Where to dance Salsa and Bachata in Montreal - A vibrant community; here’s a comprehensive overview of Social Dancing in MTL as of Summer 2024

June 27, 2024
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If you live in Montreal or are traveling and are looking for places to dance salsa and bachata, or are simply curious about the Latin dance community in the city, you’re at the right place. This information is hard to find and often outdated, and the advertising is done within the community and it’s hard to find these events if you don’t know them already, which is why I hope this finds you well. I'll go over most recurring social dancing events for salsa and bachata in Montreal as of summer 2024, by day of the week. I recommend visiting the event links for the most recent information but saving this blog for a rainy (or sunny) day in case you want to easily compare prices, times, and locations of social dancing events. These events are also a good source to discover different dance schools as most events or studios are connected to a school.

MONDAYS: Isla Salsa Verdun Outdoors - This outdoor salsa and bachata social event is huge and it’s been going on since 2006! Absolutely FREE thanks to the passion of DJ Will and sponsors (including McDonalds)

Beginner class 6 PM - 7 PM, social dancing 7 PM - 10 PM
Cost: FREE
Runs: Weekly, during the summer
Bar? No
Family friendly, casual dress code
7000 Bd LaSalle, Verdun, QC H4H 1R2
https://www.facebook.com/events/25663574829954954/25663574849954952/

MONDAYS: Chaleur Tropical - Smaller cozy bar lounge transforms into a salsa/bachata/kizomba/kompa/afro dance floor every monday night in the heart of the city, turning up the heat!

Beginner class 7 PM - 8 PM, social dancing 8 PM - 1 AM?
Cost: 15$ for the social, 20$ class included, cash only
Runs: Weekly, year-round
Bar? Yes
1735 Saint Denis St, Montreal, Quebec H2X 3K4
https://www.instagram.com/chaleurtropicale_mtl/

TUESDAYS: Bachata nights - Most popular Bachata social in Montreal in its 10th year of activity! They also play some Salsa and

Beginner class 8:15 PM-9:15 PM, social dancing 9:15 PM - 12:30 AM
Cost: 13$ for the social, 15$ coat check included, cash only
Runs: Weekly, year-round
Bar? Yes
6394 rue st-hubert, Montreal, Quebec H2S 2M2
https://www.facebook.com/bachatanightsmtl/

WEDNESDAYS: Latin Groove Dancing in the Streets - Another FREE outdoor social! This one is organized by the school Latin Groove on the vibrant street of St Catherine, June to August.

Beginner class 7 PM-7:45 PM, social dancing 7:45 PM - 11 PM
Cost: FREE!
Runs: Weekly, June to August (ish)
463 Saint-Catherine St W, Montreal, QC H3B 1B1
https://www.facebook.com/bachatanightsmtl/

WEDNESDAYS: Social at Mariscos Restaurant in Old Port - With a similar concept as Chaleur Tropical on Mondays, organized by Kim De Rome and Ricky __, this smaller-spaced social is a fun, cozy place to spend a wednesday night. They bring the best of Salsa, Bachata and Konpa to the famous Old Port of Montreal.

Beginner class 8 PM - 9 PM, social dancing 9 PM - 12 AM
Cost: 10$ for the social, 15$ class included
Weekly, year-round
Bar? Yes
436 Saint Francois Xavier St, Montreal, QC H2Y 2T3

THURSDAYS: Dancing in the Park with McGill Salseros - Get to know the latin dance community at McGill through the student-run club Salseros, which offers high quality accessible dance classes around the school calendar during the year. They naturally cater towards McGill students, but all the classes and events are open to the public! Join them this summer on Thursdays under a gazebo under the sunset in a beautiful park close to downtown, for free!

Social dancing 6 PM - 8 PM, class for the first 30 minutes if requested
Cost: FREE!
Runs: Weekly, all summer
Bar? No
4060 Park Ave, Montreal, Quebec H2W 1S8
https://www.instagram.com/salserosmcgill/

THURSDAYS: Baila con gusto - With two bars and three different dance rooms (a salsa room, bachata room, and Kizomba room) at in the heart of Montreal at St Laurent and St Catherine, this is the hottest salsa/bachata party in Montreal. There is a new guest teacher every week, for the class from 8:30 to 9:30 usually an introduction to a style. By 9:30 the music is on in the three different rooms and you get to choose whether you feel like dancing salsa, bachata, or Kizomba! At 10:30, the DJs stop the music and send everyone to the big Bachata room for showtime! Every Thursday will feature different dancers or group of dancers, ranging from local amateurs to international artists, for exciting showcases of their talents, before going right back to social dancing until 2am. It is not to be missed.

Beginner class 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM, social dancing 9:30 PM - 2 AM
Cost: 15$, cash only, includes coat check
Bar? Yes (two!), cash only
Semi-formal attire
Espaces Des Arts: 9, rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal, QC, H2X 1K3, 2nd Floor
https://www.instagram.com/bailacongustomtl/

FRIDAYS: Latin Groove Social - This active dance school located on Rue St Catherine hosts a fun social every friday night, with a “fully stacked bar”!

Workshop 9 PM - 10 PM, social dancing 10 PM - 2 AM
Cost: 12$
Runs: Weekly, year-round
Bar? Yes
372 Saint-Catherine St W #520, Montreal, QC, H3B 1A2
https://www.instagram.com/latingroovemtl/

FRIDAYS: Bachatalogia - If you want to go consistently to socials but weekly is too much, this is perfect as it happens only on the first friday of every month. This late-night social is a perfect excuse to dress up and go out on a friday. As per the name, it is primarily bachata, but they will 20% salsa and some zouk/kizomba/konpa.

Beginner class 9 PM - 10 PM, social dancing 10 PM - 2 AM
Cost: 15$ cash only
Runs: Monthly, year-round
Bar? Yes
Espaces Des Arts: 9, rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal, QC, H2X 1K3, 2nd Floor
https://www.instagram.com/bachatalogiamtl/

FRIDAYS: Salsalogia - A spin-off of bachatalogia, but on a different Friday of the month and more salsa (less bachata). Equally as fun, especially for those salseros out there.

Beginner class 9 PM - 10 PM, social 10 PM - 2 AM
Cost: 15$ cash only
Runs: Monthly, year-round
Bar? Yes
Espaces Des Arts: 9, rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal, QC, H2X 1K3, 2nd Floor
https://www.instagram.com/bachatalogiamtl/

SATURDAYS: La Onda Social - This afternoon social is organized by the same organizers as Baila con Gusto; the owners of the studio Espaces des Arts. For those who’ve been around for a long time, it’s almost the continuation of what used to be called Moka Socials. The perfect Saturday treat without getting home too late.

Social dancing (primarily salsa, also bachata, kizomba, and cha-cha) 6 PM - 10 PM
Cost: 10$ cash only, coat check included
Runs: Weekly, year-round
Bar? Yes
Espaces Des Arts: 9, rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal, QC, H2X 1K3, 2nd Floor
https://www.instagram.com/laondasocial/

SATURDAYS: Events Mika- One of the biggest outdoor socials in Montreal during the summer! A great chance to experience dancing outdoors on the weekend. In case of rain, they provide an indoor option at their studio which is where the event is hosted year-round.

Social dancing 7 PM - 10 PM
Cost: 10$
Runs: Weekly year-round
Outdoor (May 18th to October 12th, provided good weather) 7000 Bd LaSalle, Verdun, QC H4H 1R2, otherwise 7325 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, QC H4P 2G8
https://www.instagram.com/events.mika/

SUNDAYS: Le Social Salsa - A short and sweet social Sunday evenings at the lovely studio Tango near park Jarry. This ones a classic, it’s been active for over a decade, attracting veteran dancers and only 10$!

Social dancing (primarily salsa, also bachata, kizomba, and cha-cha) 6 PM - 10 PM
Cost: 10$ cash only, coat check included
Runs: Weekly, year-round
Bar? Yes
7755 rue St-Laurent #200B, Montreal, QC, Canada, Quebec
https://www.facebook.com/LeSocialSalsa

SUNDAYS: Salsamania in Laval - Discover the Salsa community slightly outside of Montreal in Laval, where the local dance school Fuego Latino dances Sunday nights at the “Grand Studio”, which indeed is large and spacious.

Social dancing 6:30 PM - 1 AM
Cost: 15$
Runs: Weekly, year-round
Bar? Yes
1830 Blvd. Saint-Martin O, Laval, QC H7S 1Z3
https://www.facebook.com/LeSocialSalsa

You've finally reached the end! But this is not all. There are constantly new places to dance and communities developing. Nevertheless I hope this list is useful to you to start, and I wish you the best in your social dancing!