Where to Dance in Hawaii
Local Swing |
Ballroom |
Latin |
Live Music |
Contra |
International |
Other Islands
Local Swing Dancing
Free social swing dancing on first and third Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kope Kope Espresso Cafe in the Hilo Shopping Center. No partner or experience needed, just come have fun. The Hilo Hep Cats provide the music and a mini-lesson. Kope Kope's restaurant is also open so you can get your favorite coffee drink or other beverage, and a good selection of light meals. Bring friends! See the Calendar page for current dates.
Check out www.dancekona.com for information on ballroom, Latin, West Coast Swing, zydeko and other dance forms. They post a calendar, list of entertainers, dance venues, dance clips, and more.
Ballroom Dancing
Lessons and opportunities for social dancing are available from the Hawaii Ballroom Dance Association, Waiakea Chapter. You can also e-mail them at HBDAWaiakea@hotmail.com. HBDA Waiakea offers 10-week lessons in three ballroom styles each quarter, with instruction on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. at Auntie Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo. They also practice one day a week.
The HBDA Hilo Chapter also offers 10-week lessons in three ballroom styles each quarter, generally different styles than the ones offered by the Waiakea Chapter. The Hilo Chapter offers instruction Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. at Auntie Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo, and practices on Thursday nights, same times and same place. Contact Violet Oliver for information.
The Orchid Island Ballroom Dance Club meets Monday evenings from 7:30 p.m. at the Hawaii Island YWCA in Hilo to practice dancing; they also sponsor monthly socials. They can be contacted at OrchidIsleBallroom@yahoo.com
For information on ballroom instruction in Waimea and on the Kona side of the island, contact instructor Michelle Suber. Michelle and co-instructor Warren d’Aquin specialize in West Coast Swing and Nightclub Two-Step. For information on West Coast Swing on the Big Island, contact Michelle Suber (see above) or check out the following website: http://www.wcs-dancer.com/DancingBigIslandWCS.html
The Hilo Bay Dance Club offers 10-week sessions in three ballroom styles each quarter. For the first quarter of 2006, the lessons are in basic foxtrot, basic East Coast Swing, and intermediate rumba. All levels of ability welcome; take one or all 3 classes. All lessons Tuesday evenings, 7-9p.m. at the Hilo Elks Lodge, 150 Kinoole Street in downtown Hilo. Cost is $10 a year for membership plus $5 per 10-week class. A free evening of dance is held most Friday evenings, 7-9 p.m. at the Elks; it is open to non-members. Contact Kolin or Debra Kettleson, 935-5018.
Live dance music Tuesday nights at the Keauhou Beach Hotel. West Coast swing, nightclub two-step, cha cha, rumba. 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Music by T&T; ceramic tile floor on the ocean with ceiling fans.
Dancing on Friday and Saturday at the Honu Lounge at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Karl Kasberg on the grand piano; Desiree Cruz vocals on Friday, and Ginger Bertelman vocals on Saturday. Mix of swing, cha cha, rumba, foxtrot, nightclub two-step, samba, waltz. Recorded dance music during the breaks. Beautiful smooth, clean, wood floor.
Live dance music Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays at the Hapuna Prince, 8:30 - 11:00 p.m. Bill Noble Trio with Betsy Curtis vocals and Loren Wilken on keyboard. Many styles of music including salsa, mambo, tango. Spacious open air smooth slate floor.
For more information on ballroom dance on the Big Island, monthly international ballroom lessons, Oahu ballroom dance venues, and other topics, check out Norman Yee's website, http://niteowlito.googlepages.com/Home.
Latin Dancing
Isla Ritmo Dance Co. hosts salsa nights at the MIXX BISTRO every Thursday night featuring DJ Tiger, with a complimentary class from 8:30-9:00. Music is from 9:00-12:30. There is no cover, but you must be 21 to enter.
Salsa lessons for beginners and intermediate dancers are available from Isla Ritmo Dance Co. See www.myspace.com/islaritmo21,, email jctigerjones121@yahoo.com, or phone 990-0737 or 989-3912.
To get Gordon Motta's 'Salsa Speed' emails, with information on Latin classes and social dancing opportunities, contact Gordon at mottarts@hialoha.net.
Angel Prince is teaching salsa in Waimea on Monday nights. Beginners classes are 5:30-6:30 p.m., and intermediate/advanced classes are 6:30-7:30 p.m. After classes, join the party at Daniel Thiebaut Restaurant at 8:30! No partner is needed for these ongoing classes, held at Uilani Plaza (between the Shell station and HPM.) The cost is $48 per class for a month, or $15-$17 per class for drop-ins. Angel Prince has been dancing for 25 years, and teaching for over 15 years. Trained in New York, she holds a B.A. in dance. Her advanced salsa dancers frequently perform across the island. Contact Angel at amprince2000@yahoo.com
Live Music
Among the live bands that love to play for swing and ballroom parties is Jazz Mele iamion@cuhawaii.net. Book them for your next event! The Hilo Hep Cats often book Jazz Mele for our dance parties.
Many ballroom dancers like to gather at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on Friday evenings to dance to live music in the bar. Note: the floor is quite small!
The Olliephonic Horns, Hawaii's "Little Big Band," will be playing weekly at The Dolphin in Kawaihae when renovations are complete. Check out their website, www.olliephonics.com.
There’s live jazz at Café Pesto in downtown Hilo every Sunday afternoon from 2:30 to 5:30. Nice stuff, but no dance floor!
The Good Times Jazz Band is a New Orleans style jazz band that specializes in hot jazz, swing, and blues. Also included are popular favorites for ballroom and swing dancing. A perfect band for parties, wedding receptions, and celebrations. Contact Rex at 883-0159.
The Kona Dance Band is a 5-piece combo that performs a variety of ballroom and social dance music - Swing, Fox Trot, Waltz, Rumba, Cha-Cha, Tango, Nightclub Two-Step, Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Samba, Hora and Polka. They play many of the timeless melodies that will never go out of style, and which are delightful for both dancing and listening. You will enjoy their beautiful acoustic blend of melodies and rhythms. Please contact Sue Garrod at (808) 329-1705, or susangarrod@yahoo.com.
The Ono Gumbo band in Kona is a full-on dance band specializing in Louisiana Party Music. Please contact Heloise Lochman at (808) 322-5157, or lochman@hawaii.rr.com. You can also visit their website at www.onogumbo.com.
For current information on live bands playing around the island, check out the events calendar at Hawaii Island Journal. Note that a variety of music is represented—most of it is not swing, and some venues may not have dance floors. Check with the venue to confirm!
Contra Dancing
International Folk Dance Group
Join the Maui lindyhoppers at their Monday night socials in North Kihei. Visit www.swingmaui.org for more information.
Swing Dancing on Oahu! For the swinging action in Honolulu: The Hawaii Jitterbugs teach classes, perform, and provide social dancing opportunities, as well as sponsoring workshops and special events. Their website has cool links to other sites and Lindy dancers on the mainland and internationally. There’s also an online forum for Lindy action on Oahu. Get info on upcoming workshops and events such as the 2007 Lindy Exchange and post or respond to messages from around the world.
For more information on Oahu swing dancing, with a focus on Balboa, check out Kenny Russell's website, http://www.dancebal.com.
You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing, and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life.
--Krishnamurti
Local Swing Dancing
Free social swing dancing on first and third Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kope Kope Espresso Cafe in the Hilo Shopping Center. No partner or experience needed, just come have fun. The Hilo Hep Cats provide the music and a mini-lesson. Kope Kope's restaurant is also open so you can get your favorite coffee drink or other beverage, and a good selection of light meals. Bring friends! See the Calendar page for current dates.
Check out www.dancekona.com for information on ballroom, Latin, West Coast Swing, zydeko and other dance forms. They post a calendar, list of entertainers, dance venues, dance clips, and more.
Lessons and opportunities for social dancing are available from the Hawaii Ballroom Dance Association, Waiakea Chapter. You can also e-mail them at HBDAWaiakea@hotmail.com. HBDA Waiakea offers 10-week lessons in three ballroom styles each quarter, with instruction on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. at Auntie Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo. They also practice one day a week.
The HBDA Hilo Chapter also offers 10-week lessons in three ballroom styles each quarter, generally different styles than the ones offered by the Waiakea Chapter. The Hilo Chapter offers instruction Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. at Auntie Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo, and practices on Thursday nights, same times and same place. Contact Violet Oliver for information.
The Orchid Island Ballroom Dance Club meets Monday evenings from 7:30 p.m. at the Hawaii Island YWCA in Hilo to practice dancing; they also sponsor monthly socials. They can be contacted at OrchidIsleBallroom@yahoo.com
For information on ballroom instruction in Waimea and on the Kona side of the island, contact instructor Michelle Suber. Michelle and co-instructor Warren d’Aquin specialize in West Coast Swing and Nightclub Two-Step. For information on West Coast Swing on the Big Island, contact Michelle Suber (see above) or check out the following website: http://www.wcs-dancer.com/DancingBigIslandWCS.html
The Hilo Bay Dance Club offers 10-week sessions in three ballroom styles each quarter. For the first quarter of 2006, the lessons are in basic foxtrot, basic East Coast Swing, and intermediate rumba. All levels of ability welcome; take one or all 3 classes. All lessons Tuesday evenings, 7-9p.m. at the Hilo Elks Lodge, 150 Kinoole Street in downtown Hilo. Cost is $10 a year for membership plus $5 per 10-week class. A free evening of dance is held most Friday evenings, 7-9 p.m. at the Elks; it is open to non-members. Contact Kolin or Debra Kettleson, 935-5018.
Live dance music Tuesday nights at the Keauhou Beach Hotel. West Coast swing, nightclub two-step, cha cha, rumba. 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Music by T&T; ceramic tile floor on the ocean with ceiling fans.
Dancing on Friday and Saturday at the Honu Lounge at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Karl Kasberg on the grand piano; Desiree Cruz vocals on Friday, and Ginger Bertelman vocals on Saturday. Mix of swing, cha cha, rumba, foxtrot, nightclub two-step, samba, waltz. Recorded dance music during the breaks. Beautiful smooth, clean, wood floor.
Live dance music Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays at the Hapuna Prince, 8:30 - 11:00 p.m. Bill Noble Trio with Betsy Curtis vocals and Loren Wilken on keyboard. Many styles of music including salsa, mambo, tango. Spacious open air smooth slate floor.
For more information on ballroom dance on the Big Island, monthly international ballroom lessons, Oahu ballroom dance venues, and other topics, check out Norman Yee's website, http://niteowlito.googlepages.com/Home.
Isla Ritmo Dance Co. hosts salsa nights at the MIXX BISTRO every Thursday night featuring DJ Tiger, with a complimentary class from 8:30-9:00. Music is from 9:00-12:30. There is no cover, but you must be 21 to enter.
Salsa lessons for beginners and intermediate dancers are available from Isla Ritmo Dance Co. See www.myspace.com/islaritmo21,, email jctigerjones121@yahoo.com, or phone 990-0737 or 989-3912.
To get Gordon Motta's 'Salsa Speed' emails, with information on Latin classes and social dancing opportunities, contact Gordon at mottarts@hialoha.net.
Angel Prince is teaching salsa in Waimea on Monday nights. Beginners classes are 5:30-6:30 p.m., and intermediate/advanced classes are 6:30-7:30 p.m. After classes, join the party at Daniel Thiebaut Restaurant at 8:30! No partner is needed for these ongoing classes, held at Uilani Plaza (between the Shell station and HPM.) The cost is $48 per class for a month, or $15-$17 per class for drop-ins. Angel Prince has been dancing for 25 years, and teaching for over 15 years. Trained in New York, she holds a B.A. in dance. Her advanced salsa dancers frequently perform across the island. Contact Angel at amprince2000@yahoo.com
Among the live bands that love to play for swing and ballroom parties is Jazz Mele iamion@cuhawaii.net. Book them for your next event! The Hilo Hep Cats often book Jazz Mele for our dance parties.
Many ballroom dancers like to gather at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on Friday evenings to dance to live music in the bar. Note: the floor is quite small!
The Olliephonic Horns, Hawaii's "Little Big Band," will be playing weekly at The Dolphin in Kawaihae when renovations are complete. Check out their website, www.olliephonics.com.
There’s live jazz at Café Pesto in downtown Hilo every Sunday afternoon from 2:30 to 5:30. Nice stuff, but no dance floor!
The Good Times Jazz Band is a New Orleans style jazz band that specializes in hot jazz, swing, and blues. Also included are popular favorites for ballroom and swing dancing. A perfect band for parties, wedding receptions, and celebrations. Contact Rex at 883-0159.
The Kona Dance Band is a 5-piece combo that performs a variety of ballroom and social dance music - Swing, Fox Trot, Waltz, Rumba, Cha-Cha, Tango, Nightclub Two-Step, Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Samba, Hora and Polka. They play many of the timeless melodies that will never go out of style, and which are delightful for both dancing and listening. You will enjoy their beautiful acoustic blend of melodies and rhythms. Please contact Sue Garrod at (808) 329-1705, or susangarrod@yahoo.com.
The Ono Gumbo band in Kona is a full-on dance band specializing in Louisiana Party Music. Please contact Heloise Lochman at (808) 322-5157, or lochman@hawaii.rr.com. You can also visit their website at www.onogumbo.com.
For current information on live bands playing around the island, check out the events calendar at Hawaii Island Journal. Note that a variety of music is represented—most of it is not swing, and some venues may not have dance floors. Check with the venue to confirm!
Contra dancers gather the 4th Saturday of each month, from 7-10 p.m., at the Hawaii Island YWCA in Hilo to dance to live music. Occasionally, dances are held elsewhere. Contra is an American folk dance based on Irish and English traditions. Many of the moves are similar to square dancing. Since each dance is taught and then called, it’s particularly fun for beginners, and lively enough to be challenging for experienced dancers as well. Click Contra Dance for more information.
International DancingInternational Folk Dance Group
Learn the regional dances of Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Armenia, Turkey, Israel, Yugoslavia, and many more...For all ages and all levels of proficiency...You don't need a partner. Come and bring a friend! Dances are held every Wednesday night from 7 to 9 PM at the home of Lon and Carol Hocker at 25 Hina in Hilo. For more information please call Carol Hocker at (808) 935-0995 or e-mail hocker@hawaii.rr.com.
Free Irish dancing every Thursday, 5:30 p.m., at Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Contact Sarah Nash, 985-7086.
Dancing on Other IslandsFree Irish dancing every Thursday, 5:30 p.m., at Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Contact Sarah Nash, 985-7086.
Join the Maui lindyhoppers at their Monday night socials in North Kihei. Visit www.swingmaui.org for more information.
Swing Dancing on Oahu! For the swinging action in Honolulu: The Hawaii Jitterbugs teach classes, perform, and provide social dancing opportunities, as well as sponsoring workshops and special events. Their website has cool links to other sites and Lindy dancers on the mainland and internationally. There’s also an online forum for Lindy action on Oahu. Get info on upcoming workshops and events such as the 2007 Lindy Exchange and post or respond to messages from around the world.
For more information on Oahu swing dancing, with a focus on Balboa, check out Kenny Russell's website, http://www.dancebal.com.
You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing, and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life.
--Krishnamurti