Lake Merritt Dance Center

Went here to see a friend perform in a Hustle Demo but before that, we attended a tango dance lesson and it was fun. After that, there was dancing in the ballroom and the instructor was the dj. During a break, they serve refreshments in the room across the ballroom and there are places to sit. Not bad for only $ 6 per person.

Wonderful place, great support staff. Always a good idea to get there early for parking. LOVELY Floors (Hall 1 is the best!) Ballroom is huge and featured on a recent PBS documentary about Oakland Dance Halls.

I’ve been taking beginning waltz classes with Persephone on Tuesday nights for a few weeks now. The class is really fun, and I can tell my skill level is steadily increasing. Although each beginner class has some common elements, other parts are different each week, so it’s never dull.
The venue itself has a ton of stuff going on. Whatever kind of dance lesson you’re looking for, chances are you can find it here.

I’ve been going to the Wednesday night tango lessons on and off for years. Warren and Gigi Jensen are fantastic dance teachers, and always so warm and welcoming. Class sizes vary from week to week, but you always get individual attention.
Check the schedule, as while they always have beginner classes, they also do intermediate classes as well, but not throughout the year.
I’ve even done a few private lessons, and been to a couple of their tango parties, which are a blast.
I’ve seen all adult age ranges at the classes and parties, and a wide variety of skill levels. So, if you’re going to meet people just like you, you might be surprised at how diverse the tango community can be.

Hey, I’m trying to review Mike Pyle’s Lakeside Swing Dance, fourth Sunday of every month at Lake Merritt Dance Center. The music and sound is great, the floor amazing, the lesson’s before the dance feature a great instructors, and some of the best local West Coast Swing dancers show up for this monthly dance. Fourth Sunday of every month! Come dance with us! For information and directions, I go to

Great local dance center, each night in various rooms stars different dances. Sunday night 6 – 7 pm Rose Anne and Chuck do beginner lessons and Belinda does a more intermediate class at the same time, with a dance party for both groups to follow the lesson. Loads of fun on really great wood floors. Can get hot at times depending on the room and the time of year. Good parking.

I attend Mike Pyle’s third Sunday of the Month, West Coast Swing dance.
Has local WCS instructors give a lesson before the dance starts.
Mike DJ’s and keeps up on the latest WCSwing dance music, he still plays, blues, jazz, R & B, contemporary and top 40’s. The hall is located on the first floor, large, good AC, gets a little warm in the summer. Around 150+ dancers attend. Usually a East Coast Swing dance in the ballroom on the third floor, our west coast swing dance in is in the main ballroom on the second floor.
The venue has different dances on different nights, seems popular with the ECSwing and Tango groups on the other nights. Women’s restroom on the second floor and plenty. An older building. There is a medium sized parking lot and street parking.