The Seven Best Dance Floors in Brisbane

If you're acknowledging the right sources, you'll know dance was invented in 1984 in a small midwestern town in Illinois by one Kevin Bacon — it's textbook history. Since then, dancing has become one of our most basic of human needs, so you shouldn't ever need an excuse to put on your red shoes and dance the blues. But sometimes you need a little push, and often the only reason you really need to get down is that Brisbane has some A-grade dance floors — with top-notch DJs and beat-heavy music to match.

It's well and good to go out for a nice quiet drink, but sometimes you've just got to get gussied up, lose the shame tingles and pretend you're auditioning for Step Up 7. To get your second left foot right, we’ve listed a few of Brisbane's best spots where you can raise your glass, flip your hair back and break out The Elaine the way Larry David intended: with not a care in the world.

Black Bear Lodge

This Fortitude Valley dance stop is the kingpin of entertainment that rarely receives the credit it's due. From intimate live gigs to DJs that will happily play Fleetwood Mac's Tusk in its entirety, you can't really get away with sitting still at this cosy (often rather crazy) upstairs joint.  Occasionally, the venue plays host to those uppity gigs where everyone is a little 'too cool to function' — prompting little more than a gentle sway — but when the beats are high-flying, with lights so dim you can get away with anything, even those with most cuffed of jeans can find themselves lost to the rhythm of the night.

Level 1, 322 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley

Lefty's Old Time Music Hall

Lefty’s provides the most hospitable, all-encompassing dance floor in Brisbane, hands down. One moment you might be jigging with a suit, the next throwing down organised moves with your life-of-the-party sister. Lefty's age range starts at 18-year-old newbies giving their brand new IDs a workout, and catapults up to 60-year-old legends who remember when Cash was the real deal and Brooks wasn't ironic. Drinks aren't cheap but they’re high quality, as is the atmosphere, live music and overall moves — so break some.

15 Caxton Street, Brisbane

Ric's

Ric's Bar is home to the ultimate Neapolitan dance scene. You want a spot of trashy Potbelleez and electro-buzz, trek upstairs. You want The Smiths, Stones (Rolling or Roses) and a bit of Beck, stick downstairs. You want live music, come early. You want a dance floor filled with the dazed and confused, stick around till late. Testament to Ric’s dance floor is its tolerance — knock someone, they’ll probably smile at you and apologise. Head along on Thursday for $4 drinks and the kickass realisation that you do actually swing your like Shakira (according to the Ric's wall mirrors and that fifth rum and coke).

321 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley

No Lights, No Lycra

Are you so self conscious about your dancing you confine it to bedrooms, bathrooms and empty supermarket aisles? Then fear no more, No Lights, No Lycra is a worldwide phenomenon occurring locally at the Colossus Reception Lounge. The deal is simple (and the clue's in the title) — there’s no lights, no lycra, no dance steps to learn and no teacher; it’s all free movement. NLNL is a completely daggy, ego-free way of shaking out your stresses of the week and practising those killer moves you've been hiding for so many years. Check out the website for the next event.

71 Jane Street, West End

Cloudland

Cloudland has long been one of Brisbane's most ooh-la-la establishments, with at least one friend in every circle holding a tale of being turned away by security for not wearing a suit. But lapels and ego should be swapped for rhythm and tap shoes on Thursday nights, because you can catch live music from 7pm and take free salsa lessons between 7 – 9pm. But that's not all, every Wednesday night from 8pm you can twirl into free swing dance lessons by Empire Swing and live '30s-inspired music by Seventh Avenue Swing Band from 9pm till late.

641 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley

Rumpus Room

If you're reluctant to head to the city, Valley or anywhere on that side of the river, then Rumpus Room is your go-to. This back-to-basics venue holds all the wilderness of the Valley, right in the middle of West End amongst all your favourite restaurants. With drinks at West End prices, Rumpus Room is perfectly situated so you can have a pre- or post-dinner dance — it’s the type of floor that’s never not inundated after 9pm. Bless the West.

56 Russell Street, West End

The Bank

This isn't a joke. Give credit where credit is due. The Bank (now known as Brunswick & Ann) has long been catering to Brisbane's rap-demigods and Ginuwine-worshippers (who doesn't like a healthy fist-pump?). What's more, the drinks here are ridiculous — this might be the only dance floor left in Brisbane entirely fuelled by jelly shots, vodka slushies and lychee Cruisers. Obviously, don't come to The Bank with your nan or conservative buds — and don't come here sober for that matter. This is just one of those little gems that's long been making people cringe, when they should be jumping in and getting well crunk.

336 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley