Let me start by saying, I did not realize just how much people loved to dance porro here in Medellin. Let us not confuse porro with perreo...though they're a fan of the latter here as well. Porro is a subgenera of the Colombian rhythm called cumbia. It can be thought of almost like a syncopated salsa with elements of bolero and folkloric dances. If you're looking to social dance salsa, bachata, porro, zouk, and kick it with reggaeton every once in a while, mark your calendar, catch a flight, and get your ass to Medellin. Here's a sampler of what you can expect in a few socials around town.
On to the star of the show: Dance
Zouk is taking Medellin by storm. I had the opportunity to catch their second all-Zouk social on Thursday at Liffe Dance Studio (pictured below).
Every Thursday at Liffe Dance Studio in El Poblado
A well-ventilated space with a sick ambiance, DJ Liffe makes you get in your groove with zouk songs that just hit you in your core. Whether you're on the floor or peering out the window at the bustle of EL Poblado below, make sure you visit if you want a yummy zouk experience.
The cover is 10.000 pesos (approximately, $2.50 USD) and it runs from 9:00 PM to a little past 12:00 AM.
If you're new to the zouk liffe (*wink* *wink*), they also offer classes throughout the week!
July 2022 Update:
Zouk socials are taking a break for now, but head on over to @liffedancestudios on instagram to give them some love.
Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at Social Club Academia
Located in an off-the-wall-type place, Social Club Academia hosts classes before each of their Rumba crossover nights (think zouk, kizomba, salsa, porro, and bachata). Don't be too alarmed if you find yourself under a roundabout in the wee hours of the night looking for a bright sign that tells you you've found the light. Social Club Academia is situated within the Glorieta La Aguacatala (aka Rotonda Interna Aguacatala), and getting to it is an experience in itself. Once you're there though, it's worth it. They have the "All day. All night" vibe going on (insert TikTok audio) with classes every day of the week as well. If you're looking for group or individual classes of salsa and bachata, check out their website!
Rumba Crossover nights are filled with sporadic group dances, salsa, bachata, porro, perreo, and more.
Hosted every couple of months on Saturdays at A Puro Tango Academy
I was able to catch Andres Dance's Gran Fiesta Tropical, and what a night! Pricey compared to other socials in Medellin, but a drink or snack of choice was included, and there were two ballrooms with ample space. Because this was an academy social, it was mostly arranged in tables with instructors from around the area and their students. They played a lot of porro, so I highly recommend it for you tropical music lovers. Andres hosts this fiesta for his students every trimester after dance classes are finalized. If you're coming to Medellin to learn how to dance, this is the culmination of everything you've learned. It's a great way to dance with other students and learn a thing or two from instructors. I personally had a blast watching their guest performance that featured a sexy mashup of the greatest hits of the decades. The group then held what felt like the most intense Zumba class that I don't recall attending previously for the next 20 minutes. There was a whole lot of reggaeton and footwork. It was a great way to disconnect, and dance without a care in the world. Here's a clip of their performance:
Every Wednesday at BarBarán Restaurant in Laureles
Next on my list is actually just that. Majao Bachata socials are every Wednesday, and I unfortunately missed it this time. I wanted to include it here though because every person I talked to about must-visit bachata socials in the area suggested this place. Maybe we'll explore it together next time! Expect a bachata-charged night full of one-on-one connections and steamy moments (if you're into that). There seems to be plenty of everything, so you're all but sure to find something that fits what you're looking for. If you beat me to this one, shoot me a message on your experience! The cover is 10.000 pesos (approximately $2.50 USD) and includes 2 classes (an advanced and an intermediate class before the start of the social).
Let me know your thoughts on any of these socials! If you have suggestions on where to hit next, I'm all ears!
Medellin might be one of those cities that has me coming back. There's so much to explore, and you can't really go wrong in the dance scene. If you don't know what to look for, start with these 4 socials/academies and take note of what and who you like, and connect with them! Social dancing is all about making connections with people you may not otherwise meet. That's the beauty of it. We are all from different worlds and all come together for a common love: dance! Who knows? You might find someone special ;)
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