Lake Merritt Dance at Veterans Memorial Building

Lake Merritt Dance at Veterans Memorial Building Introduce

Lake Merritt Dance, located within the historic Veterans Memorial Building in Oakland, California, is a cherished institution for dance enthusiasts across the Bay Area. This venue is a beautiful, community-focused space that serves as a home for a wide variety of dance forms, from ballroom to salsa, all in a gorgeous setting. It's a place where tradition meets community, offering a unique and affordable opportunity for both seasoned dancers and complete beginners to get on the dance floor. The ballroom itself is a sight to behold, with a rich history dating back to 1927. For residents in California looking for a place to learn, socialize, and enjoy the art of dance, Lake Merritt Dance offers a wonderfully laid-back and supportive environment. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable and beautiful dance spaces for community-based dance groups and instructors.

The atmosphere at Lake Merritt Dance is what truly sets it apart. As one satisfied customer shared in a review, the venue is known for its laid-back feel, and the historic ballroom in the Veterans Memorial Building is "absolutely gorgeous." The space attracts a diverse crowd, creating a unique and enriching social experience. A review mentions that while the clientele often includes senior citizens from the nearby senior home, this should not be seen as a negative; on the contrary, these experienced dancers are "all fantastic" and can "teach us all a few moves." This intergenerational blend of students, which also includes younger couples, makes for a truly special and welcoming community. This blend of ages and skill levels ensures that every dancer, no matter their background, feels included and encouraged. The social dancing that follows lessons is a key highlight, allowing students to practice their newly acquired skills and connect with others in a fun and low-pressure setting.

Located at 200 Grand Ave #210, Oakland, CA 94610, USA, Lake Merritt Dance at the Veterans Memorial Building is conveniently situated near the beautiful Lake Merritt. The venue provides on-site parking, which is a major advantage in a busy area like Oakland. The main entrance is accessible with a ramp, and the building also provides wheelchair-accessible restrooms and a wheelchair-accessible parking lot, although one review mentions an issue with the main accessible entrance being gated. Despite this reported issue, the presence of these features indicates a commitment to accessibility. For those using public transit, the location is also near bus routes and within a reasonable distance of BART, making it a viable option for a wide range of people across the Bay Area.

As a dance hub, Lake Merritt Dance collaborates with various instructors and community groups to offer a comprehensive range of weekly classes and events for all adults. The ballroom and other rooms are also available for rent for dance-related activities and rehearsals.

Services Offered:

Dance Lessons: The venue hosts a wide array of dance classes, including ballroom, swing, salsa, and more. A review praises the instructors for being "very good" and for repeating steps.
Social Dancing: After lessons, the floor is open for social dancing, allowing students to practice and connect with the community.
Weekly Dances: The venue sponsors weekly dance events for the community.
Classes and Instruction: Collaboration with various dance instructors and community groups to offer diverse dance programs, from Latin to Vintage Waltz.
Room Rental: Various rooms, including the historic ballroom, are available for rent for dance classes, practices, and parties.
Workshops: The venue hosts dance workshops for more in-depth learning.

Features / Highlights:

Historic and Gorgeous Ballroom: The venue is located in the historic Veterans Memorial Building, featuring a stunning Art Deco ballroom and an excellent dance floor.
Affordable Pricing: A review points out that the price per lesson is "extremely cheap," making high-quality dance instruction accessible to more people.
Intergenerational Community: The venue attracts a diverse mix of ages, from senior citizens to younger couples, creating a unique and supportive social environment.
Wide Variety of Dance Styles: The venue hosts classes and events for a broad range of dance forms, including ballroom, swing, salsa, tango, and more.
On-site Amenities: The venue provides on-site parking and restrooms for convenience.
Wheelchair Accessible Features: The building offers a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking lot, and restroom, though the functionality of the entrance has been questioned in a public review.

Contact Information:

Address: 200 Grand Ave #210, Oakland, CA 94610, USA
Phone: (510) 238-3284

What is worth choosing Lake Merritt Dance at Veterans Memorial Building:

Choosing Lake Merritt Dance is a decision to embrace a unique and authentic dance experience in the heart of Oakland. The most compelling reasons to choose this venue come directly from the feedback of its patrons. The "gorgeous" ballroom and laid-back atmosphere create an inviting space that is truly special. Unlike commercial studios, this venue feels like a community hub where the focus is on the joy of dance and social connection, not on sales or intense competition. The affordability of the lessons is a significant advantage, making it a budget-friendly option for anyone in California who wants to learn to dance without a large financial commitment. The chance to learn from and dance with fantastic dancers, including the very skilled senior citizens, provides an enriching experience that cannot be replicated at many other venues.

Furthermore, the variety of classes offered is a major draw. With different instructors and groups hosting events on a weekly basis, there is always something new to try, from swing and salsa to ballroom and more. This collaborative model ensures a dynamic schedule that caters to a wide range of interests. The convenient location with on-site parking adds to the venue's appeal, making it a practical choice for a fun night out or a regular class. While a review did mention a specific accessibility issue, the venue's stated commitment to having a wheelchair-accessible entrance, restroom, and parking lot shows its intent to be inclusive. For anyone in the California region looking for a beautiful, affordable, and social place to learn and practice dance, Lake Merritt Dance at the Veterans Memorial Building is a fantastic and highly recommended option.

Lake Merritt Dance at Veterans Memorial Building Details

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom

Amenities
Restroom

Parking
On-site parking

Lake Merritt Dance at Veterans Memorial Building Photos

No photos available at the moment.

Lake Merritt Dance at Veterans Memorial Building Location

California Alameda County Oakland Grand Avenue

200 Grand Ave #210, Oakland, CA 94610, USA

Lake Merritt Dance at Veterans Memorial Building Reviews

An average rating of ★4.3 from 23 user reviews.

dancingteachers

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

The main front door entrance with the accessible ramp is inaccessible. Worse— it’s left gated but open-air with the front desk visible but inattentive. You’re left to ponder your life choices while being ignored until someone goes around through the car zone which is left open. 0 stars would be too much.
July 03 · Tim O'Brien
My husband and I came here a few times to take dance lessons, and do the social dancing aftewards. The instructor is very good, and repeats the steps for you. If you can, take consecutive weekly classes in a series to build on skills.The price per lesson is extremely cheap, and the clientele is usually the senior citizens from the senior home across the street. But that shouldnt detract from the experience. The seniors are all fantastic dancers, and can teach us all a few moves! There are also younger couples such as ourselves learning to ballroom dance together.I like how laid back everything is, and the ballroom in the VA center is absolutely gorgeous. Definitely worth checking out!
September 22 · Kara B. Potts
I’ve been going to dance practice at to the 200 Grand Avenue for around 17 years. Up to 4 classes a week. Ball room, Salsa, tango and many others. Over the years I wrote letters twice to the Oakland city council to not close the center. I got letters back thanking me for my input. I mentioned this to the 4 classes I took at the time and the students and teachers thanked me for doing this. On 3/18/17 Saturday I went to another dance practice. I showed up late & the class was over. As I walked out the tall African, large security guard said I was trespassing & needed to leave. It became a 5 minute argumentive discussion as I told him I’m a student here who had taken classes for many years. He said the teachers pay to be here that’s why I don’t need to be there. I told him if it wasn’t for us students paying the teachers he may not have a job. It was 5 minutes before he let me leave. He was not doing his job by telling well dressed people who wrote letters to keep this place open, to leave. Who’s teaching these security? His job is to watch for any fights, panhandling, sleeping on the floor, talking too loud, disturbing the peace and that’s about it. Anything more there’s no point to come here. A security guard in K-Mart once tackled a man returning an item and broke his arm. The man was a surgeon who sued K-Mart and won. I’d like to see this security tell UC Berkeley students to leave that campus and see how long he lasts. Somebody better tell these guards to leave people alone if they are not disturbing the peace or there’s no point in coming here.
April 02 · Mr T.
Wonderful building where I’ve danced dozens of times. Parking can be tough if there are multiple dances. No A/C and windows cannot be opened.
September 18 · Bay Walker
Needs some tender loving care, but otherwise this is truly an Oakland gem, with five dance rooms like only New York or Paris could offer. A place waiting for a dedicated group of people to restore it to its old glory if you ask me.
August 26 · Clive Scullion