Ballroom (& salsa) in Tampa

[samina]

Does anyone know if there are any good ballroom venues in the Tampa/Brandon area?

I've searched on the web many times and come up with dead-ends.

Am flying south for Xmas and would love to find a place to kick up my heels.
:)

I suppose I might have better luck dancing salsa there -- if anyone knows a great salsa location, would be tickled to know that as well!

[Pam]

I'm not sure how far you're willing to travel around Tampa, but I've been to Suncoast Ballroom in Largo which generally holds open lessons and parties pretty much every night of the week. The crowd there was very welcoming.

They've got a nice floor and a little shop attached that sometimes has really good sales on shoes.

They have a website with a calendar of what's coming for December.

[samina]

I'm not sure how far you're willing to travel around Tampa, but I've been to Suncoast Ballroom in Largo which generally holds open lessons and parties pretty much every night of the week. The crowd there was very welcoming.

They've got a nice floor and a little shop attached that sometimes has really good sales on shoes.

They have a website with a calendar of what's coming for December.

Thanks, Pam -- I'll check out their website! Don't know how far Largo is from Brandon... will take a look. :)

[ccc]

Here is a list in that area:

http://www.salsapower.com/cities/fl/tampa.htm

I haven't been to any of these so I can't make
any recommendations.

[samina]

Here is a list in that area:

http://www.salsapower.com/cities/fl/tampa.htm

I haven't been to any of these so I can't make
any recommendations.

hey -- excellent list! i never came across that when i googled. lots to choose from.

but i'd love to hear from someone who's got a favorite place they like to visit... :)

[tangotime]

My old stomping ground-- brandon to largo about 20 mins ( its all freeway across the bridge and after you exit, about a couple of miles on the left. Salsa -- wow, so much to choose from nearly all on or just off dale mabry. These are all " true " latino clubs, with virtually no " gringos ". The wed nite club is a younger crowd and the w/e ( fri-sat ) is more mixed. Dont do ybor city-- all tourist .From brandon get on I- 4 going west get off at dale mabry go past stadium about 3 miles down on right ( cant remember name of club, but very popular )thats the wed nite one . ( p.s. -- you may find several people do not speak english, so brush up on your basic spanish ! ):)

[samina]

My old stomping ground-- brandon to largo about 20 mins ( its all freeway across the bridge and after you exit, about a couple of miles on the left. Salsa -- wow, so much to choose from nearly all on or just off dale mabry. These are all " true " latino clubs, with virtually no " gringos ". The wed nite club is a younger crowd and the w/e ( fri-sat ) is more mixed. Dont do ybor city-- all tourist .From brandon get on I- 4 going west get off at dale mabry go past stadium about 3 miles down on right ( cant remember name of club, but very popular )thats the wed nite one . ( p.s. -- you may find several people do not speak english, so brush up on your basic spanish ! ):)

ooooooo --- tango, this is perrrrrrfect! :) just what i'd want in the way of salsa dancing -- i much prefer los citios donde no hablan ingles. :D

anything more specific you can recall would be much appreciated -- this is the exact area where i'll be staying!

woo-hoo!

(but still interested in the ballroom connection too....)

[tangotime]

Hola, mi amiga, latinos en tampa es todo mundo, mucho mas salseros/as, siempre. In the ballroom field, ( have taught there for many yrs ) Most of the dance schools run public dances on various nites , could not even list them all. suggest -- look in yellow pages and most will tell you where and when . Buena suerte . ( wish I were going with you !!!! )

[samina]

Hola, mi amiga, latinos en tampa es todo mundo, mucho mas salseros/as, siempre. In the ballroom field, ( have taught there for many yrs ) Most of the dance schools run public dances on various nites , could not even list them all. suggest -- look in yellow pages and most will tell you where and when . Buena suerte . ( wish I were going with you !!!! )

que buenas noticias...muchas gracias, tangotiempo! :)
cuando llego en brandon, yo voy a leer las paginas amarillas... lo mas facil metodo, yo pienso.

wish you were local to the area!

:D

[dancesportgirl21]

Dont do ybor city-- all tourist .):)

And not the safest place to be at night- lol! Although the Colombian Restaurant there is nice and there is a flamenco show during dinner. Just went there last week.

[samina]

And not the safest place to be at night- lol! Although the Colombian Restaurant there is nice and there is a flamenco show during dinner. Just went there last week.

Sounds like fun!

Will PM later. :)

[dancesportgirl21]

okie doke

[anp73ga31]

I'm from the Brandon area. Lived there until I was 25, then moved to north GA. Sad to say, though, I'm absolutely no help! When I lived there I didn't know how to ballrom/latin dance so it was strictly swing dancing and line dancing at the local country bar (the Dallas Bull). lol!

Totally off topic, but my dad's side of the family is italian/spanish. My aunt used to bring this great stuff to our family gatherings called (I know I'm not spelling this right) escachata. Kind of like pizza but a different bread and oh so very good. Every heard of it? Needless to say, they dont have things like that up here....(oh for a good pressed cuban or a deviled crab! *sigh*). Seeing as how you guys are from the area (or at least know it well), I thought that you might know some of what I'm talking about...no one here knows what I'm talking about! lol!

Hmmm.....Wonder if I could get Allessi's bakery in Tampa to ship that stuff to me up here for my B-day or Christmas.....