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. When I got to Chiang Mai, Thailand this year, I didn’t expect it to have a dancing scene because salsa and bachata dancing isn’t as popular in Asia. But thanks to its large expat population and as a major hub for digital nomads, it does have a dancing scene that is surprisingly higher in quality than I expected, albeit small. In this article, I will discuss the best places to dance salsa and bachata in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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. Pura Vida Latin Bar
Pura Vida Latin Bar located at the popular shopping area One Nimman is one of the best places to dance salsa and bachata in Chiang Mai. This place is located on the top floor of a building. It’s atmospheric but small – however, it is large enough for the crowd it usually attracts.
Class Schedules
Classes usually start on Wednesdays at around 8:30 pm. The cost is usually around 300 Thai BAHT.
Chiang Mai is very small and walkable so it’s the perfect time to head there after dinner. Expect around 15-20 people in class each time.
The quality of instruction is surprisingly high for a location that isn’t well-known for dancing. I learned a lot and was never confused by the instructions from the team of JaoYing. All of the instructors are local Thai people and they are some of the best dancers.
Classes are intermediate level – if you are a total beginner, you should be taking classes separately with JaoYing’s studio first before coming to Pura Vida.
People who come to dance are usually expats from all around the world, but there are also some local Thai people, especially women who come to dance.
The levels are mixed but there is a decent amount of intermediate to advanced leads who frequent the socials.
Location
Pura Vida Latin Bar & Lounge (head to the top floor by escalator and stairs), One Nimman, Chiang Mai, Thailand
2. Spicy & Lucky Bar with Chiang Mai SBK
Spicy & Lucky Bar is another venue that hosts Latin dance classes and socials in Chiang Mai. This venue is larger than Pura Vida Latin Bar & Lounge and is also centrally located, but somehow, it always attracts a much lower attendance. It’s probably because the dance community is relatively small in Chiang Mai and most want to dance in Pura Vida.
Class Schedules
Class schedules vary week by week as this location isn’t as consistent as Pura Vida. The classes and events are usually hosted by Chiang Mai SBK, and they tend to change locations for classes and events as well. The ones I went to were on Saturday evenings.
Make sure to follow their Instagram account for the latest updates.
Location
Spicy & Lucky Bar, QXPV+5C2, Chang Moi Sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
3. Independent Studios
Since Chiang Mai’s scene is relatively small, there are also not that many salsa & bachata studios to choose from, but JaoYing’s studio is my top recommendation. Her team teaches very well and is a well-known name in the community. If you are a beginner, you should be taking some classes at JaoYing’s before heading to Pura Vida bar because classes there are intermediate.
4. Chiang Mai Afro Latin Festival
The Chiang Mai Afro Latin festival is not a regular place to dance, but it certainly is an exciting event for the dance community there. It attracts some advanced-level dances to compete. Make sure to follow their Instagram to stay updated on festival dates.
Chiang Mai is an unexpected dance location that I enjoyed despite its relatively small size. It’s safe to say where are is a large amount of expats and digital nomads, we can expect to find a dance community. I look forward to seeing Chiang Mai grow as a dance destination.
