LOCAL AREA CLUBS

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Baltimore Clubs and Studios

Avalon Studio; 15 Mellor Ave; Catonsville, MD

The Avalon Studio is a lovely venue in the Baltimore area, a bit south side of the city.  Originally a swing studio, they still have some swing dancing but have expanded to including Yoga and Salsa.  This studio has been home to the Salsa Rueda classes on Sundays at 5 PM for many, many years.  The classes aer run by DanceInTime with Barb Bernstein, Vince Ford and other teachers helping to bring the joy of dancing in a Rueda circle to Baltimore dancers.  Parties replace the classes there on a regular basis, so check out the schedule on the "classes" page to see what is happening!  I feel that this class is remarkable for its warmth, humor and upbeat spirit!!

Salsa Uno @ One

One of Baltimore's major Salsa night for many years, this club night is on Wednesdays. Club One is located at 300 East Saratoga Street (at the corner of Saratoga and Guilford). The website is www.onebaltimore.com and the phone is 410-230-0049. This Latin night is well run. It's a multi-level club with a dance floor on each level. You can see and hear from all levels and as a result, there's the excitement of a crowded club but still plenty of room to dance comfortably. A Salsa class begins at 7:30 and ends at roughly 9 PM, and the level of the class varies each week. Susan teaches routinely and Dwight teaches often as well, plus occasional other teachers.  For complete information on what the class will cover etc., email spleiter@aol.com.

You should be aware that they have a dress code prohibiting baseball caps, tennis shoes, shorts, tank tops (for men), jeans, and sportswear. However, "dress jeans" are ok. The cover charge is $5 before 7:45, and $7 after that. Open dancing begins at 9 PM.

Due to the relatively spacious layout (and the fact that the teacher has done some Rueda), this club tends to be Rueda-friendly.  Many Baltimore Salseros dance here including myself.   So if you are new to the club and I'm around, just let me know and I'll be happy to introduce you to some other Salseros.

To get there, if you are coming from the north, take 83 South (the Jones Falls Expressway) and get off at Guildford. The club is at the corner of Guilford and Saratoga. If you come from the south via Route 295 or 95, go to Pratt Street and turn right. Next make a left onto Calvert Street and then a right on Centre Street. From there go south on Guilford until you get to the intersection with Saratoga, where you'll see the club. There is lots of parking in the lot next to the club.

Havana Club

Here, too, the best night for Latin dance/music is Wednesday. It is the only night when there is a Salsa lesson from 9:00 or 9:30 to 10:30ish PM.  The house DJ then plays dance music from 11 PM to 1:45 or 2:00. He plays Salsa mixed with other Latin music, and some top 40s as well. There is no cover charge. The dance floor is wood but very small and it tends to be too crowded for much movement. Some people hang out at the bar and watch the dancers, and it can get smoky. The dress code is no jeans, shorts, athletic wear, jerseys or denim of any kind.

FYI, they have dancing at this club on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  What distinguishes Wednesdays is that they have a Salsa lesson that night in addition to the general dancing.  The type of music and dancing varies--its not all Latin on the other nights.

The address is 600 Water Street in Baltimore, MD. The phone is 410-4680022. The directions from Pratt Street are to turn onto Marketplace. That bends and dead ends into Water Street. The club is a just ahead on Water Street, above Ruth Chris' Steak House. There is valet parking which many dancers use because finding a spot nearby can be difficult.

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Latin Palace

There are generally Salsa lessons in the early evening before the general dancing begins.  This club has switched who teaches on various days a number of times and the exact times of the lessons.  So it's best to call ahead to confirm. This club is a Baltimore institution.  It has a heavy Latino population that attends; it's not just your standard Salsa dancing crowd.

Once the lesson is over, the DJ plays Salsa mixed with other Latin dances including merengue, bachata, cha cha, etc.  The floor is fairly large but there are generally lots of people there so it's still crowded. The cover charge is $10 which includes the lesson.

The address is 509 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD and the phone number is 410-522-6700. To get there, go to Pratt Street in Downtown Baltimore, turn onto Broadway and look for the address. There are places to park on the street.   Be aware that this is not the best neighborhood, so don't park too far off on a side street and walk quickly from your car to the club.

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Cancun Cantina

This club has a Latin night on Sundays. (They do more country-type dancing on other nights.) They have a Salsa lesson from 9 to 9:45 PM on Sundays. Then they have a DJ till about 1:45 AM who plays assorted Latin house music. Be aware that you may hear relatively little Salsa. However, it has a good size floor.  There is a $6 cover charge for women which includes some mixed drinks, wine, and draft beer with refills. For men the cover charge is $5 but they don't get any drinks with that.

To get there from Route 295, take Route 100 East to Route 170 North. Make a right at Dorsey Rd and the club is a little way down on the right. The address is 7501 Old Telegraph Rd., Hanover, MD 21076. The phone number is 410-761-6188.

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The Ark

Directions to Ark a former Salsa Club named Gardells:  29 South Front St; Baltimore 21202 
1. To get there from D.C. and south, take 295 North and get onto Pratt St.
Then:
a option 1: Turn left onto President St and then right at the second light onto Baltimore St. Take the first right onto Front St and follow the road to the right. Gardel's is on the left. There is valet parking available which is helpful.
b option 2: Turn left onto Albermarle. Then turn left onto Plowman which becomes South Front Street.

Note that if you would rather travel north using I-95, you need to merge onto I-395 North via exit 53 toward M. L. King Blvd. Then take the Conway Street exit and stay straight to get onto W. Conway. Then turn left onto Light Street and right onto Pratt. From Pratt Street, follow the above directions.

2. If you are coming from the north, get onto the Baltimore beltway and take Route 83 South. Make a left onto Baltimore St. and then a right onto Front St. Follow the road to the right and Gardel's is on the left.

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Austin Grill

This is a new Baltimore Club with Friday Salsa Night. The address is 2400 Boston St.; Baltimore, MD.  This is run by Sean Climer who brings in teachers to teach Salsa there regularly as well.  His email is: georgiaboydance@gmail.com.

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The Belvedere Hotel (The 13th Floor)

This club features live bands and is on the 13th floor of the hotel.  They have a $5 cover charge which includes a Salsa lesson from 8:30 to 9:30 PM on Saturdays followed by general dancing.

To get there from Pratt St. heading east down near the harbor, make a left onto Charles to go north.  Take that to Chase Street.  The Belvedere is at the corner of Chase and Charles.

Buddha Lounge

Buddha Lounge (sometimes called B-Lounge)  is located at 14 West Pennsylvania Ave; Baltimore, MD.  They feature Salsa dancing on Wednesday nights run by Sean Climer. 

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Kasbah 2324 Boston Street; Baltimore MD

This is a venue for Salsa on Saturdays.  Grace or one of her teaches teaches there from 8 to 8:50 PM and also 9 to 9:50 PM. The cost is $10 per lesson per person, after which there is open dancing. If you don't pay to take the lesson, then you are not allowed on the main dance floor until the open dancing starts-but there is a bar and other sitting area where those not taking the lesson can congregate.  The floor is huge.  However, be aware that this area of Baltimore is busy and parking isn't easy to find so allow time to look around!  There is a shopping center several blocks away where you can generally park if you drive around and cannot find street parking.  The management from Gardells has taken over the Salsa nights at Kasbah, by the way!

Directions: Take Pratt Street into downtown Baltimore. Make a right onto President's Street, go down and make a left onto Fleet Street. Go down-pass Broadway and keep driving until you see Boston Street. Make a right. Go down and Kasbah will be on the left hand side of Boston street. 2324 Boston Street.

La Palapa Grill

This is a restaurant set in Ellicott City, a Baltimore suburb.  At various times they have had Latin dance lessons and general dancing on Thursday nights.  There has been a change of hands on who teaches there.  At this time, Vanessa, an excellent dancer, is teaching. You can check with the club to see when the dancing and lessons are.  If they have music, the house DJ generally plays a Latin mix including Salsa, merengue, reggaton, cumbia, etc.  The cost varies as they sometimes bring in a live band.   So check on details before you go.

To get to La Palapa Grill (8307 Main St.; Ellicott City), get onto the Baltimore Beltway (Route 695) and get off at Frederick Rd. heading towards Catonsville.  You follow that roughly 5 miles as it passes through the heart of Catonsville and becomes Main St. heading into Ellicott City.  The restaurant is on Main but it's set back from the street so it's hard to see.  Keep your eyes peeled as you go down Main St.  The phone number there is 410-465-0070.

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The Promenade Dance Sport Facility

This dance center is huge---5,500 square feet of floor!  They do all sorts of partnership dancing there---with an emphasis on ballroom.  They are not as heavily into Salsa, but they do have Salsa on Tuesday nights.  Currently Grace of DancingwithGrace.com teaches there on Tuesdays.  If you go on the weekend, you will be treated mostly to Latin and Smooth (waltz, foxtrot, etc) dance music.  However, they do play Salsa if requested. 

The address there is 2605 Lord Baltimore Drive and the phone is 410-277-0234.  To get there from the Baltimore Beltway (Route 695), take exit 17, Security Blvd west.  Go west toward Rolling Rd and then a right onto Lord Baltimore.  The studio is a ways down on your right and it's well marked.  There is plenty of parking.

Red Maple

930 North Charles St; Mt. Vernon section of Baltimore, MD Red Maple is an elegant club with beautiful facilities, a small dance floor, and great food.  Managed by Leonard Clark, this club offers Latin dancing and has switched around the day of their Latin night from Thurs to Tues and back to Thursdays. So call ahead or check their website and confirm that they have Salsa/Latin dancing when you want to go.  For more information on the club, please visit: http://www.930redmaple.com/.  Their Latin has been in flux so it's best to check out what is current before you go if you are looking for dancing.  Directions: From the south, you can come up Route 295 (B W Parkway) and follow the road around to the right as you come into Baltimore, getting onto Pratt Street.  Then take that to Charles street and turn left.  Follow Charles to the address--on your left. There is a parking lot at the next intersection and street parking can sometimes be found, too. Si Salsa Si Salsa is located at 1700 Reisterstown Rd; Pikesville, MD 21208. The have Salsa dancing on Saturdays run by Niss Albaig and Mike Fok. For details, go to Sisalsa.com.  Talara There is a Baltimore club at 615 President's St; Baltimore MD 21202---corner of President & Fleet.  They have weekly Salsa dancing on Monday nights.   The music is generally about 75% Salsa and 25% Latin Mix (Merengue, Bachata, Cha Cha, etc.). The website for the new club is TalaraBaltimore.com.  There is a very short, beginning Salsa lesson at 9 pm followed by open dancing.  And note there is NO COVER!!! Xanadu  10 South Calvert St; Baltimore, MD        www.xanadubaltimore.com This is active with a Salsa night on the first and third Friday of each month.  Susan runs the night and details on what is being taught, etc. can be found at alivewithdance.com, her website.   This is open First and Third Fridays (with two lessons beginning at 7:30pm) $10 before 11:00pm/$12 after Zen West  5916 York Rd; Baltimore, MD 21212  phone: 410-323-3368 This is in the northern edge of Baltimore and it has a cafe next door with good food that you can order right at the club (they bring the food over!).  There is a dance floor and dancing several nights of the week.  Friday is their Latin Night, run by Sean Climer, a versatile ballroom instructor.  He brings in some other dance teachers including Cuban Salsa instructors from time to time and lessons are from 9:30 pm to 10:15 pm.  The atmosphere there is friendly and the DJ is responsive to requests. Cafe Latino Cafe Latino is in Frederick, MD, about 50 mins from Baltimore.  The address there is 50N Mccain Dr.; Suite 104; Frederick MD 21702. This cozy and friendly restaurant sometimes sponsors Latin dance lessons---call to find out if anything is going on as their schedule has been variable.

Northern Virginia Clubs

Cafe Salsa

Caribbean Breeze

Cecilia's

Cerro Grande Nite Club Mexican Grill & Cantina

Chicken and Steak House

Clarendon Grill

E-Citie Restaurant & Bar

Elan DanceSport Center

Mango Mike's

Musica Cafe

Nick's

Picante's Mexican Restaurant

Rene's Supper Club

Terra E. Mare

Perorming at a former Baltimore club named Xanadu.  4/08

copyright: 2003 by Barbara Bernstein