Down 2 Dance

August 23, 2026 at 3pm - 6:30pm

Sweets Historic Ballroom, 1933 Broadway, Oakland, CA

✨Dear Dancers, August 23rd will bring Auditory Ambrosia, a divine drip of orgasmic bliss for your ears to resonate throughout your soul. Early Bird $18 & LGBQT Tickets $15 While supplies last or 8/18 Chill Bird $23, Weekend Bird $30 $35 ticket or cash at the door Musical Magic by Deep Squish & DJ Bae Bay **** Dive into the deliciousness of dance and the wonder that is the world of musical magic. Each culture has its unique flavor, and we will journey through Africa, America, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, France, Greece, India, Jamaica, Mexico. The discs will jockey through through the continents and may play: Afrobeats, Bachata, Cumbia, Electronica, Funk, Hip Hop (American, French, Russian, etc.), Kizomba, Reggae, Soul, Tango, Zouk and let's see where it leads us. Live violin and saxophone will accompany the DJ’s for the second set . This is Fusion. Yes, this is Fusion. Eclectic. Fresh. Diverse. Articulate Articulations by Bliss Let your spine dance, discover the pleasure of unlocking snake like movements that add some sweet slithering bliss that articulates the magic that branches out from spine. Your movements like the pathways of the nervous system direct channels of fluidity into the partner dance. Bliss is a lifelong dancer and her teachings stem from 25+ years of anatomical knowledge as a massage therapists as well as her deep studies of bellydance which came in deep undulating usefulness in her studies of Zouk. Tea Service, Massage Therapy and Sweet Vibes Deep Squish blends improvisational jazz and dub styles with fusion partner dance music. Imagine your favorite dance songs expanded into new sonic landscapes, with live musicians and magical dubbing. Deep Squish creates a journey through juicy hip hop, playful wubs, and a rich palate of tasty beats. DJ’s Starfox (she/they) and Sorrel (they/them) Oakland Bringing deep delicious jams for musicians to weave with improvisational dialogue. As DJ artists, we enjoy a feeling in the live music like the connection and communication of partner dance. Deep and Squishy. This jam features musicians Amy Loftus (Violin) and Tyler Gary (Sax/Clarinet) of The Forgetmenauts. Follow Us: www.instagram.com/deepsquish/ https://www.instagram.com/the.forgetmenauts.band/ Listen: https://www.mixcloud.com/DeepSquish/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/0GFHXlrYzlAHkU2OKypmap DJ Bae Bay aka Bliss She/Her Bliss will be bringing beats from the bay and beyond, she is a vibrant creative force with a passion for rhythm and an ear for eclectic sounds. She witch-crafts musical journeys, blending slow and sensual grooves with upbeat, bass-driven beats. She is a lifelong dancer and the creative force behind Down 2 Dance. With over 20 years of experience as a fusion dancer, she brings a rich tapestry of partner dance and solo dances to her movement art. From soul-driven, jazzy, funk fabulous, infectious hip hop, bassy sexy and sassy vibes to global sounds, each set allows a diversity of styles to explore on the dance floor and. Melt into the magic and get ready for a journey! Based in the heart of Oakland, DJ Bae Bay is all about bliss, booty shaking, connection and celebrating life, bringing together dancers of all backgrounds. Get ready to experience the soundtrack for shaking what your mama gave you, where every beat invites you to express yourself, connect your partner and the dance floor. Let’s GO! She will be guiding a dance class for flowing movements through our hips hearts and heads. Articulate articulations through the spine will as they say in a yogic proverb, stay as young as our spine is flexible. Dance on dance fam, dance on. Sweets Historic Ballroom is a historic music and dance venue in downtown Oakland, California, known for its grand Art Deco-era charm and lively past. This spacious ballroom dates back to the Roaring Twenties, when it first opened as a dance hall and quickly became one of the Bay Area’s premier entertainment spots . With a capacity of roughly 900 people standing, it offers an intimate yet energetic atmosphere for concerts, dances, and community events. The building itself is a 12,000-square-foot Baroque Revival-style hall, featuring high ceilings, ornate details, and a large hardwood dance floor that has seen generations of revelers . Sweets Ballroom’s rich history and vintage elegance make it not just a venue, but a local landmark that continues to thrive nearly a century after its debut. Opened by entrepreneur William “Bill” Sweet in the early 1920s as a dance school, Sweets Ballroom became enormously popular in the 1930's and 1940's and was called “The East Bay Home of the Big Bands,” and was the venue of choice for thousands who enjoyed dancing to swing music and Latin jazz. Seven nights a week up to 900 dancers would pay 35 cents to see legendary perfomers such as Ella Fitsgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Tito Puente and Willie Bobo, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, and many more. Frank Sinatra made his Bay Area debut on the Sweets stage in 1941! Historic Sweet’s Ballroom was also a very important gathering place for Oakland’s Mexican and Latino community. Starting in the 1930s, local Mexican promoter Guadalupe Carlos began organizing Sunday night Mexican and Latino dances known as “Tardeadas.” The house band was Orquesta Merced Gallegos . Latinos in Zoot Suits would dance to the latest Latin musical styles, like Mambo, Cha-Cha, and Mariachi music. Great Latin performers like Perez Prado, Pedro Infante, Lalo Guerrero, Xavier Cugat, and many others played up a Latin storm at Historic Sweet’s Ballroom. Over the decades, the venue went through various names and management, it was known as McFadden’s, Linn’s, Tropicana and later Sands Ballroom in the mid-20th century, yet it remained a beloved gathering place for music and dancing. Today, Sweets Ballroom retains its unique character while serving modern audiences. After a period of dormancy in the late 20th century, the venue was restored and revitalized, and it’s now actively used for both public events and educational purposes. In 2014, the neighboring Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) adopted the historic ballroom as part of its campus, becoming the master tenant to utilize the space for student performances, arts showcases, and community events . This partnership helped ensure that Sweets Ballroom remains alive and accessible, integrating youthful energy into its old walls. The venue’s renaissance under OSA and local event promoters means that Sweets continues to be a “beacon of entertainment” in Oakland – a place where history, culture, and live performance come together for new generations . It is currently one of the motherships of Ecstatic Dance, which started on Big Island Hawaii and then came to Ballroom originally as a Sunday morning dance and then expanded to both Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. This has become a hub for dancers that are looking for a sober dance floor focused on the music and holds a "word-free dance floor, where a dance journey becomes possible. Few venues in the region can match the vintage ambiance or cultural legacy of Sweets Ballroom, which is why it holds a special place in the heart of Oakland’s arts and nightlife scene. Location: Sweets Historic Ballroom 1933 Broadway Oakland, CA