Tampa Latin Club Reviews

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28211 Paseo Dr Suite #190 Wesley Chapel, FL 33543
(813) 994-0002

Highlights: Wednesday Nights in Wesley Chapel. Incredible management, Hardwood Floors, Live Music & staff!

For those of you who don't know the new AJA Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel at the Shops at Wiregrass Mall has become thee spot to be for social dancers that don't like cliques or the dance scene wroght with show offs. This isn't a blah blah blah claim made by the house dance instructor but a gleeful admission of honest truth! People of all ages and cultures go to AJA. It is a scene where you will find 60 year olds dancing with 30 year olds, families coming together to celebrate a special occasion and a place for beginners and intermediate social dancers to get their "dance legs" working for the first time. They even have live music by Sol Caribe and other bands starting at 9 pm every Wednesday evening; this is very consistent. The DJ rotates in between playing a Latin mix for you non-salsero types. For you lover's of food, they have a truly NY style Pizza that really does taste like the dough and cheese of NY Pizza and I lived in Brooklyn, NY so I certainly love it! We are proud of the location's food, gorgeous hardwood floor and kind patrons. No matter where you are from its actually worth the drive. This location is clean and has plenty of free parking. We thank Aja for their incredibly kind staff and hard work! We teach every Wednesday evening at 7:30 pm; 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel Florida. Dancing With Grace teaches there every Wednesday evening for $10 each All Levels. For current schedules check our main page at www.dancingwithgrace.com

8336 W. Hillsborough Av. Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 391-1056

Highlights: Friday Nights in Tampa - Regular location for locals!

Another great location for socializing with sane people is Simone’s social on Hillsborough Avenue. People of all levels, ages and cultures go to this location. If you are looking for the “I dance better than you on 2” crowd, this isn’t the place for you. I have seen people dancing on 1, 2, 3 and 5 at this location! This location is not a bar; it is a dance studio with plenty of free parking. Many times she even has events where there is food available. Dance lessons happen before the social and varying times. I send my students to this location on a regular basis to have fun in a non-threatening environment with people who just want to have fun and social dance-drama free; Oh what glee! She also has a Saturday Evening Social In Brandon in a smaller studio that I have not gone to: Check their schedule online at www.simonesalsa.com

2223 N. W. Shore Blvd. #B203, Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 873-2583

Highlights: Tuesday nights in Downtown Tampa: Great live music.

Blue Martini is an acquired taste. My buddy Leo teaches there on a regular basis and I sub for him when he is out of town. The floor is small and it can get quite packed like sardines. People end up dancing on the side of the second bar where there are small strips of hardwood floor dancers like to dance on. The kind of dancers you will find range from drunk dancers who think they know how to dance to seasoned salsa/mambo dancers who dance w/“their crowd”. I have gone to this location and if I am not with a clique or specific school, sometimes no one will ask me to dance. I ask everyone so I don’t mind, but I am not into the “gotta be with the right people to dance” crowd. There are live bands that rotate and great DJs. I say it’s an acquired taste only because it gets packed and it’s hard to dance if you get there after 9 pm. I am a dancer, so prefer plenty of space and a hardwood floor which is why I love AJA Wiregrass, but these locations are far from one another so luckily they don’t really compete for the same crowd. The management runs things well. Leo usually does a free introductory lesson late and is entertaining and fun. Call the location for details. www.bluemartinilounge.com

11921 North Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, Florida 33618
(813)968-1515

Highlights: Wednesday Nights in Carrollwood, Tampa: Love the motif!

Hate the name of this location-Whiskey is so ew, but I love the feeling of this place. I grew up in the summers in Puerto Rico. I used to swim in the rivers in the mountains and there were gorgeous soft rocks at my feet in the water. This location has huge rocks just like those inside on the fireplace and outside too. It’s so neat to look at and be around. The floor is large enough for a lot of dancers; they have plenty of space for sitting. This location, however, sometimes has problems w/ the cleanliness of their bathroom. My friends Salsa Xtreme teach dance lessons there; the style is casino/rueda. They are a very nice group and although rueda is done in groups, they aren’t a cliquey or snobby group, but quite nice. Although, I have never met Blanco (the lead of SalsaXtreme), their instructors are kind and Lora, the manager of SalsaXtreme is pleasant, kind and helpful. No Hats, sportswear or baggy clothes. To find out more about this location go to: www.whiskeynorth.com. Plenty of Free Parking

1806 West Platt Street Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 254-2233

Highlights: Thursday Nights in Downtown Tampa; Unusual Feel & an Acquired Taste

When I first moved to town everyone talked about Hyde Park. So of course, I had to go see it. I was sadly disappointed. It’s interesting in many ways though. It has a section that is inside but with no roof so you get the outside feel which I loved. There was plenty of spaces to sit and chill with friends. I was wondering, where is the dance floor? Finally I realized I had to go to another room to find the floor. It has a low ceiling and although I am not claustrophobic, when it gets packed in there it feels really claustrophobic and moist. Rafy is one of the best DJs in town and he DJs there: I love Rafy! People drink a lot in there and it gets really messy. Drinks are usually spilled on the floor and no one ever comes to clean it up so your dance shoes will get ruined at this location. I went there twice and ruined two pairs of shoes; haven’t been back since because I can’t dance in street shoes and refuse to ruin my shoes. There are also some shady characters there that care more about rubbing their body parts on you during a bachata than dancing. Dance lessons are a free introductory class by Island Touch Dance; this group knows how to teach people how to become good LA Style dancers/performers and they cater to a young crowd of 18-25 but if you really want to benefit from their teaching, go spend $10 and take a dance class at their dance studio on North Dale Mabry Highway. It’s a better space to learn and dance; they also do socials from time to time on Friday/Saturdays. Please check their website for more information at www.IslandTouchDance.com.