• SOCIAL DANCES

    Enjoy dancing at Glen Echo Park every Thursday through Sunday

    An introductory lesson at the beginning of each event will get you started, and the lesson is included in the price of admission! 

    Glen Echo Park offers regular social dance events and classes in the historic Spanish Ballroom, the Bumper Car Pavilion, and the recently-renovated, climate-controlled Ballroom Back Room. The renovation of the Spanish Ballroom in 2003 brought it back to its original splendor, and it remains the premiere site for dancing in the Washington DC area.

    All social dances are open to the public, for all ages, with no prior experience or partner required. All dances offer an introductory lesson before the dance begins and most include live music. Tickets are $5 - $20, depending on the dance, and are sold at the door. Tickets generally cannot be purchased in advance. Dress is casual, and layers are recommended, because the dance halls (with the exception of the Ballroom Back Room) are neither heated nor air-conditioned. Smoking is prohibited in all buildings.

    Dances This Week 

    Thursday

    Friday

    Saturday

    Sunday

    Dance Styles & Presenters at Glen Echo Park

    Ballroom Dances 
    • Occasional Sunday afternoon ballroom dances are presented by Mike's Ballroom Blast, featuring live music by Mike Surratt & The ECB.

    Balboa Dances 
    • Once a month Balboa Dance to DJ music presented by American Swing.

    Blues Dances 
    • Weekly Thursday night Blues DJ dances and various special Blues weekends are produced by Capital Blues.

    Contra & Square Dance 
    • Weekly Friday night Contra & Square dances are produced by Friday Night Dancers. 
    • Weekly Sunday night Contra & Square dances are produced by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington.

    Family Dances 
    • A monthly Sunday afternoon Family Dance is produced by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington.

    Milonga/Tango Dances 
    • Weekly Sunday evening Milongas are produced by Tango Brillante DC, usually in the Ballroom Annex, and occasionally in the Spanish Ballroom. 

    Swing Dances 
    • The following organizations produce Swing dances on Saturday evenings and occasionally on other days and nights:

    Waltz Dances 
    • Twice a month Sunday afternoon Waltz dances and the Annual Viennese Waltz Ball are produced by Waltz Time.

  • Watch Them Dance!

  • Article on Dance Couples

    Couples who met at GEP

  • History of Spanish Ballroom

     

Assurance Statement of Non-Discrimination  |  Code of Conduct for Social Dances

This project has been financed in part with funds from Heritage Montgomery, Montgomery County Government and with State Funds from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority(MHAA), an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. The contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of MHAA.