Thattima “Aoy” Sukjai opened La Rueda as a spot for social salsa dancing. It’s held at a small but cozy bar-cum-dance-studio in Sukhumvit Soi 18 on Thursday and Saturday nights and you'll find a dedicated group of dancers showing off their best moves. Social salsa nights also happen at Spanish on 4.

 

Despite being around for almost 14 years, the local scene is still small and, quite frankly, not good enough. There are 400-500 people at the annual salsa fest here compared to thousands in countries with proper dance scenes. Most of these are foreigners, too, who tend to come and go depending on if they’re visiting Bangkok or their work takes them someplace else.

 

Beginners often say, “I can’t dance.” I tell them, “You just have to want to dance.” We’re all shy at first. So just come open-minded, step up a little and be bold about it. The first few classes might be an awkward experience, but trust me you’re in for a treat if you keep at it. Before you know it, you might be a salsa addict.

 

You’d be surprised by how salsa people can become close friends in no time. We connect through a shared love. You can meet once, stay in touch and the next time you visit their country, they’ll take you out dancing. It’s a big, big global network.

 

 

 

“Be open-minded. Most people our age started out with pop stuff like Westlife or Backstreet Boys. It’s about learning what’s meaningful to you. We try to throw events often and promote authenticity. Sometimes we have to draw the line between trance and what’s not trance, to keep it pure.” 

 

Swing dance in Bangkok has come a long way since Oat Naviroj returned from the US several years ago to continue his love of lindy hop, a swing jazz dance style that originated back in 20s Harlem, New York. Back then, swing dance devotees were a nomadic bunch and Oat just didn’t feel at home. So he decided to renovate the third floor of a shophouse into a retro-style studio, The Hop. This venue in Lower Silom is now the center for Bangkok’s swing dance scene, but you’ll also see them hopping into Zaks on a Tuesday night and occasionally crashing at Pintsman and various pop-up swing nights. We talk to Oat and Thanan Pongwichit, Unilever's Senior Chef and swing dance beginner, about the scene and why people are drawn to it.  

 

Oat: It’s a blend of passion, hobby, exercise, and socializing that is healthy for the spirit. And once you start you just can’t get bored of it. On a week when there’s no Tuesday night event, everyone moans. They all work for free: the teachers, the bartender and the DJs. Every time we have 7-10 different nationalities! There are swing dancers all over the world, and they are all connected. The first thing I do before booking a place to stay abroad is check where the swing dance club is. 

 

Oat: It’s been going for two and a half years now. It’s something I want the public to know more about and get to experience. You can see everyone smiling.

 

Parn: I was introduced by my friend. I had to search Youtube to get what it’s all about. It’s a friendly and cute group of people, something rare in this city. I started as a rather weak lead, yet the female dancers were so supportive to teach me.

 

Parn: Experience isn’t necessary. At first you might think it’s difficult. But you will find joy in the challenge of learning new moves.

 

Parn: They’re not comparable, but still I would pick The Hop over any nightclub any night. At a nightclub everything is booze-driven; swing dance is all about passion.