D.C. Hand Dance Club

The DC Hand Dance Club was formed in 1994 to teach and preserve a unique style of dance that originated in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area in the mid-1950's. This smooth style of swing evolved from Jitterbug and was known in its early years as "fast dance." D.C. Hand Dance is noted for its complex hand turns done in circular and slotted patterns to the beat of slow to moderate tempo music.

DJs play a variety of period and contemporary music for hand dance, shag, swing, hustle, bop, nightclub 2-step, and more. Join us at our - Weekly, Monthly and Special Dances.

Weekly & monthly Dance Venues

Monthly Saturday night venue

Tuesday night dance venue

7935 Elizabeth Road,

Pasadena, MD 21122

DJ 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Hand dance lessons: 6 - 7 pm

Dance Instructors: Sondra Riley/Darryl Ingram

No cover

Click here for DJ schedule and details

Monthly Saturday night venue

Wednesday night dance venue

3 Airpark Dr., Edgewater, MD 21037 (Village at Lee Airpark)

DJ 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Hand dance lesson: 6:30 -7 pm

Dance Instructors: Merv Roussell/Louise Pyles

$5 entry

Door prize

Click here for DJ schedule and details

Monthly Saturday night venue

Bowie Elks Lodge #2309

1506 Defense Hwy

Gambrills, MD 21057

DJ 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Dance lessons: 6 - 7 pm

Click here for dj schedule and details

savings with Membership, join now

DC Hand Dance Club membership provides savings on entry fee at the monthly dances

and at our special events. We are a non-profit, so we try to minimize expenses to members. Your membership dues support our ability to sustain programs and preserve the DC style of Hand Dance.

The “Members Only” section of the website allows access to financials, meeting minutes, Sunshine announcements, the birthday list, and Bylaws.

Click on the link below to download and print the membership form.

Mail your check and form to the address on the form.

Membership Registration Form 2025 (pdf)Download

Register for our New Year's Eve Gala (Click here)

Register for our New Year's Eve Gala (Click here)

Register for our New Year's Eve Gala (Click here)

Register for our New Year's Eve Gala (Click here)

Register for our New Year's Eve Gala (Click here)

Register for our New Year's Eve Gala (Click here)

D.C. Hand Dance Club

Weekly & monthly Dance Venues

Monthly Saturday night venue

Monthly Saturday night venue

Monthly Saturday night venue

Monthly Saturday night venue

Monthly Saturday night venue

Classic dc Hand Dance events

Classic hand dancers demo

Weekly dance at Glory Days Grill, Edgewater

Original hand dance instructor Louise Pyles shares some history!

savings with Membership, join now