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Where to dance salsa and bachata in Dallas and Addison 

Dallas could very well be on its way to competing with New York, Los Angeles and Miami as one of the hot Latino dance scenes.

By the hundreds, North Texans show up to salsa and bachata nights and fill up a four-week event called the Vitruvian Salsa Festival in Addison. Clubs in Dallas and Addison offer fun for all levels, from the curious beginner to the elite dance professional.

Love to dance? Check out salsa night at Gloria's in Addison.
Love to dance? Check out salsa night at Gloria's in Addison.(Nathan Hunsinger / Staff Photographer)

The Latino dance scene is primarily separated into two categories: those looking for a night out of drinking and dancing -- which mostly you’ll find at clubs and restaurants -- and those in search of a more serious scene.

Clubs

You might know Gloria’s in Addison as a Latin restaurant with a fun dinner vibe. But have you stayed late on a Saturday night? There's a hot salsa crowd.

The band Havana NRG has played locally for 15 years and attracts salseros looking for a good time. A night of dancing at Gloria’s brings a mix of salsa, merengue and bachata with a bit of pop. The diverse nine-member band, hailing from different backgrounds from Cuba, Puerto Rico and the United States, has been amazed to see its fan base grow from a mostly Latino crowd to a mix of all ethnic backgrounds.

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In fact, the band recently started remixing beats with English and Spanish songs together to help fans relate to the music. Band director and manager Mariela Suárez says she loves seeing people sing the songs in English while "at the same time they are dancing the Latino moves to it."

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Other salsa dance venues in Dallas: Blue Martini, Café Salsera, and Beto & Son; check websites to find dates. Events like the Vitruvian Salsa Festival and the Dallas Salsa Congress are must-dos in the city.

Beyond salsa dancing, Gloria's in Addison features timba, bachata and pop.
Beyond salsa dancing, Gloria's in Addison features timba, bachata and pop.(Nathan Hunsinger / Staff Photographer)
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Socials

For the no-frills, expert salseros, the dance social scene may be the best option. Socials are meetups for salsa and bachata dancers, often at a studio or venue. The events are dedicated to perfecting the steps, and there's usually no alcohol.

Luis Delgadillo, the founder of Salsa Dallas, a community group for those looking for salsa events in D-FW, said socials are best for dancers who are really working on their skills.

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"Hardcore salseros like me? I'm not looking for a girl; I'm looking for a good dancer," he said. The best way to find an upcoming social is to surf Salsa Dallas.

Delgadillo said the Latino dance scene in Dallas has transcended borders and is spreading across the city and its suburbs, hugely helped by a young generation of people eager to learn.

“Salsa is not just for Latinos anymore," he says. "Salsa is for everyone.”