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Arts & Culture

7 Free Dance Classes in the Bay Area for Beginners on a Budget

Janea Melido
If you've been wanting to try dance, these easy, free classes are the perfect excuse.
A group of people of various ethnicities dances outdoors against the trees and bushes of a park
Free dance classes are an easy, affordable way to learn new moves, get outside, or reconnect with friends. (Getty Images)

This story is part of How We Get By, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the full series here.

The Bay Area’s dance scene isn’t just for seasoned performers. It’s open to anyone willing to try a few new steps — and despite some high-priced courses out there, many free dance classes in the Bay Area are available at no charge.

As longer days and warmer weather settle in, dancing can transport you out of the winter blues. Below, find our select roundup of easy, non-committal dance classes around the Bay Area to keep your body moving. From freeform dance to group country swing dancing, there’s something for just about everyone to enjoy.

Patrons dance during weekly dance lessons at Jaxson, a bar in the Marina that specializes in country music, in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 24, 2018. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Beginner-Friendly Country Swing Dancing

Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m.
Jaxson, San Francisco

A low-pressure weekly session at this San Francisco country bar starts with a quick, approachable lesson before opening up into a social dance. Whether you’re looking for a boost in the work week’s final stretch, or a Sunday night reset, these swing sessions double as a chance to unwind and learn something new.

Soul Sanctuary Dance is available either in person or livestreaming. (Ashkenaz)

Soul Sanctuary Dance

Sundays, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center, Berkeley

With an emphasis on community gathering, inclusivity and expression, the long-running freeform Sunday dance session at Ashkenaz offers a hybrid dance format for participants to join either in-person or via video call from home. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own props to integrate into their choreography.

90-minute hip-hop classes are free at Sullivan Community Space. (Sullivan Community Space)

Sullivan Community Space in Oakland

Tuesdays, 7–8:30 p.m.
Sullivan Community Space, Oakland

This free hip-hop class is led by rotating instructors who break down the choreography step-by-step, gradually building movement over the span of 90 minutes. Each week offers a fresh dance, leaving you with a new combination in your back pocket.

Carmen Carrasco-Arévalo of the Banyan Women’s Collective hosts free samba classes in Menlo Park. (Banyan Womens Collective)

SalSamba in Menlo Park

Fridays in May, 8:30–9:25 a.m.
Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, Menlo Park

Every Friday morning during the month of May, the City of Menlo Park offers a dance class tucked between a duck pond and the library, blending salsa, samba, baile funk and funk into easy-to-follow beginner friendly routines.

Amapiano takes over the dancefloor at Zanzi in Oakland. (Zanzi)

Amapiano Mondays

Mondays, 8–9 p.m.
Zanzi, Oakland

The Oakland dance club known for packed crowds on the weekends keeps the momentum going on Mondays for these free dance lessons. Instructor Tawo Nhawu breaks down the signature Amapiano groove in a beginner-friendly way, giving you the basics you’ll need for the dance party that follows at 10 p.m.

Zumba in the Parks takes place all over San Francisco, from City Hall to the Excelsior. (SF Recreation and Parks)

Zumba in the Parks

Various locations and times in San Francisco

If you prefer fresh air with your cardio, the City’s Zumba in the Park series brings lively dance routines to green spaces across San Francisco. Classes rotate locations and instructors, so check the schedule beforehand for details.

CityDance San Jose is a community gathering to bring people together through movement. (City of San José)

CityDance San Jose

June 12–30
Downtown San Jose

A free summer series in downtown San Jose makes its return with live bands, outdoor dancing, and lively lessons from professional dance instructors. All dates fall in June this year, with locations and music genres still to be announced, so check back for details.

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