Friday Night Blues

Lovely place with lovely people for blues dancing. It might look like it’s in a somewhat desolate and sketchy area, but it’s really okay.
The venue is sometimes packed and sometimes medium, but always a good variety of dancers. The DJs are pretty good at playing a variety of blues music and occasionally some alternative styles of music. The quality of the dancing varies a lot, which is great, because it means all different levels are welcome here. They have novice-​level drop-​in classes an hour before the event starts.

Friday was my first time blues dancing… or any type of partner dancing for that matter. That is, other than the sweaty, gyrating, meat-​market-​y club dancing of my long-​gone youth.
It was totally fun and chill. The instructor of the all levels dance instruction hour, Nicole, was knowledgeable, friendly, and funny. She was adept at demonstrating the steps… I, however, was no so adept at emulating them, but that is not her fault! She also suggested a great exercise for getting into our bodies when I questioned how not to be so in my head and cognitive about the dance.
I loved the music and relaxed vibe. I stayed for a little bit of the social dance. It was fun to dance with different partners and get a feel for different styles. It was also nice that the dancers were so much more obviously interested in just grooving to the music and possibly honing their craft than trying to pick someone up for a one night stand like in those aforementioned seedy, sticky night clubs of yore. (Yes, I know this is not that kind of venue, but still, it was a very welcome change.)
I am definitely going to go back. I had a fun time, but I think I’d have even more fun if I were not constantly knocking knees with my lead or nearly elbowing him/​her in the face in a turn.

Friday Night Blues is not only one of the best places in the world to go Blues Dancing, but the first weekly venue in the world for the contemporary Blues Dancing scene.
Don’t know what Blues is? Come and find out and a friendly and open venue, you’ll leave hooked! :)

I want to be careful in writing this review, because I feel like there are things I’m going to write about that are more a reflection of the dance community in general than just this venue… but anyway, here goes.
I can’t say I come here very often, but when I do, I tend to have a pretty good time as long as I am on my guard. I’m referring to the number of men who seem to come here thinking that they don’t really need to learn much to blues dance and to touch pretty girls… and that’s about all they really care to do. As an advanced blues dancer, it is frustrating to have to endure a dance with someone who decides that the dance is about something other than dancing, and stares at you the whole time, squeezes your hands, etc. So I will reiterate what I was trying to say at first: I feel this is a problem with the dance scene in general, and not necessarily Friday Night Blues’ fault. However, I do feel there has to be some way to teach etiquette to beginners during the classes, and I am unsure if this is being done, since I have not been to a lesson at FNB for a very long time. However, I do advise all women who come here to just be on their guard, and watch people dancing before deciding who you’re going to dance with — if you see someone dancing too sexually for your liking, or staring at their partner, etc. don’t dance with that person. And that means, if they ask you to dance, politely turn them down. Or, if you end up in a dance with someone who is making you uncomfortable in some way (staring at you, squeezing your hands too hard, holding you too closely, etc) SAY SOMETHING to them about it. It is *only* through direct communication that many people are able to learn. If you do not tell people they are making you uncomfortable, they will continue to do the same things, thinking they are dancing wonderfully.
Okay, time to step off my soapbox and talk more about this venue, specifically. The space is good for dancing, and the music is usually quite good (Steven Watkins, one of the regular DJs at this venue, is excellent). The venue is not brimming full with creepers or anything, there are just a few you might want to avoid… for the most part, people are friendly and you can come by yourself or in a group. I just would suggest having someone you trust walk you to and from your car if you don’t get a parking spot right outside the venue, since it can be kind of a sketchy neighborhood.

Stumbled upon this place looking for a Meetup meeting. Excellent friendly-​ness from fellow students and the instructor Mihai. Will be signing up for some classes!

Its a dimly lit small studio where every Friday night they play a mix of blues music and blues inspired music.
Leaning the basics of blues dancing is incredibly easy, so you can quickly get out on the dance floor and have a great time. I frequently recommend it to my friends who have never partner danced before who want to try learning to dance. Luckily they have lessons before the dance for those who are new to it, so you can learn and experience it all on the same night.
For those who are a bit more experienced with dancing, there can be an amazing amount of connection and subtlety to blues dancing. And lets not forget the musicality.
Many of the advanced dancers there have a lot of experience in other dances and they infuse their blues dancing with other genres from swing, salsa, tango, and hip hop to name a few. While others are more purists who stick to the various forms of blues dancing.
There is usually a mix of all levels at the dance. From beginners to people who have been dancing for many many years. Tho lately I have experienced it heavier on the beginner and intermediate side and lighter on the advanced dancers. Overall a friendly crowd and a good time.
If you decide to go make sure you don’t leaving anything visible in your car. This area of SOMA is known to have lots of auto break ins. I often ask someone to walk with me to my car at the end of the night too.

Shady alleyway, in which we got into a car accident.. .. .but anyway.. .
Ayup. Fun from 9pm to 2am. Ridiculous amount of dancing. Lots and lots of people. Some pretty fun, unique dancers.
Would go back!
I do have to complain that they left me out of the visitors/​birthday jam even though I came halfway across the world (quite literally) … :(

I had a good time here. I went for the lessons starting at 8 until 10 and then stayed for a bit afterwards for some dancing.
I wouldn’t say the lessons really taught me much. but they definitely eased me into the concept of what blues dancing is supposed to be.
I think this place would be much better if they served alcohol. Aside from that it was pretty different and fun.

It was my first time, but it did not feel like it… thank you, fellow Friday Night Blues dancers, for making it so mmmmmm… goooooooood!
I am loving the comp mix cd and looking forward to using my coupon for another event.
Check it out in person or at

Ahhhh blues dancing… the socially acceptable way to feel up a girl, no alcohol necessary! Anything that lets me get my groove on on a Friday night that doesn’t have an adverse effect on my liver or judgement is a bona fide good time.
There are some awesome dancers here and I always have a good time when I’m with a good lead. Everyone is really cool and willing to dance with people who aren’t as good, which can be a problem with the dance crowd. I say this because my strategy is to let the guy lead and I’ll just move as the music takes me. And that generally works, or at least it has so far.
Other than that, plenty of places to sit and chill, fans and a garage door that is opened to make sure there is air circulation, which is needed. I will warn though, I’ve had experiences here with men that are clearly NOT there to dance and just to «be close» to unsuspecting women. To rectify that, don’t show until 11. By then the good people show up. Or if you are coming for the lesson (which I believe starts at 8 or so and I should start doing), go for a drink and come back at 11. That way you’ll miss out on being felt up by inappropriate old men.

To be brief. I haven’t had this much fun in a long… ass…time.
Studio Gracia is pretty tucked away in a small alley in SOMA. If you blink once, you just might miss the street it’s on. On the inside, it’s green, with lots of mirrors, and it has plenty of dancing space… which is good because it’s a pretty large dancing crowd that shows up on Fridays. There’s a couple of fans around but they also have the option to open a garage door to let in some cool SF air when things get a little too hot. They offer lessons at 9pm, and I went to one of them. But to be honest, teaching folks how to dance to the blues is sort of an exercise in futility. You just feel it. And your body knows the rest.
Imagine dancers from all kinds of backgrounds – some lindy hoppers, salsa dancers, tango folks, a couple of hip hop folks, and of course we’ll throw in some newbies for good measure. The DJ turns on some gritty, earthy, Blues music straight from New Orleans, Memphis, or some small backwoods town in Texas… and mixes in a little modern funk and hip hop. Everyone grabs a partner, walks out to the dance floor, and completey just rocks out to the music with a lot impromptu hip rolling, head turning, booty shaking, spanking, and touch the floor dips that leave you smiling from ear to ear and/​or squealing with delight.
The crowd here is really friendly and there to have a good time. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then I hope to see you there next time.

For only $ 7(?) every Friday, you get 3 or 4 hours of the intensity and improvisation of tango, but with grinds, body rolls, dips, and twirls added to the mix. This dance is usually held at Studio Gracia every Friday from 10 to 1 or 2 (lessons start at 8.45), live music every once in a while.