As the city slowly comes back to life, tip-toeing towards full swing, we can all let out a collective sigh of relief as our favorite dance floors start reopening. Whether you like bopping to K-Pop or want to show off your Charleston steps, there’s a venue for all sorts of dancing in Bangkok. Here are some of the hottest spots to shimmy the night away.
The Hop Bangkok
The Hop was founded in 2012 by swing dance teacher Oat Naviroj, who established his Bangkok Swing community in a discreet shophouse on Silom Road. The Hop offers classes on the various styles of swing dancing that were popular from the 1920 to 1940s, such as Lindy Hop, Charleston, Blues and Authentic Jazz Dance. At this vintage studio with red walls and wooden dance floors, Social Dances are held every Saturday night, starting at 8pm. The THB 200 entrance fee includes a 30-minute open class for beginners; then at 8.30pm, the floor opens for all to get into the swing of things. Bring out your bow ties and swirling skirts, because part of the fun at The Hop is checking out other people’s retro outfits.
The Hop is open on Saturdays, 8pm to 11pm.
BEAM
The cool crowd and beautiful citizens of Thong Lo go clubbing at the luxe industrial BEAM. Although the space looks like an empty warehouse, don’t be fooled: it’s fitted with cutting-edge light, sound and visual equipment that make for trippy lasers and bangin’ beats. Inside the main room is a “body kinetic” dance floor that provides vibration — it means you’ll feel the music’s rhythm pulsing under your feet as you dance. Currently, a lot of hip-hop is played by the live DJs, but keep an eye out for their upcoming lineup of events, because this venue is also a temple of deep house, trance and techno. It’s usually a packed experience at BEAM, and tables are scarce, so we highly recommend booking in advance.
