I've been coming here every time I visit Seattle for work to get some dancing in -- they're an institution of the dance scene in the city and I'm sad that they're shutting down soon. Love the place, and hope the dance organizers get new spots -- the people congregating here are a gem to the greater Seattle community. read more

Come dance the night away with us! What a cool place to learn a little bit of Salsa and dance till the AM's. I've only been here on Saturdays for their Social Dance. It's always a good time. They teach a little 1 hour lesson from 8:30 to 9:30 and then open up the dance floor until 2 AM. You can learn some basic steps to get your started but don't expect to know Salsa after one mini lesson. :) As a follow, it was enough to just have a good time that night. The later you come, the more veteran and experienced dancers you'll meet. Many beginners come dance for the first hour or so and then leave. On Saturdays, the Bachata room is also open down the hall. A much smaller room but that's enough. The entrance fee of $20 gets you into both rooms. (Intro lesson is $5 extra). It's great being able to go back & forth between the rooms. There is a bar that you can buy drinks. You are allowed to bring your own water bottles but you have to leave it up at the front entrance because they don't allow you to bring your own bottles in due to the bar. Sometimes they even have performances from dance groups on Saturday nights. They also have practice sessions on weeknights that you can join and check out. With what little dance experience I've had over the last 2 months, Century definitely feels like "the place to be" if you want to dance the night away. Because of that though, Saturday Socials feels more like a show/a place to show off rather than a place to practice so just be prepared for that kind of atmosphere. Parking can be difficult since it's Cap Hill. Most people park at the parking garage down the street. **I'm not going to fault Century for this but this is something for women to take note of - not all men here are as respectful as you'd want them to be. Watch out for their hands and unwanted advances. Sometimes you really have to set your boundaries clearly because some people will def. take advantage of a friendly dancer.** read more

Century's shutting down after nearly 3 decades and this time it sounds like it's for good. Rent's just gotten too high, and I think over time we're going to see more and more businesses close because it's just no longer sustainable for businesses to keep going. This is pretty much known as THE place to learn to dance in Seattle. That said, I wish some things had changed and there's probably a reason I haven't been back in a while. I was hoping to come back in 2025 but I don't think that's happening anymore. read more

An institution in the Seattle dance scene, this place has a unique layout and a ginormous ballroom with a great dance floor, red velvet curtains and even balcony seating! There are 3 dance rooms total, plenty of drinks and food on premises, and if you don't like the choices, the place is smack in the middle of Capitol Hill, so multiple choices are available. Century offers lessons series on everything from salsa to swing and tango. Lessons are followed by dance socials where students get the chance to practice what they learn. DJs play a mix of salsa, bachata and merengue, with salsa being predominant in the mix. The music selection leans heavily towards old, very old and not necessarily super well-known tunes. Additionally, the BPM seems pretty constant and rather slow. My friends and I came to the conclusion that this was so as to make it friendly to the folks that stay for social dancing after lessons, since we noticed a few people repeating the same combinations :) It isn't uncommon to see some very skillful dancers and some instructors on the dance floor too. Overall, this place is a winner, dust off your dancing shoes and make a night of it next weekend! read more

Century Ballroom - Dance Schools Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The perfect place for a classy night out with friends! I came here on a Friday night for their Tango dance, and let me just say I'm so glad I did. The ballroom is beyond stunning - I felt like I was thrown back in time. It was the perfect place to wear a gorgeous dancing dress that would otherwise be too much. They often have intro lessons for various dances, and my friend and I took this one. Despite having no knowledge of tango, I was able to pick up the basics quickly thanks to the instructors! They broke down the steps so they were easy to follow and even stopped to help and provide tips! I will definitely say that it gets PACKED! Although there were only a handful of students at the lesson, the actual dance segment was very busy. Be sure to come by early so you can grab a table! I had a really great time and can't wait to be back! read more

Amazing environment for anyone to enjoy dancing! Lovely community that will embrace any age and any level of expertise in Latin dances! Absolutely love it!! Highly recommend! read more

From out of town. Looking for Salsa in Seattle. Found it on a Saturday! Had some wonderful dances. The cover charge was worth the live music and the lovely space. Great dancefloor. Bartendx, a gem of a bartender. Had great time. All skills level. Did not matter cuz everyone put their heart into dance. Will return! read more

Swing nights are still OK, but at some point the crowd got taken over by the Vintage Nazis. No new music, ever! No Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, no Brian Setzer, no Imelda May, nothing but oldies, all the time, and God forbid you should ask about anything from after 1940 or so! They look at you like you just asked if there was a special room for killing puppies! I remember the old days, when they played a variety of swing music... ah well. Go with a friend, as the crowd has become quite clique-ish and a bit snooty. The ballroom is still huge and gorgeous, and dancing is still fun, just not as accepting as they used to be. read more

I've taken adult dance lessons (ballroom and tap) from over a half-dozen instructors and Lucie and the Century Ballroom are the best.

Such a special place right in the heart of Capitol Hill - perfect for date night! There's delicious food and drinks across the ballroom and lessons for those with two left feet. It's a no-pressure fun-filled environment. Drop-in classes are very affordable and they regularly put on special events! The ballroom is in the Oddfellows building, so it provides a charming and almost rustic atmosphere. There's definitely no other place like it. Hallie and Allison and all the dance instructors there are total rock stars and will make you feel safe at all costs. read more

This place make my heart sing. Yet another wonderful experience at Century Ballroom. Who knew a Tuesday night could be so vibrant

ON SWING For Seattle standards, a very friendly dance scene welcoming of all skill levels! I come here for swing on Saturdays, Sundays, and the occasional Wednesday! Most folks who come here are game to dance with whoever! Whether you're a beginner lead and advanced follow, advanced lead and beginner follow, beginner and beginner, everyone is pretty friendly and open! If you're a recent transplant like me, there's no stigma coming alone -- everyone dances with everyone whether you come in a group, as a couple, or Han Solo. I might be a bit biased, but I have found the swing community to be the friendliest of the bunch (having danced a bit of salsa and bachata too). Cover and lesson on weeknights is only $9, so not bad at all price wise (a little more on Saturday...$16 with lesson on Saturday, maybe more if there's a live band )! If you come on a night with bachata or salsa in the other room, you can switch between both if you get bored dancing swing. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T come here if you only want to dance with the people you came out with -- I'd prefer you to leave this bad attitude at home lest you wish to ruin the vibe. :-) YOURS TRULY, A fan! read more

Sometimes I come here for Salsa/class with a date. Not really into the dancing thing myself, but it's a good way to start a night out and a way to mix up the usual date acitivties. The class is alright. You may want to opt out of the partner switching if you are coming with an SO. I dunno it kind of ruins it for me as a date activity to switch it up. I wish they had a couples only class. There's also some pretty skeevy old men here that basically get pretty handsy with any girl that'll dance with them. This old guy in the picture I posted was making my date feel a bit uncomfortable, unfortunately for my date she was a little too kind hearted. Before that he was basically face deep in a middle aged woman's busom. read more

Century Ballroom - Random old dude getting handsy with my date.... beware - Dance Schools Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great time and fun to watch all the dancers. We went on a Saturday night and was not crazy crowded. Bar drinks were reasonable!

Since moving to Seattle, I've come here many times. Friday salsa nights are in the smaller ballroom and they tend to not have a lesson beforehand. They aren't super crowded - typically 20 or so people, though the number increases as the night gets later - but there are plenty of options for partners to dance with, and the men tend to be fairly good leads such that at my intermediate level, I have lots of fun. I've brought friends who are beginners who are also able to enjoy themselves. The DJs do mix in the occasional bachata song as well. Saturday salsa nights are much more crowded and are in the bigger ballroom. They tend to start with a beginner's lesson, which really walks you through the basics. I brought my boyfriend who had never ever salsa danced before, and he was able to pick things up fairly quickly here. After the one hour class, there is open floor where the DJs play mostly salsa and some bachata music. It's often quite crowded and space management while you're dancing is important. There is a bar serving alcoholic drinks, and there's a water fountain down the hall next to the bathrooms. Tuesday nights they have West Coast Swing, which starts a bit late, at around 9ish, and doesn't tend to get busy till about 10pm. I have no idea when people work such that they can dance this late, but I wish WCS nights either started earlier or would occasionally be held on a weekend. There is a pretty consistent crowd that comes though, and the men I've danced with have all been very good partners who are solid leads and fun to learn with. On Sundays, they often have "Waltz cafe" in the afternoon, where you can dance standard ballroom dances including foxtrot, rhumba, Waltz, and occasionally cha-cha (not as much as I was hoping). The crowd is small and older (think 50s+). I enjoy coming to Century a lot and highly recommend it to anyone interested in dance. Parking can be a bit of a hassle, but as someone who lives 30 minutes away, I still find it worth it to drive to Capital Hill and pay their [fairly reasonable] fee to dance. read more

I like the venue and I will definitely come again for the social. However, I came for the salsa lesson before the social and it was a pretty terrible experience. The instructor was extremely unkind and lacked classroom management skills. One minute she was encouraging us to have fun and be social and the next she was "shhhhhhing" us in her microphone. She would also stop the class and stare at people who weren't listening to her directions. I felt really unsafe and uncomfortable due to the way she treated us. Thankfully I'm taking lessons at another establishment, so I already have some salsa basics. Had this been my first experience learning salsa I would have been too discouraged to continue. Learning to dance is extremely vulnerable and can be scary! The instructor can really heighten one's stress or reduce it. If you are just learning salsa, I recommend taking some classes through a different establishment. read more

I've taken Lindy 1 and 2c here. The instructors for Lindy Hop are incredible. They are super funny, upbeat, and build up the material well. They work on the basics first and add on quickly. At the end of the five weeks, I learned enough to hold my own doing the basic Lindy Hop, but there are always more intricate and advanced steps to learn in the upper level classes. The class starts with a warm up with leads on one side and follows on the other. Then leads form a circle around the room and follows dance with each lead, rotating around the circle after a little snippet of dance is taught and practiced. There were more leads than follows for most of the classes I took, but occasionally there'd be more follows. The space is big but if a lot of people take the class, it feels cramped. The room also gets really hot, even with windows open and fans blowing. read more

I have been taking Lindy Hop classes here since the Spring (so a total of 5 classes each 4-5 weeks long). I take the classes alone as a follow. I would say 90% of the people in the class also come by themselves, which means you need not be worried about not having anyone to take the class with. The way the class is structured is you all stand in a big circle and the follows rotate counter clockwise so you get a chance to dance with someone new. In all the classes I've taken there has been only one couple who was unwilling to dance with others. Everyone is always really friendly. I went in not having any swing dance experience under my belt. Most people in Lindy Hop 1 come in the same, so there is no judgment. The instructors Katie and Mark are phenomenal! Very helpful, entertaining, and patient! They also have "office hours" during swing nights if you have questions or need help mastering a move. The swing nights are also phenomenal. Wednesday (21+) and Sunday's (all ages) in the main ballroom and Friday's (21+) in the smaller ballroom. I have never gone solo, but it's an environment that you can go by yourself as you switch partners between songs. I have been encouraged by others who do go solo to do so myself. I will one of these days! read more

This was my second trip to a Salsa Saturday Night at Century. Both times we've made it there, we were early enough to catch an intro. salsa lesson. This was good cuz I'm hoping my brother and his g-friend catch the salsa bug. The main space of Century is really cool and has a chill vibe with its large dance floor, old-fashioned decor/moldings, stage for live bands (I totally want to see a salsa band here), and a few places to sit back and observe (with the balcony being prime for this). I do wish it was cooler in here. When you're dancing and it's packed in here, it can get hot (even in the dead of winter!). There's no AC, so one would have to hang out near an open window to cool off. Luckily, there is a coat check (upstairs in the balcony) so you don't have to worry about overheating w/ a jacket. There is a bar here, albeit a little small. I wish they had a water fountain in there, cuz sometimes you just want to drink some water. The last time I was there, I danced a little bit after the lesson. I'm pretty shy, but the women I asked were totally nice, and handled my minimal dancing skills in stride. I also had a good time just people watching. One thing we noticed. Seems like the real popular salseros (guy dancers) had some sort of accessory to make them stand out. There was the one tall older guy with an eye patch. Another dude who wore sunglasses the whole evening. And then there was the flamboyent guy who wore one glove, a la Michael Jackson. Don't get me wrong, these guys had serious skills, and I can only aspire to be at their level. However, it sounds like at some point I'm going to need some sort of accessory to get my salsa on. Hmmm....what about a cape? Maybe I'll try a cape! read more

Century Ballroom - salsa - Dance Schools Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Another great time at Century Ballroom. I am loving it! Good music, good people, good atmosphere... They have schedule online that you can check when the live music will be. This specific Saturday I went didn't have live music. However, the DJ played nice Latin music. People there were nice. Most of them are really patient. I am a beginner and most of people went there are very patient with me and are willing to teach me. If you are too shy to start dancing, there's a bar in the ballroom that you can purchase alcohol that make loosen you up a bit! read more

Century Ballroom - Lesson at century ballroom - Dance Schools Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I have never "been dancing." Oh, I've been to clubs and danced as well as my white bread, oft inebriated self can, but I've never been to any place with the singular goal of learning how to do a particular dance and then perform it. Recently, at the bequest of my wife on her birthday, I wound up at Century Ballroom to learn salsa dancing. The Ballroom offers classes in many forms of dance, but salsa was the order of the evening. For a few dollars more than the normal cover charge, you can arrive an hour before the room is taken over by experienced dancers there for open dancing. While waiting, we sprang for a couple of drinks from the tiki bar. They were overpriced, of course, but as tense as I was it was worth it. I would not go there with the notion of dancing AND drinking in the future. The lesson began with all participants forming a large circle on the dance floor. Everyone stood facing their partners, leads (men, mostly) on the outside of the circle, follows (women, mostly) on the inside. The instructor gave us a basic rundown of the three-step that makes up the base of salsa dancing. My wife and I started out with these steps, but wound up very, very far apart. In a move I totally understand - but wasn't a fan of - the inner circle rotated counter-clockwise, so the followers chenged partners every move or two. This serves the very practical purpose of ensuring that the (surprisingly high number of) singles got a partner at some point to dance with. It also presented the opportunity to learn something from the folks that are better than you, and to feel good about yourself while dancing with someone worse than you. The problem, for me, came in with my nervousness. I broke out in a cold sweat, and soon removed myself to our table to wait out the lesson. I didn't want to subject my "partners" to clammy hands or a moist back. After the lesson, my wife and I hit the floor, where she helped me further with my very so-so steps. We ended up having a great time. The ballroom was beautiful, with a vintage stage and decorations. There were too few tables, and I noticed a lot of people poaching the tables of people on the dance floor. I was very surprised at the number of people at this venue. With all of the places to dance in town, the Century Ballroom was PACKED. I didn't realize there were so many salsa dancers in the neighborhood. The floor was crowded, but not in a bad way. There was room to dance, and we never felt uncomfortably crowded. We are looking forward to our next visit to Century Ballroom. We plan on taking another lesson or two, and then on going back for the open dancing later in the evening. read more

If you're looking for a place to dance and meet new people, consider visiting Century Ballroom. My fiancé and I were visiting from out of town and wanted to go Salsa dancing and were recommended his place. We arrived after the lesson had started but were able to observe the class from our table. The instructor gave clear and easy to follow instructions and made sure everyone was included. The atmosphere was extremely welcoming and inviting. After the lesson, the music began and people started to dance. The DJ was great and kept the pace of the music going nicely. Everyone was respectful and obviously there to dance rather than get drunk. I can't wait to visit Seattle again and come back! read more

I recently got married at West Hall in Century Ballroom, and it was just a dreamy experience. We primarily worked with Hallie, the venue owner, who did a great job coordinating everything and keeping up with us via email. She raised issues I would definitely have forgotten to think of and gave great advice throughout. As a bride on a budget, I was nervous about finding a venue we would like within our price range, but the price was totally reasonable and Hallie never made me feel badly about what I could and couldn't afford, which I really appreciated. And the venue is already gorgeous (blue velvet curtains on stage and matching chairs! Stage lighting available to add extra oomph for a small fee!), so I didn't feel like I had to go over the top with decorations. I also felt like the rental company Hallie went through for glassware and tablecloths was very reasonable, and she did say she would be happy to work with another company if I wanted. The options for a bar were also pretty perfect - we ended up just going with a cash bar and a paid champagne toast, but because West Hall is a hallway away from Tin Table, if you do choose to pay for beer and wine only, guests can just walk to Tin Table's bar to buy cocktails if they want and walk them back into West Hall (which are stellar, by the way - and an awesome option to have nearby to make the rehearsal a little bit more fun!). I definitely needed a whiskey for my nerves while getting ready day of, and before our bar was set up the bartender over at Tin Table bought one for me, so multiple pluses there. :) Day of, all of the staff were just wonderful. Hallie was there to make sure initial setup went the way we'd planned, our bartender was a sweetheart, and Bronwen was available the entire night to answer questions (how do we turn on the fans?!), fill waters, and pull glasses. I couldn't have had a better experience with them as a venue, and would definitely recommend the space to other folks looking to get hitched! Bonus points for being only blocks away from the Mercury for a rad after party! read more

This is one of the most beautiful and stately salsa dance venues I've been to anywhere, and I look forward to coming back here every time I'm in Seattle. The floor is a pleasure to dance on, the acoustics are great, drinks are inexpensive, and it's in a great neighborhood just east of downtown. The only reason I can't give it 5* is that my experience with the dancers here has been mixed. I've been here four times: twice I had a really enjoyable evening, and twice I found the better dancers to be extremely cliquey and aloof (perhaps more so than I've found anywhere except for Madrid, where I encountered similar issues). read more

Century Ballroom used to be the place to go for swing dancing and Lindy Hop. For many, many years, Lindy Hop instructors Mark & Katie built quite a community of people around swing dancing. Century wouldn't have grown to what it became if it wasn't for Mark & Katie. They've been teaching the Frankie Manning version of Lindy Hop, the original swing dance, for over 20 years and over 10 years, respectively. Why is it so important to stay true to the Frankie Manning style of the dance, you ask? He was one of the original swing dancers back in the 1930s, and undoubtedly the most prominent and the most influential one during the swing revival in more recent times. Google & YouTube "Frankie Manning" to get a sense of the fun, pleasant spirit of this gentle man, who was so full of life and love all the way to the end. Also, see him in "Alive and Kicking" on Netflix. This wonderful dance is full of great personalities, but Frankie's dance style is simply the closest to the original swing dance and the most fun! Anyways, Mark has been called "the Voice of Lindy Hop," and when you hear his soothing voice during dance classes, you'll see why. He sounds like a radio broadcaster or a voiceover! He's the most positive, upbeat person I've ever met. Ever since I first saw Mark & Katie, their great sense of humor and fun, playful style of teaching has kept me coming back for more, eventually taking as many Lindy classes as I could possibly take. Initially, I barely cared what we were doing, I was just there for all the fun, the laughs, and the socializing! I've never had a social life like this before! Later it turned into a Lindy Hop obsession as I did social dancing, performances, and competition at major international events such as Camp Jitterbug right here in Seattle, Lindy Bout and Rhythm City Mess Around in Vancouver, B.C., and even Herräng Dance Camp in Sweden, the largest swing dance festival in the world. It has been a fun ride! Well, Century made a big mistake letting Mark & Katie go around Christmastime 2018. Mark & Katie went on to form "Swing It Seattle," who just celebrated their one-year anniversary! They brought the friendly Lindy Hoppers with them to the new venue, which was most of them! Me and many others haven't been back to Century since the big change a year ago, and we haven't regretted it. Maybe that's why we keep hearing that the swing dance scene has slowed down so much at Century. "Swing It Seattle" is now the place to be, and Mark & Katie's success in the first year of their new business proves that so many Lindy Hoppers never doubted them, by far the best Lindy instructors in the Pacific Northwest, if not the nation or the whole world! read more

I was going to give this 4 stars but one doesn't deserve four stars just because there are no other businesses that offer what you do. This is the only place I've found to come and dance salsa. Sometimes they have great live salsa groups like Harlem Orchestra and sometimes it's just CDs. The light is too bright for a salsa place. The sound, which is what at the end matters, is good. The ventilation is not really that good. It's wicked hot so I ended up dancing near a huge fan that they put on one side. Some people come here to just dance, like me, and others to pick up women. Some dress nicely and some don't. I didn't drink anything besides Water so I can't comment on the bar. Bathrooms were meh. This is the only place I've found to dance salsa, I will keep coming. I thank that they do have this place and they do the effort to bring the bands. Just being your dancing shoes, put on your fancy dress and dance your heart out. Life is short! read more

Came here last night (Saturday) for a buddy's birthday party! There was a $12 cover, which is something I'm not always happy about, but well drinks were surprisingly cheap ($5). It was a salsa theme so the place played a bunch of different Latin-style music. And apparently the themes are different each time, or so I've heard. The crowd was popping, and the people there were GOOD---so good that they made us look bad haha. You can either dance or sit on the side, which there were plenty of seats. In fact, watching couples dance was really entertaining because you can tell these people here take lessons and have been doing salsa-ing for a while. The music started dying down around 1:30am because it closes at 2am on Saturdays. Something I found entertaining is that random Hispanic men would approach the girls in our group asking them to dance with them. My friends were "playing hard to get" at first, but eventually they gave in haha. I've been in this building for happy hour at the Tin Table on the other side many times but I have never been inside Century Ballroom until last night. I would come back for another theme night and after I know someone that can get me in without paying cover! read more

I am taking Tango lessons here. The instructors are excellent and the dance areas are very nice. They teach a variety of different dances, with rooms of different sizes. The rooms have good sound systems and floors work great. In addition to lessons, they also have open dance nights. It is excellent that a place like this exists in Capitol Hill. read more

I arrived at the Century Ballroom to watch my friend graduate from her 102 burlesque class. I was mesmerized by this place, because so much of Seattle has been torn down and made into something new. New is not necessarily bad, but places like Century are becoming rare with each passing year the closer you are to downtown. Century breathes a time long ago and seems perfectly suited for dancing, gathering, ooohing, and ahhing. The show was extremely entertaining, and the seating was good. The lighting was perfect for a burlesque show! read more

Tango at century ballroom is for experts only. If you are a beginner, don't even bother going to practicums or the dances. Especially if you're a follow, you won't be asked to dance or even spoken to. The classes are great. No complaints. But the dances... I've had better experiences at swing and salsa. So I guess if you're trying to find a tribe or a place for friends, tango is not for you. Unless you're amazing that is... On the other hand, the bartenders are amazing. Nice and friendly. Couldn't ask for better service. read more

Hallie has been great! My fiancée and I have taken several lessons with her in preparation for our first dance at our wedding. Hallie has made us feel very comfortable and is very patient. She has worked to help us build on our existing skills/knowledge while also teaching us new skills. read more

lessons and dance parties are both really good! Done Argentine tango, salsa here, and watched some other lessons such as swing, everything looks great. Teachers are nice, community is nice. Sat evening salsa parties have too many people I heard. But other days seem like a good amount of people. read more

This place is the best ballroom in Seattle...bar...none... i can't say anything more except keep it up..and please stay open for the next 50 years... I'd love to see a bit more drink variety in the bar, but this is seriously a nit .... fact that you can Salsa with the best and have a beer is the bomb. The vintage feel, and genuine atmosphere is cool. And if you have not checked this gem out in Seattle you've missed out... All i can say is go...now...go...and try it out... you will love it. read more

Came for an open swing dancing session they have on Sun nights. It's not live music, but we had fun and there were tons of people there. It was great to practice our moves and there were dancers at all skill levels (including some really impressive folks). Prior to the open dance time they had a massive group intro swing lesson. One downside... no drinks (including water) were served. read more

Dance like no one is watching... Classes and Open Dance sessions! You can go with a group or go by yourself - there are always partners available. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or if you are advanced, people just want to dance and have a good time. So the classes... I heart Tap! Century Ballroom also offers Tango, Salsa, Swing and more. They have 2 dance rooms - so they can offer a couple of classes. The best part, the classes are super affordable - my Tap class is $60 for 5 one hour sessions. I love the instructors - they show you the basics and then show you the basics again. For example, Josh, my instructor led a sequence (or combo). We tapped it out in sections and then tapped the whole thing! Seriously - I had a blast! I couldn't believe how quickly the hour went by. Note - some classes require partners. You can visit the website for class schedules AND can register in advance. p.s. if you are hungry after class - check out Tin Table next door. read more

SO MUCH FUN! Three cheers for the Century Ballroom! We found this place not too long ago when some friends of mine were visiting from out of town. We were looking for something fun, high energy and different but just weren't in the mood for the clubs. Enter Century Ballroom! So classic, a timeless beauty with at once a familiar hand reaching out to welcome but also a mysterious calling that you can't help but run to experience more! I love the building, climbing those antique stairs up to the 2nd floor to the big ballroom- it's just so magical. It sets the tone, helps you relax and transport to that other world. The community salsa nights are amazing! I know like two dance moves total and I don't think either would qualify as "salsa" but I still had a blast! It was so much fun to people watch and admire the professional dancers as they seemed to glide effortlessly through each song as if the rhythm were an extension of their own body! Amazing! Definitely a high ratio of men to women the few nights we've been for Salsa. Everyone seemed very friendly and even though I felt like I had two left feet, I was rarely without a dance invitation. Which means to catch a break and some air we had to high tail it across the hall to the Tin Table every so often for some rest and refreshment. But that's another review... Bottom line: The Century Ballroom is a beautiful space! The employees and instructors are very friendly and the general atmosphere / tone of the crowd is just so welcoming and inclusive of all dance levels. Only requirements are that you enjoy the music, be polite to the other dancers and have fun! read more

BETTER FASTER STRONGER. I'll never ever miss the 9 p.m. lesson ever again. Salsa? You can at least follow your partner and pretend you have an inkling of what's going on. But Swing is a whole 'nother story. Yes-sirree, Hand the guy $7 and there's a throwback to the 1920's ahead of you! I stood and watched everyone whirl around the dance floor and kick up their heels for a good half hour before I decided to venture out. And the only way to "catch on" is to go out there and try it yourself! There's a basic swing step but of course, everyone puts their own flair into it so I saw the Lindy Hop, the Charleston and everything in between. I think my mouth gaped open the whole time, I couldn't even follow! Loved the energy in the room despite the sweltering hot temperatures soaring inside, even the most professional teachers had to take a break and stand in front of the massive fans a la Leo DiCaprio in "Titanic." The birthday dances are always fun to watch, everyone stands in a circle and people take turns swooping and cutting in and dancing with the people with bdays. Tip: Along with not missing the half hour lesson at 9, don't wear heels or restricting clothing either. You really don't want to wipe out in front of everyone because you thought you could wear your clubbing outfit. =) And bring some more male specimen!! Good grief, the gals outnumbered the fellows ridiculously. read more

I've been dancing at the Century Ballroom for a little over 4 years now. It's one of those places where you don't quite realize how fantastic it is until you try to find something comparable somewhere else. I've danced salsa and swing (and their variations) at Century. Their dance floor is fantastic - always clean and great with suede soles, and there's plenty of seating around the floor when you need a break! Here's quick summary of each night that I've regularly come for (be sure to ask for a stamp card if you're a regular - free $8 cover every 10 stamps): Sunday - All ages swing/lindy. $8 cover. This is the most crowded night for swing but it's definitely a younger crowd. No bar, no bag/coat check. Live band once each month. Wednesday - 21+ swing/lindy & all ages Bachata. $8 cover. Swing is not as crowded as sunday, sometimes sort of empty, sometimes a good crowd. Crowd usually winds down by 11:30-12. No bar in the ballroom, but you can buy drinks at the Tin Table (across the hall) and bring them over. No bag/coat check. Bachata on wednesday is a small (but growing) crowd in West Hall (hang a left just before entering the Tin Table), intimate & cozy vibe, a nice low key way to spend a wednesday evening. Thursday - 21+ Salsa. $8 cover. A good size crowd, thins out a good bit around 12-12:30. Bar in the ballroom is open and there's a bag/coat check upstairs. Saturday - 21+ Salsa. $10/$12/variable cover. 2 nights each month it's all vinyl night, so cover is $12. All vinyl has a fun vibe but to us non-music experts does not seem much different. I think there's a bit less bachata when they do vinyl, but the number of bachata depends on the DJ anyway. Occasionally there's a live band. Notes about salsa: Ladies are always in demand! Ladies, don't be afraid to come without partners, even without knowing how to dance salsa! That said, it's okay to turn down dances if you're too tired. I also have no problem turning down dances with people who have been rude to me in the past, or if I just don't like dancing with them. Do try to give people a chance though! There's always some bachata/merengue/chacha mixed in with the salsa (more bachata than chacha & merengue). You'll also start to notice a lot of the same faces if you come regularly - make some friends, that's half the fun! Notes about swing: Always more follows than leads, which can lead to a disappointing evening for us ladies. If you're a follow, take classes so you can make friends with some leads and not feel weird asking them to dance! Or just ask a lead anyway ;) I've also taken classes @ Century: The prices are reasonable ($55 for 5 weeks) and you get a pass for a free $8 cover with each session. Lindy hop was the most fun - the instructors (Mark and Darla) are hilarious and I highly recommend taking their class. I've also done Balboa, Salsa, and Bachata there - all were great as well. They try really hard to balance the classes well so that there aren't too many leads or follows - it's hard to get that perfect, but usually it's not off by much. Overall, my favorite place for a night out! read more

I go salsa dancing here every week. At first, it was a bit intimidating because everyone seems so good. But after sticking to my once per week dance class/practice for the last 4 months...I'm actually starting to look like one of the "good people"...lol. So don't be shy and put your dance shoes on! Century Ballroom is a spacious dance floor located in the heart of Capital Hill. It's right above Molly Moon so if you ever go into the women's bathroom, all you smell is sweet waffle from the ice cream place below. I do love coming here every week to practice my dancing but there are some things that the owner of this institution could improve on. For starter, get some AC or better ventilation. This is a place where you can get a sweaty workout on a cold winter day...so imagine coming here when it's like 80 or 90 degrees. The bar service is very good and the restaurant/bar across is also a fun place to grab a quick bite or chill out. I normally get the mojitos here...they make 'em just right. Don't get the ginger mojitos..the bartender had good intention but it was still a nasty drink. Also, the wooden floor needs some waxing...I've tripped twice on cracks in the floor while dancing. All in all, I love coming here but also wish it could be better. read more

Dance is fun! Dance is great! Dance should be done at least every day! I am on such a high from my swing class tonight! (Shout out to Mark and Darla for being so upbeat, humorous, and fun!) Ok, now that my happy dance is outta the way... Century Ballroom is THE PLACE to go for social and ballroom dance. Salsa, swing, tango, tap. Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Madonna single sessions. You name it, they have it. Lessons and dance nights alike. I was really nervous when I went the first time (6 years ago, eeks!) for salsa, but soon realized that everyone is quite nice and willing to share a dance, even if you are less experienced. I learned so much from dancing with these fine folks than the lessons I was taking at the time (elsewhere). Salsa nights are Thursdays ($7) and Saturdays ($10). Although cover has gone up a bit, it's still cheap for a night of dancing, socializing fun. I have also taken tango lessons here--the MOST romantic dance ever. While the instructor's humor was a little off, he and his partner were still good at breaking things down and allowing us time to practice the steps. Tango in general is better suited if you already have a partner. Especially on tango nights, you'll find that there's more people already paired up than at Salsa. I love how spacious it is in the Main Hall. There are tables and chairs surrounding for some good people/dance watching. A bar should you feel the need to drink before getting on the dance floor. Coat check upstairs--also good for people/dance watching. Restrooms within the hall--ladies, watch your step. East hall is smaller and I've only taken lessons there. I imagine it can get quite packed, but all depending on the dance and what night of the week it is. All in all, Century is a wonderful place to enjoy music, people, movement, life! read more