As a growing bachata dancer who is also a full-time nomad traveling around the world, I now arrange my itineraries according to dance scenes and the digital nomad community. Miami is one of my bases in the United States where I tend to spend a few months of the year. As a major city with over 70% Latino population, Miami is arguably one of the best places to dance in the US and the world. Recently, I spent several months there focusing on my work and bachata dance training, and I found myself feeling attached to a lovely bachata dance community there. In this article, I will discuss the best places to dance bachata in Miami.
I have ranked them in order of my favorites, with the first one being my top favorite. This is one of my “best places to dance bachata in the world” series, where you can find detailed guides to personally tested salsa bachata socials around the world.
1. Bachata Overdose
Bachata Overdose is a weekly Friday night bachata social located in Hallandale Beach, FL. It is north of the city limit of Miami. Because it’s so up north and I was staying all the way down in South Miami without a car, I didn’t go there until the later half of my stay in Miami when I made great friends in the dance community. The lovely women I met agreed to give me a ride if I meet them half way.
Bachata Overdose is my favorite social in Miami because of several reasons:
- The community is very welcoming to people of all levels. I started dancing immediately after I got there – no breaking of the ice needed, which was amazing.
- The venue is modern and spacious. There are several rooms for dancers who prefer different styles. There is a sensual bachata room, which attracts the largest attendance. There is also a room for traditional bachata and a room for salsa.
- There is a mix of dancers of different levels but there are enough advanced dancers to keep everyone challenged, which is always important.
Their classes attract large attendance every Friday night. You can choose to take only bachata classes or take both salsa and bachata for the same price. Some of the teachers like Kelvin Rico are charismatic and funny, which makes the whole experience entertaining.
Class Schedules
Classes are open level at Bachata Overdose.
Every Friday 9:00 pm – salsa class; 9:45 pm – bachata class; 10:45 pm social to 2:30 am
Location
VK Dance Arena in Hallandale Beach, FL.
3129 W Hallandale Beach Blvd, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009, United States
2. Bachata Dreams by Miami Sensual Bachata
Bachata Dreams by Miami Sensual Bachata is where I started my bachata training, so it always has a special place in my heart. It meets every Wednesday night for classes divided into 3 levels and social after.
It’s worth noting that they have changed their venues – the address on their Google Maps listing isn’t up to date. But I’m always impressed by the venue they choose because it’s always very spacious and modern. Check their Instagram for the latest updates.
My first memory of Miami Sensual Bachata was taking my first beginner class and was immediately invited to dance at the social after, when I was trying to leave! I assumed I wouldn’t be dancing until many classes later, but I was wrong and so happy about it.
The community is welcoming and most people are dancing most of the night.
It also does regular birthday circles and I was happy to have participated in my first bachata circle dance there recently.
Class Schedule
Every Wednesday night 8:30 pm – open level classes; 9:30 pm beginner to advanced, 3-level classes; 10:30 pm social
Location
Currently, it is at Black Box Media in North Miami. As with all other organizers, always check their social media for the latest update and don’t trust what you see on Google Maps or their websites.
12355 NE 13th Ave Unit #403-404, North Miami, FL 33161, United States
3. Ball and Chain
Ball and Chain is a famous venue on Calle Ocho in Little Havana in Miami. Every Tuesday, there is BachaTuesday hosted by the same organizer at Bachata Overdose. This venue is always popping with live music and lots of diners because it is a restaurant technically.
I must say Ball and Chain and I got off on the wrong foot. The first time I went was on a Sunday and it was salsa night. Perhaps it was due to my limited interest in salsa and the size of small dance areas, I wasn’t impressed by the vibe, so I never went back.
However, later I heard from my bachata-dancing friends that BachaTuesday isn’t as bad as I thought. Some of my dancing friends actually really enjoy it. So I’d say if you don’t mind limited dancing space, there are some quality dancers who frequent their Tuesday night socials.
Schedule
Every Tuesday night, 9-10 pm open-level bachata class, followed by social
Location
Ball and Chain, 1513 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135, United States
4. BachaZouk + Brunchata
If dancing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are not enough for you, or if you can only go out on the weekend, then the BachaZouk event on Sunday afternoons and the Brunchata event during the day could be how you spend your Sunday.
BachaZouk
BachaZouk teaches more of a fusion of zouk and bachata, with a heavier emphasis on zouk. It is also hosted by the same organizer that created Bachata Overdose.
Class Schedule
Every Sunday from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Location
Shotimilco on Calle Ocho in Little Havana.
1225 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135, United States
Brunchata
Brunchata is a brunch and dance event located in Aventura, FL, which is a little north of North Miami. It has the rooftop of the venue as the dance floor.
It does have a competing timeslot with BachaZouk – 4 pm to 8 pm. So you can probably only attend one logistically.
Class Schedule
Every Sunday, 4 pm to 8 pm. It does go to a bit of a hiatus at the end of the year.
Location
Pinstripes Aventura, 19505 Biscayne Blvd Suite 3290, Miami, FL 33180, United States
5. La Musa
La Musa is a monthly bachata social at a zouk dance studio called Zouk United. It happens on every 4th Saturday of the month.
I only attended one of their socials since it is infrequent but had a good experience with it in general. One thing to remember is the vast majority of dance venues in Miami are located in very sketchy-looking areas – many are in industrial zones that look unsafe after dark, but they are usually fine. La Musa is located in one of those areas.
It attracts a variety of dancers from beginner to advanced. Stay updated to their next events on Instagram.
6. Sensual Movement Miami
Sensual Movement is a large bachata brand across the US. The Miami chapter attracts some very high-quality instructors and dancers. I have attended several of their Friday night classes and socials. It is a direct competition to Bachata Overdose because of the coveted Friday night slot.
There are pros and cons to this social in Miami:
Pros
- High-quality instructors – I was very happy to learn from some of the top traveling bachata artists who taught at Sensual Movement
- Sleek and modern venues – like Bachata Dreams, the venues chosen by Sensual Movement is usually very good
- High-quality dancers – I was able to dance with some advanced dancers.
Cons
- Unfortunately, Sensual Movement Miami did not feel as welcoming to beginners as Bachata Overdose. Although I was able to dance moderately at their events, there were usually long gaps before I could dance again because dancers tend to rotate among themselves immediately after a song.
- During the reopening of Sensual Movement recently, several of my dancing friends and I experienced the same dilemma – no one asked us to dance for a good hour before we felt discouraged and left to join Bachata Overdose. We certainly tried to ask as well but the venue is big and leaders immediately rotate among followers they already knew so we couldn’t really get a dance.
Regardless, I still recommend checking them out and deciding for yourself if you like the vibe.
Class Schedule
Every Friday night 9 pm – 10 pm, bachata and zouk classes in different rooms; 10 pm – 2:30 am, social
Location
Yuventa Dance Academy, 2265 NE 164th St, North Miami Beach, FL 33160, United States
7. Learn at Studios without socials
If you live farther away from the north side of Miami, and don’t want to make the drive, take Uber or buses (in my case), you have 2 options:
- Take salsa classes and dance salsa instead if you like it. There are way more salsa dancing down south than up north.
- Learn at several studios that do offer bachata classes near South Miami, like Studio 1890. It is great for beginners to take more classes, especially leads, before starting social dancing.
Since I am a bachata enthusiast, I have learned that next time I return to Miami, I need to stay closer to the north side to take advantage of all the classes and socials.
That is a wrap for the best places to dance bachata in Miami. What socials are your favorites in Miami?
