The Most Reliable Swing Dance Venues in LA/OC

Lindygroove 15th Anniversary
Swing dancing at Lindygroove

Swing dancing is picking up again after the pandemic. Some places like Joe’s Bar are yet to re-open, but some new venues have blossomed.

So, we are still fortunate to have so many great places to swing dance in Los Angeles and Orange County. Here are my picks for the most consistent dance venues, where you’ll be able to find the most partners, the best floors, and the best music.


Venues with Tons of Dancers of All Skill Levels – Good for Beginners

These venues have plenty of dancers of all skill levels waiting to dance with you. No need for a partner, just show up alone! Most of these offer lessons before the dance as well. They’ll be folks waiting to dance with you!

  • Crown City Dance in Pasadena has a weekly Monday night dance with live band. Great floor and good turnout of dancers.
  • Lindygroove happens on Thursday nights in Pasadena; it’s the biggest weekly swing dance event in California. If I only could recommend one place to go swing dancing, it would be here.
  • The Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association (PBDA) is another huge weekly event, with swing dancing on Saturdays with dancers of all skill levels and age groups.
  • Rusty’s Rhythm Club is the sole monthly swing dance venue on the Westside, featuring lots of dancers of all skill levels and ages. Check the Lindy Calendar for dates.
  • Atomic Ballroom in Irvine has tons of people to dance with on their Swing nights.
  • Old Towne Swing at the Woman’s Club in Orange County has a friendly crowd and happens on most Wednesday nights.
  • The Mayflower Club is a post-pandemic venue featuring many Swing dance events throughout the month with various promoters. Check the Lindy Calendar for the dates.
  • The Moose Lodge in Burbank is another post-pandemic venue, featuring some really great Swing bands every Friday night. Bar, snacks, and a descent-sized dance floor. They are every Friday night with doors opening at 7:30pm. There are lessons every week at 8:15-8:45 with the live music starting at 9pm. There are also DJs who come to keep the dancing going. (Thank you to reader Jean Rose for supplying this information).
Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association
The Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association

Venues with the Most Advanced Dancers

If you’re an advanced dancer, check out these joints, where you’ll find folks doing Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Shag. There are no lessons at these events.

  • Swingtronic at the Airliner in the Lincoln Park area northeast of Chinatown features gypsy Jazz and New Orleans Jazz bands on the first Saturday of the month.

Venues with Nightclub Atmosphere

These venues will have a lot of beginners along with a core group of veteran dancers in an elegant nightclub atmosphere. These are real bars serving alcohol and food. Please buy a drink to support swing dancing at the establishments!!!!!! These are 21 and over only.

Swing dancing at Clifton's
Swing dancing at Clifton’s
  • Clifton’s is an amazing restaurant and bar with swing dancing in the Brookdale Ballroom on Friday and Saturday nights. Mostly younger folks in their 20’s and 30’s.
  • Swingtronic (see above) has a vintage nightclub atmosphere.
  • The Edison is another amazing bar by the folks who brought you Clifton’s. This is steampunk heaven, with occasional swing bands once a month.

Formal Dinner and Dancing (BYOP)

The Cicada Club
The Cicada Club
  • The Cicada Club is an amazing vintage restaurant that will transport you back to the 1930s. It’s pricey, and you should bring your own partner, but the atmosphere is unparalleled. Note, there is a dress code, so you have to dress vintage or at least upscale.

These are only the weekly and monthly recurring swing dance events. There are many more swing dance events to choose from in a given week! Check the Lindy Calendar.

Questions? Comments? Leave your thoughts below! – Brian

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Kelly
Kelly
4 months ago

Is there any places that do Bar coast type dancing? Country places are okay for that, but I don’t really love the music.

Kelly
Kelly
4 months ago
Reply to  Brian

I’m in Utah, but visit LA regularly. Bar coast is what we call Lazy(or free) West coast. Haha. I can’t be bothered to have ridged “steps”. Thanks for your help.I look for west coast swing venues.

Scott Pitzer
Scott Pitzer
6 months ago

Mobile Lindy Calendar:
Wednesdays at Old Towne Swing, DJ set begins at 8:30 not 8:00
(All-Levels Lesson goes 7:45 to 8:30)

josephine
josephine
9 months ago

Are all these venues lindy? Do any have just plain vanilla east coast swing dancing?

Daniel Snyder
10 months ago

The Los Angeles (Classic West Coast) Swing Dance Club (https://www.laswingdanceclub.com/) is what Anie and Stan were referring to. They are friends of ours, and we go out dancing often. Our Club dances are on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of each Month. There is a Free Dance lesson from 1-2, and a variety of Live Bands from 2-5 p.m. If you visit our website at the Webpage above, check out my Newsletter; there are links to Places To Dance, and lots of other Dance information.

The Garden Grove and Huntington Beach Elks are fun places to go on Friday nights for Live music and Swing/Latin/ and freestyle dancing. Please check their online calendars! Also, if you know an American Legion Member, get yourself invited to the Newport Beach, and other locations, where they have live bands or DJ’s on Friday nights. Dance…Dance…Dance!

ANIE AND STAN GARDNER
ANIE AND STAN GARDNER
1 year ago

We reside in Redondo Beach. Is there any dances near by in the South Bay? We specially dance Ball Room dances. We attend the LAWSDANCRVLUB we have very good bands. Is located in the Elks lodge in Buena Park the first and third Sundays of the month from 1- 6, all members are friendly, happy dancers. Love to see you there, bring your friends. Thank you for your help.

NP Smith
NP Smith
1 year ago

Probably the most popular place is the Gardena Elks in Gardena. The next dance is this coming Friday, March 11th. All levels of dance and all types of ballroom including swing.

Scott Pitzer
Scott Pitzer
1 year ago

The update about Rusty’s Rhythm Club states the correct current “monthly” status but the ensuing details are the old Wednesdays-except-when-it’s-First-Fridays format

Jean Rose
Jean Rose
1 year ago

Hey! How about adding the Moose Lodge in Burbank? I have had some great beginners and intermediates to dance with. Has an open and fun atmosphere too! Bar, snacks, and a descent sized dance floor. They are every Friday night with doors opening at 7:30pm. There are lessons every week at 8:15-8:45 with the live music starting at 9pm. There are also DJs who come to keep the dancing going.

Jean Rose
Jean Rose
1 year ago
Reply to  Brian

Thank you!

Ivan
Ivan
1 year ago

hey
awesome list
I wonder if there are any blues happening?

Benjamin Barrera
Benjamin Barrera
4 years ago

This is a great list! There’s also a monthly event at SoHo Dance in Westwood on the third Sunday of the month. Live band and I think it’s the best floor in LA. All ages and skill levels and you don’t need to bring a partner. Also a free ,beginner lesson before the dance and a more advanced lesson for $5.

Natalie
Natalie
4 years ago

Hi,

I’m wondering when the top picture with the caption “Swing dancing at Clifton’s” with the tuba in the background was taken.

Thanks!