Where: Santa Clara Recreation Department, Fremont and Monroe, Santa Clara
When: Tuesdays, 7:30pm – 10:00pm; dance lessons begin at 6:30 pm
Price: $6 for band nights; $5 for DJ
The Santa Clara dance is probably the largest senior singles dance venue on the Peninsula; however, ages 25 and up are always welcome. There is a beautiful large sprung wood dance floor. It is a friendly crowd with all levels of dancers. You will find an even mix of men and women with at least 4 mixers to insure that everyone gets to dance. Live bands and DJ’s alternate to a mix of mostly foxtrot, waltz, latin, swing, quickstep, and nightclub two step; with an occasional salsa, hustle, bachata, merengue. Our very popular dance lessons are taught by Bud Ayers, and are free with the price of admission. Light refreshments are served.
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tuesdaysantaclaradance
There is also a dance here on Thursday evenings at the same time. That dance is sponsored by the Santa Clara Recreation Center. The Tuesday dance is brought to you largely by volunteers from TGA, To Get Acquainted, one of the oldest dance clubs in the SF Bay Area. Shown below are the volunteers for 2017.
President Secretary Treasurer Director Director
PR/Adv Director Director Director Director
Santa Clara Dance 
February 3, 2016 at 9:03 pm
I don’t know what makes you think that you have a right to claim “The Santa Clara dance is probably the largest senior singles dance venue on the Peninsula”. First of all, you are far from the largest. Friday Night Waltz, in Palo Alto, Cubberly, in Mountain View and most of the private studios bring in a far larger crowd than yours was last night.
Secondly, your group is far from “singles”. Your group last night was pretty much all couples. A single is highly unlikely to find a partner at your event. When I first arrived, I even heard one woman say to another that she should expect to sit most of the evening because she had not brought a partner.
Lastly, your instructors are awful…absolutely awful and rude…terribly rude. I walked out shortly into the lesson because the female instructor was insisting I do something that was painful for me and was unnecessary for me to learn the dance. She then began to argue with me in front of the crowd of attendees.
The gentleman with whom I’d been dancing (whom I had met just that evening) apparently left shortly after because the same woman was very rude to him, saying he was not a nice person because he wanted to observe the lesson rather than participating.
I noticed on the meetup group that there was a decline in attendance. I expect this is why.
I expected an event where one could find partners with whom one could dance. This was not one. You should not misrepresent yourselves and you really should do something about your instructors who want to force class members to injure themselves rather than self-regulate if need be.
February 16, 2016 at 10:24 pm
First of all let me thank you for your input. We always try to do our best and I will bring your comments to the attention of those who are mentioned in them. We like to hear what our dancers think. Secondly, from my experience, I think you are exagerating a bit. We have brought in over 100 every week for the last 3 months at least. I don’t know of any other studio that does that. Cubberley does bring in more, but it is not a “senior” dance. It may have seemed to you like there were a lot of couples, but because you were new. Many of the dancers who are “coupled” have met there at Santa Clara, so they were singles to begin with. We have about 4 mixers to allow everyone who attends to dance. That gives you an opportunity to meet people. Sounds to me like you never gave this venue a chance — left in a hurry. Sorry you had a bad experience.
February 17, 2016 at 12:23 am
I left in a hurry because your teacher was abusive, but apparently you don’t care. I find it interesting. The partner with whom I did dance not only left shortly after me but he dropped out of the Meetup as well. What I have seen is the numbers have gone significantly down in terms of your Meetup attendance.
When I first got there, I overheard one regular say to another, “Where’s Paul.” The other answered that he could not come that night. The first responded, “Well then, I sure hope you expect to be sitting out most of the night.” When I asked about the comment, the woman without a partner TOLD ME that most people were partnered up. The man with whom I danced told me the same, which is why he was so happy I was there. But, please, do ahead and don’t listen to feedback.
I guess you weren’t really trying to recruit more people as no one from your group seems to actually be monitoring the Meetup page to answer questions either.
I’m not impressed and will not be attending. that may make you happy as clearly you don’t want my business.