Last Updated: 8/29/2023
We created this guide to help you find partner dance organizations and events that are intentionally created as queer spaces. While there is growing acceptance of queer people in mainstream dance scenes, it can still be difficult for many to participate in heteronormative and gender-normative dance classes and socials. We decided to focus on intentional queer dance communities rather than queer-friendly ones, since the latter is easy to claim and may be hard to hold on to. Even in dance scenes that aim for openness and inclusivity, there is a lot of work left to be done.
The list is organized by location since so many of our readers dance multiple styles. We have included as many kinds of partner dancing as we could find, from Latin to swing dancing to country. The one dance style we haven’t listed here is Argentine tango. The Queer Tango Project has already done excellent work in creating a guide to queer tango scenes all over the world.
http://queertangobook.org/queer-tango-resources/festivals-milongs/
Some groups on this list may cater to one particular segment of the LGBTQIA+ rainbow, but most are inclusive of the full spectrum (as well as straight allies). However, our guide is far from complete! We invite you to get in touch with us if you have any entries to add to the list.
Do you have a group you’d like to add? Contact us and provide the location and site details. Thanks!
USA | Canada | Mexico | South America | Europe | Australia
USA
Atlanta, Georgia
Hotlanta Squares
square dance
Austin, Texas
Robbie Sky
Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Kizomba, Semba, Swing, and Ballroom
Audrey Guerrero & Angie Egea
Salsa, Bachata
Boston, MA
Tech Squares
square and round dance
Gays for Patsy
Country
Boston Gender Free Contra Dance
Contra
DespeloteX
Afro-Latin dance event
Western Massachusetts
Out to Dance
Swing, ballroom, and Latin dance classes
Rainbow Contra of Western Mass
contra
Q Valley
Country and Line Dance
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Queer Contra
contra
Second City Dance Organization
Country
New York City, New York
Dance Together NYC
Ballroom & Latin dance
Village Contra
contra dance
Big Apple Ranch
Country-western
Washington, DC area
DMV Queer Dancers
Facebook community
QT Fusion Dance DC
blues, bachata, fusion
Spectrum Dance DC
WCS, blues, and fusion
DC Rawhides
Country-western
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
412 Step
Country and line dance
Detroit, Michigan
Motor City Swing
Lindy hop
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand River Renegades
Country
St. Louis, Missouri
Show Me Country Dance
Country
Denver, Colorado
Kaleidoscope Creatures
queer fusion dance
Rocky Mountain Sway
Country-western
Houston, Texas
Rainbow Ranglers
Country-western
Seattle, Washington
AzuQar!
Latin dance events
Portland, Oregon
Stomptown
Country-western
Latin Flavor – Noche LGBTQ
Salsa/Bachata/Latin
Sacramento, California
Spectrum
Sacramento queer Latin dance community
San Francisco Bay Area
In Lak’ech
salsa & bachata
San Francisco Bay Area Queer Contra Dance
Queer Contra Camp
Contra dance
Sundance Association
Country-western
Los Angeles, California
Queer Latin Dancing Los Angeles
Latin dance
CANADA
Toronto, Ontario
LGBT Dance
salsa and hip hop
Swingin’ Out CA
Lindy hop
Toronto Queer Slow Dance
slow dance
Toronto Wrangler
Country-western
Vancouver, British Columbia
Rain Country Dance
Country
Timberline
Country-western
MEXICO
Mexico City
Queer Salsa Mexico
salsa
SOUTH AMERICA
Curitiba, Brazil
Salameros
salsa
EUROPE
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Queer Latin Night
Salsa, Bachata
London, England
Salsa Rosada
salsa
Exilio
Latin dance club
Pink Jukebox
Ballroom and Latin dance
Brighton, England
Cheek 2 Cheek
Ballroom & Latin dance
Cambridge, England
Jive 4 All
Modern Jive
Exeter, England
DiVersity Dance
ballroom
Manchester, England
LGBTQ salsa
salsa
Paris, France
Rainbow Evidanse
ballroom
Laissez-Nous Danser
ballroom
Kindness Collectif
slow dance, zouk, and hip hop
Barcelona, Spain
Panteres Grogues Salsa
salsa
Stockholm, Sweden
Queer Salsa
salsa
Gothenberg, Sweden
Gothenberg Queer Lindy Festival
Lindy hop event
St. Petersburg, Russia
Queer Dance Club
International Queer Dance Festival
tango, kizomba, salsa, bachata, blues
AUSTRALIA
Sydney, New South Wales
Rainbow Dance
Ballrooom and Latin dance
Melbourne, Victoria
Latin American & Hispanic Rainbow Dance Community
Latin dance event
Dance Cats
Ballroom and Latin dance