In addition to numerous nightclubs playing modern music to younger guests, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area is home to several oldies dance clubs. Here, members or non-members of all ages can enjoy swing, jive and old-school rock 'n roll music most nights of the week.
Opened in the summer of 2004, the Central PA Swing Dance Club hosts regular dance nights at the Green Door Club in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Club nights take place very Tuesday and Saturday evening, although events are also held on other evenings and at other locations, so it pays to make regular visits to the club's website.
To get its members in the mood, the club has been decked out with glitter balls and murals and pictures of some of the finest swing dancers and musicians of all time. A resident DJ spins swing tunes, as well as rock 'n roll, blues rock, and jazz standards.
All ages and abilities, including complete beginners, are welcome. The club has a small cover charge and asks members to refrain from wearing in appropriate footwear such as flip-flops. No alcoholic drinks are served at the bar.
Though catering for dancers of all abilities, the Lancaster Swing Dance Club places the emphasis on socializing, with discounts on the admission price offered to anyone who brings appetizers or baked goods to share.
The club meets each Saturday night at the Living Hope Community Church in Lancaster. One-hour lessons for dancers of all abilities run from 7 p.m., with club night following and running until 11 p.m. Enthusiasts are advised to check the club's Facebook page for regularly updated information on special dances, workshops and details on the week's live band.
The Couples Club of Lancaster can trace its history back to 1941. Meeting over a fixed season from October through April, the club hosts weekly nights of dancing to a range of ballroom music, including waltz, tango, foxtrot, swing and mambo, while it also organizes regular away trips and seasonal events such as Christmas parties.
While dancers of all abilities are welcome, the club is only open to members. Prospective newcomers are required to join a waiting list and agree to pay an annual fee, which as of 2010 stands at $150 per couple. Additionally, the Couple Club enforces a dress code of coat and tie for gentlemen and cocktail dresses or gowns for women.
