Dancing in Paris
 

Does anyone know any good places to go swing and/or waltz dancing in Paris?

Thanks,
Vish

For swing, Caveau de la Huchette, 5 rue de la Huchette, 5th arr., tel. 01 43 26 65 05.

Hi V,

Tango dancing on Quai St.Bernard 21:00 – 01:00 nightly

Swing at Caveau des Oubliettes 52 rue de Galande at corner of R. St. Julien Daily concerts start at 22:00 in the basement No Cover charge 1 drink min

Also consider Joinville
Veteran Parisian travelers looking for an off-the-beaten tourist path part of Paris can hop RER A to the Joinville-le-Pont station (about 20 min from Gare de Lyon) and do a lovely walk from there along the tranquil and barge-ful Marne River. Walking paths go pretty much on both sides of the river but from the station go along the north/west side of the river and soon you'll be in an area of old quaint stone houses - some of the most unique houses I've seen in Paris, in a kind of gingerbread style - fanciful, whimsical dating from the turn of the centry when this part of the Marne was a favorite with artists who flocked here to eat in its guinguettes, few of which exist today. But you can walk along the Marne for about two miles until you come to another RER station, line E station at Nogent, to return to Paris. Joinville itself is known for its canal tunnel where barges avoid a large loop in the Marne and use a lengthy tunnel to cut over towards the junction with the Seine.

Joinville is a pleasant suburb with the usual coterie of cafes, etc. Sunday market sprawls over many streets.

Guignettes (Café’s w/music and dancing)
Chez Gegene (Guinguette Dancing) 162bis quai de Polangis - Allée des Guinguettes 01.48.83.29.43 Saturday 21-02:30 dinner and dancing 38E Sundays from 12-19:00 45E lunch and dancing (drinks included)
Le Petit Robinson 164, quai de Polangis 01.48.89.04.39 Closed Tuesdays. Welcome until 11 pm. ..tea-dancing, Fri, Sat, Sun afternoons and dinner-dancing with orchestra Fridays and Saturdays. The-dansant from 11-16 euro and diner-dansant from 33 to 37.5 euro."
La Goulue 17 Quai Gabriel Peri 01.48.83.21.77 Fax : 01 48 83 08 44
Very nice fin-de-siecle restaurant Dancing on weekends.

((I))

My husband and I happened upon Caveau de la Huchette, as Nikki mentioned, and it was a blast. You walk down a narrow flight of stairs into the cave/cellar where there's a live band and a dance floor. It was so fun and so unpretentious. A very good time. There was a 10e cover.

The one time I went into Caveau des Oubliettes, there was no room to stand, much less to dance. And the music is different every night, usually not swing. Perhaps Ira has confused this place with Caveau de la Huchette, which is very nearby.

Hi Nikki,

I have it down as swing on Wednesdays.

((I))

It varies at both those places, Caveau de la Huchette isn't always swing, either.

The calendar right now, for example, at Caveau de la Huchette is:
7/24-25 New Orleans Swing
7/26-7/28 Swing
7/29-8/2 Mandy Gaines, an American pop/soul/R&B/jazz female singer
8/4-8/5 Benny Goodman-style jazz quartet with clarinetist Philippe de Preissac
8/7 American jazz/pop singer Nancy Holloway

Any updates to the Swing Dancing or Lindy Hop scene in Paris? I'd love to find some great weekend places. I'll be there Oct 28 & 29, also returning the following weekend. I know Paris well, but not as a Swing Dancer.

Rich
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Hey Rich, Did you ever make it to the clubs for swing? I was there Nov. 6-15. I went to La Caveau de la Huchette twice (I had been on previous trip) and although there were two different bands the place was hopping with swing dancers on both a Sunday and a Monday. It was so much fun to test my skill with the dancers there. Some of the people are professional grade dancers and some of the regulars dress the part too (40s attire, dance shoes). I can't wait to return. I am just curious where you went and if you could suggest another place as good as the Caveau!?