Rhythm 2000 brought an electrifying mix of music and dance styles, creating an unforgettable night for all. From Salsa to Swing, the energy on the dance floor was nonstop!
Where: 69 Briar Road, Felixstow
When: One Saturday per month
Type of dances: All Ballroom, Latin, Swing, and street Latin
Dress code: Neat Casual
Music style: Old school classics and easy listening with a sprinkling of modern tracks throughout
Drinks: Available at the bar
Entrance: $25 at door, free parking available
Established back in 1998 by Maria and Joe Langone, Rhythm is by far one of the longest running dance nights in South Australia.
I felt at the time that the dance world was so segregated that we needed to try and bring people that are learning together, Says Maria.
Well the couple have certainly succeeded in that with Rhythm supporting thousands of students on their dancing journey over the last 18 years. This dance night has long provided a place for students from many different dance studios to come together and use multiple styles of partner dance whilst mixing with others that are learning to dance at studios other than their own.
I had never been to the Fogular Furlarn Center before attending my first Rhythm nearly 10 years ago. The center is tucked away in the residential streets of Felixstow but what this venue lacks in street frontage and centrality it makes up for in sheer size.
It is one of the only floors in Adelaide that is big enough to accommodate dances such as Viennese Waltz and quickstep comfortably.
The wooden floor on level 1 that is home to Rhythm dance is vast and can easily accommodate the large numbers that attend this event every 6-8 weeks with room to spare! This is great news for ballroom fans!
The dance floor is surrounded by large round tables, each seating 10-12 people comfortably. You’ll often find as many people sitting around chatting and laughing as there are dancing. Although dance studios like QuickSteps reserve tables, it’s common to see boundaries between them blurred.
Schools can be seen mixing and mingling and dancing together which was always one of Maria’s visions.
“Students needed to enjoy what they were learning together and see that there are others out there doing this too.”
Rhythm offers an incredible variety of music, giving dancers the chance to enjoy multiple styles in one night. Adelaide hosts plenty of dedicated Salsa, Bachata, and Swing nights, but Rhythm brings them all together in a unique way. Dancers embrace the opportunity to switch between styles and keep the energy high. This diverse mix creates an exciting and unforgettable dance experience. Rumba, bachata, swing, salsa, waltz, tango, quickstep, cha cha, Viennese Waltz, Argentine Tango, merengue, mambo it’s all there!
Tickets cost only $20 at the door, making it an affordable event. As a result, this reasonable price likely draws a large crowd. Moreover, many attendees appreciate the great value of an exciting night of dance and music. Additionally, there is a cash bar available, serving basic beers, wines, soft drinks, and spirits. Where else in Adelaide can you find constant entertainment, fitness, and socializing for over 5 hours at such a low cost?
For students learning only one style, they may spend much of the night sitting down. However, those learning multiple ballroom and Latin styles enjoy great value and variety in their dance nights. The hours of practice noticeably improve their dancing skills, revealing the growing dance community in our state.
Mish
Upcoming Dates for 2024
25th May
6th July
17th August
21st September
19th October
23rd November
