The Wende Museum’s Tea Dance series invites you to move, mingle, and unwind through the joyful rhythm of social dance. Hosted in the Glorya Kaufman Community Center, each session features different dance traditions, ranging from Argentine tango to vintage swing, led by local artists and dance instructors. No experience or partner required.

Tea dances originated in early 20th-century Britain and America as daytime socials, often held in hotels and ballrooms, offering live music, light refreshments, and a welcoming space for community connection. Revived in the queer communities of mid-century America, the tradition evolved into a vibrant celebration of expression and belonging.

In that spirit, our Sunday Tea Dances offer a space to unplug, connect, and move together. These afternoons are for everyone: curious beginners, practiced dancers, and people just looking to enjoy good music and warm company.

Come for the class, stay for the social, and rediscover the art of togetherness.

Free and open to all. Comfortable shoes are encouraged.

Schedule:

Sunday, July 20, 3-6 pm, Groove and Step

This is an all levels dance class that captures certain elements of traditional southern line dance and hip hop choreography simultaneously! The class will involve choreography however, there is still space for individual creativity and unique dance expression. Groove and Step cultivates energy, connection, and JOY! After an intial period to mix and mingle, an hour-long class will begin at 3:30, after which time, attendees will be invited to share their own line dances with the group during the open session until 6:00 pm!

About the instructor: Ronnie Martin is a professional dancer/choreographer from New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been a part of two major dance companies, So Real Dance Co. and Texas Southern Dance Co. and has been teaching all levels of hip hop choreography for the past 10 years. Once he relocated to LA he developed a love and passion for fitness which encouraged him to create his own fun and effective way to have the best of both worlds (Dance and Fitness). He has been teaching hip hop cardio classes for 7 years now and line dance classes for 5 years ! He believes that Dance fitness is great way to get active as well decompress. His goal is to constantly create spaces for the advancement of physical and mental health in a creative way!

Sunday, August 3, 3-6 pm, Sunday, July 13, 3-6 pm, LA Swing Dance Posse with Beach Cities Swing Band

LA Swing Dance Posse with Beach Cities Swing Band”LASDP is a non profit organization formed to honor contributions African Americans have made to vernacular jazz dance through performance and education. We teach the history of those styles, ranging from the 1800’s to the present. This gives us the opportunity to fill in knowledge gaps of Swing dance history, a history that has deep roots in Black culture. Our mission is to educate, preserve, promote, teach and perform the vernacular jazz dances such as Savoy Swing, Charleston, and Lindy Hop dance.

The Beach Cities Swing Band (BCSB), founded in 2000 by members of the El Segundo Concert Band, is a 17-piece big band with featured vocalists, performing classics made famous by Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, and Artie Shaw, as well as modern swing arrangements and fresh takes on beloved tunes. Now operating under the South Bay Music Association, the BCSB is dedicated to keeping the big band tradition alive and thriving. True to its name, the band has performed throughout the South Bay’s beach cities—including Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes Estates, Long Beach, Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, and its home base of El Segundo.

Sunday, August 17, 3-6 pm, Oxygen Tango

Discover the global language of tango in this one-hour beginner class led by Oxygen Tango, a beloved LA-based school known for its welcoming, connection-driven approach. You’ll learn the essentials of this improvised social dance and be ready to join the informal practica that follows—no partner needed. Just bring comfortable clothes, shoes you can walk backward in, and a spirit of curiosity.

Sunday, August 31, 3-6 pm, Groove and Step