This webpage offers information on (swing) dancing that is west of Boston with the demarcation line somewhere between Route 128 and I-495, but still east of the 413 area code. I suppose this makes this area Central Massachusetts. Some of the events/places mentioned here are technically outside Boston but they may also appear in the regular Boston listings (mostly because I felt like it). If something that is outside Boston but still close to the city, you might want to check the page for dancing in Boston or the Boston Calendar.

Any events and venues listed on this page can be cancelled without notice. Note that some of them are suspended during the summer. If you teach classes, hold workshops, play in a band, or hold dances, please read the list of frequently asked questions and follow the format guidelines when asking to have your information listed here.


Clubs and Organizations


General Information:

There's a whole section of this website for Argentine Tango



Places to Go Dancing

Club JoEllen (aka The Longfellow Dance Club)
Club JoEllen: Enter here
524 Boston Post Road (Route 20), Wayland, MA.
Contact the club at 508-358-7355 or 781-890-4542. Club JoEllen hosts regular dances and workshops throughout the month.

Sanctuary
Sanctuary
82 Main Street, Maynard. This former church features live music and a dance floor as well as a bar. On-street parking. Check their website for swingable bands.

Dance2Swing Studios
Leominster Elks Lodge, 134 North Main Street, Leominster. Weekly dancing on Sundays. Lesson at 6:45 pm, dancing 7:30-11:00 pm. For more information, contact Alan Cormier at 978-728-4533.

ABL DanceSport Center
184 West Boylston Street (Wachusett Plaze, Route 12), West Boylston. Open dances on the Weekly lessons and open dances every Saturday from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Large dance floor, practice music, coffee service & light refreshments. For more information, write to info@americanballroomlatin.com or call 508-925-4537.

The Frohsinn Dance and Social Club
Ballroom dancing with live music. For more information, write to info@frohsinnclub.com.


Dining, Drinks, and Dancing

Some drinking and dining establishments will have live music in addition to their usual attractions. Some of them even have a dance floor and will feature familar bands that play at swing dances.

Dante's at Firefly's Barbeque
350 East Main Street (Route 20), Marlboro. 508-357-8883. The entertainment in Dante's starts at 9:30 and will feature various acts including an occasional swingable band. Small 10'x10' dance floor in front of the band.
Firefly's has pretty good food. Can be pretty loud when the music starts.
5/3/23: Would love a more recent review of this place. haven't been there since 9/26/10).


Help!
Sometimes I'll see a favorite dance band play at a non-standard venue and I sometimes wonder if these venues are conducive for dancing, i.e., do they have a dance floor? Some of the venues and some of the bands aren't very helpful in providing that information, particularly if it discourages people from showing up. I don't get a chance to check out most of these venues so please help me provide better information to my readers by letting me know which venues are suitable for dancing. Thanks!




Teachers and Dance Studios

Tempo Dance Center
At the Friends of the Performing Arts Center (FOPAC), 51 Walden Street, in Concord Center and/or the JMJ Dance Studio, 19 Keefe Road, Acton.

Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Natick, MA
251 West Central Street, Suite 7, Natick.
For more information, contact the studio at 508-651-9041.

Nimble Feet
Sudbury (near Sudbury Center, Routes 2, 20 & 27).
Swing, Latin, Ballroom, Freestyle Club Dance, Wedding prep and Special Workshops Flexible number of lessons and will accomodate to your schedule Private and group lessons for singles and couples For more information, call 978-443-4499 or email NimbleFeet@aol.com.

American Ballroom & Latin Dance Studio
52 S. Quinsigamond Avenue - Maironis Park, Shrewsbury. Personal and group lessons for adults, teens & youth. Open Dances on Wednesday's & Friday's. For more information, contact the studio at 508-925-3437.

ILTA Dance Studio
1255 Worcester Road (Route 9), Framingham. For more information, contact the studio at 508-369-1954 or 781-492-2769.

Club JoEllen: Enter here
Club JoEllen (aka The Longfellow Dance Club)
524 Boston Post Road (Route 20), Wayland, MA.
Contact the club at 508-358-7355 or 781-890-4542. Club JoEllen hosts regular classes and workshops throughout the month.

Ballroomdance-Needham
Needham.
Specializing in beginner to intermediate American smooth, Latin and Swing; wedding special; will travel for groups. For more information, contact Betty Hood at 781-444-5963.

Fred Astaire Studio of Worcester
319 Shrewsbury, Worcester

Dance Connections with Heidi
Pay Path Barn, 119 Central Street, Boylston. For more information, contact dancelessonswithheidi@gmail.com or 508-954-6028.



For additions or corrections, write to dancenet@havetodance.com.

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