub events are 21+ and IDs are required to enter the main lounge.
Rosa Mexicano 155 Seaport Blvd., Boston
Every Sunday, Rosa Mexicano in the Seaport hosts “Salsa Brunch Sundays,” where you can join in on some lively salsa dancing set to music provided by a live DJ during the restaurant’s brunch hours, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (perfect for those of us that aren’t night owls.)
- Top tip: You can book a table to guarantee your spot on the dance floor, but reservations aren’t required to pop in and dance.
P.S. — Want more salsa? Tune into ¡Con Salsa! with longtime WBUR host José Massó tonight at 10 p.m. And check out The Boston Globe's new profile of Massó as he approaches 50 years on the radio.
