Celebrating 90+ Years of the Historic Spanish Ballroom!

Dance Into the Future with Us!

Glen Echo Park has three unique dance venues that host our weekly social dances: Spanish Ballroom, Bumper Car Pavilion, and Ballroom Back Room. The historic Spanish Ballroom proudly celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2023, and it is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

General Information

Our fun and affordable social dances are open to the public with no prior experience and no partner required. New dancers are always welcome, and a pre-dance, introductory lesson is included with admission. Most dances feature live music by renowned local and national bands.

Dances take place year-round and occur regularly on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Frequently, two or three different dances are presented at the same time, one in each dance hall, offering greater variety to the public. (View the Dance Calendar below!)

Dance Styles

Currently, we're presenting dances in these styles:

Blues  •  Contra & Square  •  Swing  •  Folk  •  Waltz  •  Tango & Milonga  •  Ballroom  •  Zouk  •  Barn Dances  •  Balboa  •  Other Latin Dances

 

2024 New Dance Styles

View Dance Calendar      View the Monthly Dance Newsletter
 

Special Partnership Dances!

HONKY TONK DANCE WITH ARTY HILL & THE LONG GONE DADDYS | Friday, August 15

Two-step the night away with Arty Hill & the Long Gone Daddys Friday, August 15 in Glen Echo Park’s wonderful open-air covered Bumper Car Pavilion! From Baltimore, Md to Central Texas, Arty Hill packs the bars and dance floors with his unique brand of modern Honky Tonk. His songs marry wry storytelling with the soul of classic country. We'll start off the evening with a beginner lesson (free with the price of admission) with Sharon Schiliro and Michael Hart of Dancing by the Bayou, followed by dancing with the band! Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Plus, we're including a FREE cold treat to beat the heat!

 

Purchase Tickets

 

Discounted Advance Tickets ($15)  ||  Online sales end at 12:00pm on Friday, August 15

Tickets sold at the door ($20)  || Cash, Check, or Credit Card  || Doors open at 7:00pm on Friday, August 15

BACK ROOM SALSA NIGHTS (Monthly | Upcoming: Friday, August 15)

Join us every third Friday in the Ballroom Back Room for a sizzling hot night of Salsa presented by Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture.

Learn More

 

Purchase Tickets

 

SWING DANCE WITH HALLEY SHOENBERG & HER SWINGIN' CATS | Saturday, August 23

Join us for a Swing Dance in Glen Echo Park’s Historic Spanish Ballroom! Halley Shoenberg and Her Swingin’ Cats will swing the night away August 23, 2025 with hits from Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and more, featuring Christiana Drapkin on vocals. Instrumentalists include Halley Shoenberg (clarinet/saxophone), Doug Elliott (trombone), Harry Appleman (piano), Cyndy Elliott (bass) and Francis Thompson (drums). A beginner lesson (free with the price of admission) will be taught by Ellen Engle & Marc Shepanek of Flying Feet Enterprises.

Clarinet and saxophone player Halley Shoenberg has performed for more than 300 swing dances over 27 years at Glen Echo Park. Long-time member of the Tom Cunningham Orchestra, the LaSalle Dance Orchestra, Craig Gildner Big Band and Blue Sky 5, she has led her own hot jazz group, “Halley’s Hot Gumbo Swingtet,” her 11-piece 1920s-style “Revival Jazz Band,” and now returns with her 1940’s-style small group swing ensemble.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Plus, we're including a FREE cold treat to beat the heat!

 

Purchase Tickets

 

Discounted Advance Tickets ($20)  ||  Online sales end at 12:00pm on Saturday, August 23

Tickets sold at the door ($25)  || Cash, Check, or Credit Card  || Doors open at 7:30pm on Saturday, August 23

BACHATA Y MÁS (Monthly | Upcoming: Saturday, August 23)

Come experience the magic of Bachata! On Saturday, August 23, join us for an evening of Bachata— and more!—in the Ballroom Back Room. 

 

Learn More 

 

Purchase Tickets

 

Tickets $15 in advance until 11:59pm Friday, August 22, $18 at the door (Cash and credit accepted).

 Come Dance at FREE Summer Concerts! 

Dancers are invited to attend FREE Summer Concerts in the Bumper Car Pavilion, every Thursday night at 7:30pm, from June 12 – August 21, 2025. We've got an incredible lineup of bands, picked for their danceability!

Learn More      RSVP (Preferred, not required)

Partnership Dance Class Series:

INTRODUCTION TO CONTRA DANCE WITH PENELOPE WEINBERGER (Wednesday Evenings | July 9 - August 13, 2025)

Introduction to Contra Dance with Penelope Weinberger:

July 9 | July 16 | July 23 | July 30 | August 6 | August 13

7:00pm to 8:15pm on Wednesdays

Build confidence in your contra dancing skills, learn basic moves, etiquette, and how to navigate a dance floor with ease. It's said Contra is one of the easiest forms to learn, and while that's true, this class is for folks who would like a little more intro before a foray out into the Friday night dance with 200 plus attendees. If you don't know an Allemand from a do si do, this class is for you. 

Penelope Weinberger, a veteran contra dancer of nearly 40 years and instructor for 10, will lead you through the basics and get you ready for the big night. No partner needed! Ages 10 and up.

 

Purchase Tickets

 

Partnership Dance/Fitness Series:

DANCEFIT FOR BODY & MIND (Back in the Fall!)

Join us for a dance series designed to keep your body moving and your spirits up! Meeting in either the Ballroom Back Room or the Hall of Mirrors.

More DanceFit Information

 

Social Dance Classes

Have you ever wanted to attend one of our social dances but don’t feel comfortable enough with the style? Or are you looking to hone your skills and show off to the crowd? While our dances are beginner-friendly, we are proud to offer dance classes in a variety of styles at various levels.

Browse the Catalog 

Learn about the history of the Spanish Ballroom

Watch this short video

Watch this short video to learn about the history of the Spanish Ballroom! 

Learn more about the ballroom and the history of the Park

To visit our Park History page, click here >>

Volunteer for Glen Echo Park Partnership Dances!

Volunteer for one hour, to either help set up or break down for a dance or event, and gain free admission to the dance or event! 
 

More Information
 

LOST AN ITEM ON A VISIT TO THE PARK? 

Lost & found is in the Partnership office, and you may pick up/check for lost items during office hours: Monday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (Closed on Sundays)

While we weren't able to be together in the Park during the height of the pandemic, we enjoyed bringing you some of your favorite dance bands who performed for our Live from the Spanish Ballroom virtual music series. The performances are on Youtube, so have fun watching and dancing along! 

Learn More & Watch on YouTube