Ever wondered what the floor is like? Is there even a dance floor? Carpet, concrete or wood? Let me help you out. Here is a list of some dance venues with some hints about what you may find when you get there. I’ve given a verdict based on how bouncy, slippery and large the dance floor is – having all of these makes for a high verdict. If you like atmosphere, Palmers & Co is hard to beat although you should check the band too.
Going to an unlisted venue? Drop me a line and let me know so I can update this listing.
| Venue | Notes | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur Murray Dance Studio, Leichhardt | The Dance Studio is upstairs with an excellent, wood effect floor is slippery and spacious with mirrors down one side. Opposite the mirrors is a good sized seating area and bar. | 10/10 |
| Ashfield RSL, Ashfield | The dance floor is upstairs and traditional sprung wood surrounded by carpet. At one end, plastic flooring has been added to extend the dance area and the other is a carpeted seating area. | 7/10 |
| Freeway Hotel, Artarmon | The area is split into three, a larger, lower carpeted area a middle section (polished wood, sprung) shared with the band and a smaller upper carpeted area. This is an excellent venue for dancers – somewhere to sit and chat with easy access to a slippery spung dance floor. | 8/10 |
| Pratton Park Bowling Club, Ashfield | The main hall is a wooden floor with the band at one end and tables and chairs surrounding it. Yes, the floor is slippery and may be sprung. | 7/10 |
| Magpies Waitara, 11-37 Alexandria Parade, Waitara | Literally across the road from Waitara station, this is a large venue. After signing in head to the left of the entrance desk towards a large room with a wooden (sprung I think) dance floor about 10mx5m in size. The dance floor is between a large, carpeted seating area and raised stage for the band. The space is airconditioned. | 8/10 |
| Marrickville Bowling Club, 91 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville | After signing in and entering you are at the bar with a parquet dance floor (on concrete) between you and the stage for the band (unless the Mortal Blow Big Band are on). The floor is quite varied, sometimes tacky and other times slippery and management ask for no talc – you’ve been warned! | 6/10 |
| St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Newtown | Walk up a few steps into the main hall which has seen better days… that doesn’t stop the dancing though. The floor is a wooden floor which is reasonably slippery. Parking is a challenge so best to take public transport – bring your own drinks, there’s no bar. | 7/10 |
| Miss Celie’s, Ashfield | There is no specific dance area at Miss Celie’s although you may be able to squeeze in a few turns between tables or by the sofas. Carpet or concrete depending where you are in the venue. | 3/10 |
| Paddo RSL, Paddington | Downstairs there is a stage with a carpeted area in front. There is plenty of space (between tables) to dance but it is all on carpet. | 4/10 |
| Palmer & Co. , Abercombie Lane, CBD | Walk downstairs and enter the atmosphere of the 1920 speakeasy, prohibition style bar with waiters in costume and amazing decor. There is no dance floor so if it’s not too busy then you can dance on the micro-tiled floor – hard but slippery. A good chance to practice close dancing! To be welcome here, you’ll need to buy a drink and, perhaps, something to eat. | 6/10 |
| St Peter’s Presbyterian Church Hall, North Sydney | A large venue with stage and excellent dance wood-effect floor. The dance floor is probably the most slippery you’ll come across and sprung (so your knees are safe). | 9/10 |
| Randwick Golf Club, 1 Howe St, Malabar | Walk through the bar (after signing in) to the outside patio area to find the band area. The floor is concrete (so no leathers) and, both times I’ve been, it has been exceptionally windy so take something warm. | 5/10 |