I come for a weekly Bhangra class which I love. It's a get your body moving and the more you put in the better your workout will be. The instructors, especially Andrea, is consistently welcoming. I also find her easier to follow because her pants are not override and it easier to see the leg movement. Viki, the lead instructor, is nice on email but when I try to talk to her in person, I find the interaction awkward. Maybe it's me but I see her interacting with others. Come! Great music, energy, joy and movement. A great way to spend an hour. read more

Attended the Mortified comedy show on a Saturday evening. Found free street parking a block away. Fast ticket check at entry and plenty of seating available inside, including small tables and even a couch in the back corner. Basic stage setup, a good sound system, and large screen to the right (that's also where the restrooms are located). No actual bar, but food and drinks were sold in the back, including canned and bottled beverages and tasty bites like empanadas and pizza. It was quite warm in there, with weak or non-existent AC, just ceiling fans spinning above. Luckily when the sun went down (which is late now due to the recent daylight savings time change), the temperature became tolerable inside. The live storytelling and musical performances were entertaining as usual. The host/producer, Scott, started out the show. From there, the comical readings from the teen diaries and journals of diverse individuals continued on stage for a little over an hour. No live band for this particular program, but one of the performers played us tunes on the guitar, which she created as a youth after heartbreak. I'm a fan of Mortified, and though this venue was not one my faves of those typically used for this event, it was a decent setting for a casual night out this past weekend, filled with laughter, awkward moments, and positive vibes. Also, Ashkenaz is a historic community center and nonprofit that's been around for more than half a century, dedicated to music, dance, and culture, which I appreciate. read more

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I'm super disappointed that this place will not even take the time to respond to my band's several inquiries over the years to setup a night of music at this venue. They provide - General Inquiries: ashkenaz@ashkenaz.com Yet do not respond. I've attended shows here and tried to participate in their scene as a guest. I find this ignorance completely uncalled for. I don't care how many bands email them per year. We're putting ourselves out there, the least they could do is respond. read more

great neighborhood venue, homey, approachable, and unassuming. Doesn't feel too modern, cold, or steel - the interior and exterior is a very dark, lived-in wood. My daughter does dance here and enjoys it. read more

Came for the dance lesson that was publicized. Waited and found out it was cancelled with no announcement on anything. No one mentioned it at the place until I asked. Guess you have to stand outside and then wait to see if the dance lessons are happening before buying admission. The band was good. read more

Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center - Dance lesson advertised but not realized. - Dance Clubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great venue for seeing g world music. They serve drinks, if you want them. Overall wonderful service and experience. read more

Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center - Stage view. - Dance Clubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I highly recommend the Ashkenaz ! It's a warm , welcoming place in every way. Even the wooden floor was made to absorb & support dancers . The diversity of music and mix of cultures is inspiring especially during these very challenging times. Going there really does feel like a home away from home .... Good drinks and food to munch on too read more

Stellar Experiences! One of a kind really!! From the "W elcome" as I approached to the " Thank you! ". When I left I believed I was a guest and NOT merely a customer. Berkeley AF read more

We were in Berkeley to visit my niece, and to listen to a Grateful Dead cover band in honor of my brother-in-law, who had just passed away. The band was great. The sound was good. The bar was open. We catered in our own food which was Jewish deli so of course, something for everyone. Parking was tight. It's an incredibly hard neighborhood to find parking so be careful where you do park. The street life was entertaining as many people came up and down smoking weed riding their dirt bikes in the street doing wheelies and of course, lots of other colorful folks on the street. Is a very popular music venue for lots of bands, as you can see by the posters and is well attended by many people in and out of the Berkeley area. read more

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My first visit to Ashkenaz to hear some music. Nice venue for live music. Sound was good, but not great (I'm very critical of music venue sound systems). VERY Berkeley vibe . Only knock is that parking is a challenge. read more

The Ghost of Berkeley Past lives on in Berkeley Present. Berzerkeley became a haven for anti-establishment radicals, hippies, yippies, and dippies in the 1960s. Most never left. At Ashkenaz, their mindset lives on. it's an old barn on old US 40, was never gentrified, turned into a community center and concert venue. It is now a venue for [ahem] other music. You won't find Justin Bieber's music here, not even at Sunday's Soul Sanctuary open dance. Instead, Ashkenaz showcases world music and out-of-the-mainstream American artistry: bhangra, Afro-Cuban, samba, Cajun jam sessions, kalaripayathu, Argentine tango. There's quite an appetite for these offerings in Berkeley, so Ashkenaz has been around for a long time. It's a time warp, in a way. Posters and artwork celebrating far-left-of-center thought. No attempt at beautifying the place, leaving it raw. Takes you back to 1971. Thankfully, no white males were thrown out because of their lack of diversity; if I remember right, the bartender was a white male. In diversity, lives of all colors matter. I've been here only for the bachata offerings. This is as mainstream as you get, and even then, half the people you meet have probably never heard of bachata. It's a Dominican dance that's become popular in the clubs, taught by Kathy Reyes, the same Kathy Reyes I mentioned in my review of Alhambra's Granada Dance Studio. It brought in a crowd that may not come here for other events. Which is a good business move; get as many different kinds of people in here as we can, build the size of the Ashkenaz community. So look over the events calendar, see if anything interests you that you want to try out, and come on out. You may find yourself becoming a regular at Ashkenaz. I mean, if they let a white male middle-class conservative-voting Christian (me) come in, they'll let anyone in! And really, why not be one big happy family? read more

Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center - Kathy Reyes introduces a room full of people to bachata. - Dance Clubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love this family-friendly club. Have been playing and dancing there for years. A Berkeley legend that is still going strong.

We only went here once, because they had a Cajun band and there was a zydeco lesson before the performance. The band was amazing and we enjoyed the lesson and dancing. A bit pricey, but we'd definitely go back if there were a band we wanted to dance to. read more

Great dance floor, with all kinds (I mean all kinds) of awesome live bands. This place has some of the best country music in the Bay Area; it's good for country two-step dancing! The salsa and bachata nights are also super popular with folks of all ages. There is a large variety of world music that would be hard to find elsewhere. Many of the shows have a dance lesson at the beginning, which is great for breaking the ice. We're also really glad that our kids can get in free. It has a crunchy hippie atmosphere, which goes with the folk-music vibe. I do recommend using earplugs or ear protection, especially for the kids, since it can get really loud. Also there is no coat check, but that's never caused a problem for us. The crowd is usually pretty mellow. read more

Michele and I love Ashkenaz. We love the easy parking. We love the modest cover charge. We love that it hosts a very eclectic set if musical acts...last night we saw a Pakistani band called Baraka Moon. We loooove the nights Stu Allen plays. Some truly magical moments with his band Mars Hotel. We love the beer and wine selection for great prices (6 for beer and 5 for wine). Crazy good prices for Fieldwork IPA. The bar also has a modest food menu with only vegetarian fare. We like that. The venue is cozy but airy. You are at the stage even near the back. Tables line both sides so if you come early you can get a nice seat for the show. Several bathrooms near the back of the venue. All are not gender specific. The bar is small and located near the entrance. They have too many different kinds of acts to list. You just need to check out the calendar to see how truly varied the performers are. Enjoy a local night out at Ashkenaz! read more

Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center - Dance Clubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Spinning all night long at the spinnery, my first Dead show. Classic Berkley venue, would definitely recommend catching some tunes here!

It is a hole in the wall and that is what makes it fun. There is plenty of room to express oneself dancing.

The vibe is great. Nice staff. Nice patrons. I lost my wallet and someone took the $200 that was in it and turned it in. At least I git my id back. Large wooden dance floor. Cute funky bathrooms. read more

Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit music and culture venue that specializes in presenting live world and roots music. Ashkenaz was founded in 1973 by David Nadel, a dedicated human rights activist and folk dancer, in response to the San Francisco Bay Area's strong interest in international folk dance. He transformed a warehouse on San Pablo Avenue into a dance hall, which was modeled after an Eastern European wooden synagogue. He envisioned a place where the world's music and dance would dissolve the differences that keep people apart. Unfortunately, David was murdered in 1996 by a drunk patron that he refused to let into the Building. It was the one violent act in a dance hall dedicated to peace and nonviolence. Yet his local legacy lives on, as I still remember many of the People's Park and other Local Berkeley causes David championed. Most of the time I didn't agree with him, but I admired his principles and passion. As for the Ashkenaz itself, I've been here for folk dance lessons and an occasional show. I'm not naturally attracted to many of the acts here, so my attendance has been rather hit or miss over the years. Yet I make it a point to regularly keep up with the bookings. After all, who who knows when time and circumstance will bring people together? read more

As you've likely discerned from other reviews, this place is a trip. It's a little hard to rate since I'm not sure how to separate the venue itself from the events happening there or from the clientele attending these events. That said, here are three reviews for the price of one: 1. Venue: It's a great common-use, multi-purpose space. The floor is large and danceable, the acoustics are very good, air circulation is excellent, and there are mirrors aplenty. It's a shame that much of the wallspace is decked out in gaudy leftist paraphernalia (amongst the clutter of which there's one particular "Como en Vietnam" poster whose meaning I'm still trying to grasp). Also, it's too bad about the restrooms; go elsewhere if you can. 2. Events: I've been to a few Saturday morning bhangra classes, a couple of world music parties, a Cafe Bellie event, and a couple of Bandworks showcases. All were well-organized, well-attended, and enjoyable. 3. Clientele: Almost regardless of the event, this place attracts the type of person who, if they weren't there, would likely be at home making vegan stew and creating leftist paraphernalia. They tend to have an interpretive dance style that never seems to fit the type of music being played, and they smell kinda funky when they start to sweat (then again, I've found that this tends to be the case at world music parties in general, regardless of the venue). Reviews aside, this is a place that you probably need to check out on your own, so put on your favorite Che t-shirt, tie your dreads in a bun, save the deodrant for another day, and let us know what you think... read more

My go to place when I feel like hearing live music, especially for zydeco. Often has good ska/reggae. Never any of the big names, but that's fine. Sometimes a bit loud & the acoustics aren't that great (it is just a big barn). Crowd is almost always friendly; mostly older hippie types. Small booze selection & you wouldn't go here for food but they often have dance lessons before a show (e.g. Cuban salsa or zydeco). Apparently there's kids stuff sometimes but overall # 1 Bay area dive for zydeco! read more

Come early to get a seat! Love to attend concerts there especially when the Brazilian bands play. You can buy the tickets online or at the door but tickets are less expensive if paid in advance. A great dance floor and lots of tables plus they sell food and beverages at a reasonable price! Families are always welcome. They have all kinds of genre of music there just check out their calendar on the website! read more

Love this place . Somethings don't change The music never stops . You can feel Dave everywhere . What a wonderful dream he had read more

Love love love it! Did you know that you can come on Sunday mornings and dance for free! 11- 1 pm? It's called Soul Sanctuary. A lovely community event, they've done this for 750 weeks in a row so far. The music is not techno, but more human. There are kids around, light comign in through the skylights, nice people. At the end we sit in a circle and pass around a plate of fruit to share the good vibes. This is awesome. Thank you Zack for keeping it going!!! read more

Enjoyed a really fun evening and celebrated a friends marriage here. Clean bathrooms, open space, large stage and overall the perfect size for the right size party. Luckily there was parking in the neighborhood two blocks away. read more

Fun place to dance where you can take your kids along. People go to genuinely have fun. Love that I can take my children. Wholesome and I'm not sure why people are saying it seems unsafe. It was totally safe when we went. Love to take the kids, learn a new dance and have fun for hours. read more

Reason for visit: Hipline's Anniversary Show. Visit date: December 16, 2012 First time? Yes. What a fun space! I came here for Hipline's (http://www.myhipline.com/) Anniversary Show. There's stage, plenty of audience space, and a complete bar with food. There were a few tables and they set up the chairs to look like a theater. They didn't put enough chairs out for the number of people there (and there were no extra to pull out), but there was definitely plenty of standing room. The sound system is good and the dimly lit space is great for dancing, mingling, and acting silly. I'd come back for other events. read more

Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center - Hipline's 4th Anniversary celebration. - Dance Clubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

I come here to dance when they host salsa bachata nights. Love the super smooth dance floor and the space. It gets crowded as it's very popular, and quite hot when dancing, but that's all part of the fun! I have not attended any other performances here but that's only cuz I haven't had the time, not due to a lack of desire. I think it's such a nice intimate venue, so it would be fantastic to watch a show or listen to live music here one of these days. read more

I purchased three (3) tickets to "Sistahs of the Drum" which was scheduled in early April. Shelter-in-Place hit in March, and I have been attempting to contact the venue to inquire about my $66.00 refund. It is now August 2020. The outgoing voicemail message is from March 2020, no options, no selection for voicemail. I want a refund of my money for a performance that will not take place. Shame on whomever runs this place. You can blame it on Covid-19, but customer service is customer service! read more

Imagine all the people... Yeah, this place is pretty much one big Lennon-esque Love Fest. How could one complain about that? The space feels like a big barn, with casual tables around the edges, a no-frills bar in back (beer, wine and kombucha!) and an all-walks-of-life crowd. We saw Audiafauna, a band from Santa Cruz that ended up being way better than I expected (think Sia meets Rilo Kiley). We stayed for a while, drank cheap wine and swayed carefree, as children frolicked and recovering-hippies flung their limbs to the music. It was dreamy. This is a place to feel free. Yes, it's very "Berkeley"...but isn't that why you came? Bring cash. Bring soul. Let go and love it. read more

I love a good old-fashioned orgy, sweaty bodies gyrating to the natural beats of rhythmic music, torsos spinning and feet thumping on the ground... And by "old-fashioned orgy," I mean a "really great dance celebration with lots of people." Just to be clear, the environment and clientele are entirely wholesome, fun and respectable. The Afro-jazz band playing that night filled the stage, and the dancers spread across the floor. And, my, what dancers they were, as some took to the space like spiders spinning up the wall. Moves, my friends. There's a bit of beer here, though not much. Just enough to loosen the joints. It's really as simple as this: a big warehouse of a room with plenty of space to move. So if you wanted to know where to have an orgy in the Bay Area (deal with those keywords, Google), Ashkenaz is your place. read more

I'm what I call a HbP-Hippie by Proxy. Having lived amongst hippies for most of my life, I can out-hippie by proxy 99% of you. My first boyfriend was named after a constellation, my second one was Hare Krishna, my house always smelled like a combination of Indian incense and Mendo incense, and growing up I used my window as a door and never wore shoes. While the smell of patchouli makes me nostalgic, I am pretty far from being a hippie, whatever that word means. I never climb out my window anymore, and I have a near obsessive love of shoes, but my HbP nature is still in full swing. The Ashkenaz further cements my HbP-ness. It's so reminiscent of NorCal hippie barn parties, with little tealights strung across the stage, children and adults dancing, holding hands, and just loving being alive and present. I may shave my legs and eat meat, but the Ashkenaz just makes me so happy, which is etymologically very similar to hippie. Coincidence? I doubt it. The musicians that this little love shack books are always beyond talented, the cover fee being a small down payment for not only a magical time that night, but future good times by jumping on the groupie bandwagon and following these local musicians around town. The Ashkenaz only deals in cash, so bring it or use the ATM at Chevron across the street. A little goes a long way; the beer, wine, and kombucha are cheaply priced, which has been a bit dangerous in the past. One of the only places around that has the potential to lop off the last two letters of my condition, leaving me only as 'hippie' or 'happy', whichever way you want to perceive it. All I know is that after hours dancing here with special people, 'happy' is the only word that my soul cares to utter. read more

I don't know...maybe this place is just "too" Berkeley. Last time I went, it was for some West African band and they were all right. But when I first arrived, there were a bunch of kids running around and your run-of-the-mill hippies holding hands and circling around the venue. It didn't help the vibe to have a couple of fish-brained zombies staring into space during the concert. The kicker was when I went to buy a soda for my friend. When I asked for a Coke, the guy gave me the worst stink-eye and said, "We don't serve THAT kind of drink here." "What do you mean?" I asked. "We don't serve drinks from fascist multi-nationals!". "Uh, okay dude..." Yeah, this place is definitely "too" Berkeley for me. read more

So fun! Ashkenaz wasn't too crowded when I came for a show the other night. Plenty of room to dance, and they had tables and chairs around the dance floor to take a break! All the staff, patrons, and musicians were very friendly. The location is easy to get to via BART/bus, but definitely a hassle getting home late after the show since public transit doesn't run as regularly after 1am. I just wish Ashkenaz was a little more selective about who they let in. The group of trashed 15 year-olds vomiting in the bathroom kind of put a damper on the beginning of the night. read more

I had never heard of Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center until last night. My friends convinced me to meet them for a small show. I didn't know the music either. As soon as I walked through the door, I knew I had to stay longer than expected. I loved the big open space--perfect for dancing. There are also tables around the walls, which is nice for sitting and catching up if you get tired or storing your things. They only serve beer & wine as alcoholic beverages, but they also serve other types of beverages for those not in the mood for drinking, which is nice. I loved the music, and I enjoy the idea of having a place to see more local artists. I fully support this place, and I plan on keeping up with more of their events. read more

On Tuesday nights in the quaint studio in the back, they offer tango lessons with Sonja. She teaches a somatic approach and really gets you to feel the music, your body and your partner. You don't have to bring a partner to the class. We take turns leading and following. Nor do you have to know what you are doing. After six weeks you will have the basic steps down and be ready to hit a milonga. If you are looking for dance shoes, check out San Francisco Dancewear. There is one in Oakland/Piedmont as well as SF. read more

First, the good news: I've seen bands ranging from decent to awesome here. Ticket prices are very reasonable ($14 to see Brave Combo? Nice!), and parking is pretty easy to come by. Also, their tofu sandwich is indescribably delicious... crunchy, savory, satisfying... even for an unrepentant meat-lover like myself. On the downside, though... this place makes a moderate liberal like me cringe. I know that often times music (and all art) is inextricable from politics and serious commentary on The Human Condition, but for crying out loud... can't a bloke go and enjoy some fun music and dancing without being visually assaulted with 17284719 ultra-leftist propaganda posters? I swear, it's stuff like this that makes Berkeley an oft-laughingstock of much of the world, and if I didn't know that the proprietors of this place were ultraserious about World Peace, I'd cynically think that it was all tongue-in-cheek, a spot-on parody of Berkeley. Oh, and one more cranky thought for the night: if you value your shins, think twice before going here to dance. The folks here are admirably filled with joy (not to mention quite likely, uh, other substances) and seeing the unbridled lack of self-consciousness is admittedly refreshing and often humorous... but floorcraft is not in most of the folks' movement vocab here. read more

Oh gawd, this is it if you want to be as Berkeley as you can be, dig in. I mean this place takes the cake. It's BORING with BORING bands and it's soundtrack is a deflated playlist of politically-culturally-socially-etc "safe" music. If you like your sound decaf and sugar-free, you can really rock out here. Honestly, I want to say something kind about the place, but it's like enduring a two-hour elevator fart. read more

Best place for a first date. I should know, as I was on the receiving end of a surprise date that will never be forgotten. It's as if all the stars aligned and a man took me dancing, something I LOVE to do on a first date to learn a dance I've never done before. From there on out I was like putty. But I digress. Ashkenaz is a really amazing place: great community feel, with rustic architecture and homey vibe. Great sound--good beer selection---comfortable environment. Hands down amazing experience. We went on a Tuesday (I know right?!?) and still had a blast. IT WAS ROCKIN. I recommend this to anyone who loves live music, dancing, having fun, and trying something new. read more

I am from Berkeley. When I first meet someone and tell them I'm from Berkeley, I see that glint in their eye, trying to figure out my hippie ranking. I tell them I went to UC Santa Cruz, Banana Slug territory, now there's no denying it. But really folks, I'm no hippie. I don't like granola. I shave my underarms everyday. I don't do tie dye. But I love my hippies, I really do, more power to them I say. I tested out this Berkeley establishment last night, and let me say it is veeeery Berkeley hippie. Large dance area for some psychedelic dancing, go to the very small bar for some beer/wine and vegan turnovers(??). I would suggest not venturing into the restrooms unless it's a dire emergency...it's not a pretty site. I told you, hippie central. My friend's band that played there was great, so that makes me teeter from 2 stars to 3. They have dance classes there, which might be fun/interesting. If wanna see what Berkeley was like back in its hay day, Ashkenaz is like a museum of cool hippie shit. But Berkeley really is no longer like this. I am not a hippie. I rest my case. read more