Queer Country-Western Dance for Women, Trans People, and Non-Binary People in Oakland, California
Country-Western Two-Step & Waltz, West Coast Swing, Nightclub Two-Step & Line Dances
At Lake Merritt Dance, 200 Grand Ave., Oakland
Fourth Saturdays—July 25, Aug 22, Sept 26 & Oct 24
$15 at the door (card/mobile/cash ok)
Sliding Scale / NOTAFLOF available.
July 25 Schedule
Doors Open at 6:30
There will be beginner and intermediate line dance lessons and partner dance lessons concurrently in two rooms. They are across the hall from one another, so you can take a quick peek and choose.
Beginner-Plus* Line Dance Lesson — “Do Si Do” with Melanie R at 6:45
*Watch the video, read the step sheet, and practice at home! It’s fun and a tad challenging. (The step sheet calls this a “high improver” level line dance, but we’ve got this!)
Intermediate Line Dance Lesson — “Walk the Line” with Sheila S at 6:45
This perennial favorite is fast and has an odd number of counts—26 counts. We often do it to the song “Sin Wagon” by The Chicks. Links: Demo video, step sheet, instructional video.
Beginner Country-Western Two-Step Lesson — with Rachel H & Bridget M at 7:15
We dance a lot of two-step and this is a good place to start.
Intermediate Country-Western Two-Step Lesson — with Sheila S at 7:15
If you’ve been dancing two-step for a while, try the intermediate lesson.
Social Dance begins at 8:00
In the Main Ballroom we will have a mix of partner dance and line dances. Partner dancing includes country-western two-step and waltz, west coast swing, and a sprinkle of nightclub two-step and east coast swing.
We encourage everyone to try partner dancing. Anyone can ask anyone to dance—and you can say “yes” or “no,” kindly. We like to switch partners for each song.
We will play a pair of line dances approximately every half-hour.
There will be a birthday dance for those born in July (or nearly)—try it out! We will have a Barn Dance, too. It’s easy and we’ll teach it first.
Line Dance Marathon at 8:30
Across the hall in the Lounge from 8:30, there will be a line dance marathon—45 minutes of non-stop line dances. We encourage everyone to move between rooms, check out the scene, and try the dance.
At 9:15 Yael P will teach a quick recap lesson for “Gives Me Shivers” (beginner).
Snacks and Nametags
Please enjoy the snacks and water in the hallway. Pick up a name tag and write your pronouns. You can also choose “lead” & “follow” stickers to help find dance partners.
Dancing will continue in the Main Room, only, after 9:30. The dance ends at 10:30. See you soon!
Country-western two-steppin’ and waltz
We love two-stepping and we regularly teach beginner and intermediate two-step here. We also teach waltz, west coast swing, shadow and other social dance styles. Learn more about our partner dance mix here!
