Skip to main content
Dance Scene5 minutes

Dancing in Frankfurt am Main: Classes, Scene and New Connections

By Mary De LucaUpdated

In brief
  • In Frankfurt am Main, you’ll find dance activities to watch, take part in and practise regularly.
  • To get started, compare the course goals, prior experience required, class format and the option to attend a trial session.
  • Open dance events are a good fit if you want to dance with different people; a course offers regular practice.
  • The Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company combines stage performances with live-improvised choreographies and opportunities to join in.

The first decision isn't which dance style is best, but what you're looking for right now. In Frankfurt am Main, you can enjoy performances, try dancing yourself, or build a regular practice routine with a course.

DefinitionSocial Dance

Social dance refers to dance events where people dance with one another rather than putting on a performance. Dance partners may change, and prior experience is more or less important depending on the event.

Frankfurt connects the dance stage with opportunities to take part

If you’re looking for dance in Frankfurt am Main, you’ll find different options: stage productions, opportunities to take part, and classes for regular practice. They each have different aims. A performance shows how movement can be shaped, while a class teaches you steps or movement principles. At an open dance event, dancing together is the main focus.

The Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company is the successor to the Forsythe Company and continues to present works by William Forsythe. Under the direction of Ioannis Mandafounis, the choreography for each performance takes shape live through the dancers’ improvisation. The Bockenheimer Depot is the company’s Frankfurt home venue. Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm is also a venue for independent performing arts and dance, and a partner in dance productions.

If you’d like to take part, there’s Tanztag Rhein-Main, which takes place on October 31, 2026. Tanzfestival Rhein-Main is dedicated to contemporary dance and takes place every year in autumn. To find current classes and dates in Frankfurt am Main, you can use the class filter on this page.

When movements emerge live, watching becomes a close observation of impulses and reactions.
When movements emerge live, watching becomes a close observation of impulses and reactions.

The right starting point depends on your goal

If you want to learn to dance, first check the level and what you will actually practice in class. A beginner course should clearly state any prerequisites and explain whether the focus is on the basics, figures, or freer movement. If you already have experience, ask about a suitable group rather than choosing based on the style name alone.

Also check how committed you need to be. Some formats run as ongoing classes, while others are one-off sessions or open drop-in events. For your schedule, it’s important to know whether you can attend regularly and whether a trial class is available. For a course with partner exercises, check in advance whether you can come on your own and whether partners rotate.

If you’re choosing a course for someone else, flexible attendance options can be helpful. The information about the flexible dance voucher explains what to consider when choosing a style and school freely. A trial class as a first step could also be worth considering to get a first impression.

Which starting point is right for what you have in mind?

That's how

  • For the basics, choose a course that matches your skill level
  • Before signing up, ask about trial classes and partner rotation
  • At a dance event, check the schedule and level first

Don't do this

  • Book a course based only on the style name
  • Assume partner rotation is standard everywhere
  • Just show up without checking the schedule and level

A good first class leaves enough room to ask questions and try out the basic step at your own pace.

Dance instructor for partner dancing

Dance connections grow from clear expectations

At an open dance event, you meet people with different levels of experience and expectations. Some want to enjoy lots of dances with different partners, while others come with a regular partner. A friendly, brief conversation before the first dance helps you gauge each other's pace and experience. Saying no to a dance is just as normal as asking someone to dance.

If you're specifically looking for a dance partner, be clear about what you have in mind: starting a course together, practicing regularly, or going to an event now and then. Include your preferred dance style and experience level. On udansa, you can search for dance partners and check in advance whether your goals and availability align.

Even without a regular partner, you can start with a trial lesson or a drop-in class. Ask when signing up how groups are assigned and whether individuals are welcome. This helps you avoid the common assumption that you already need to come as a pair for every partner-dance class. For contemporary dance classes, improvisation can also offer a different way to work together without requiring a regular partner.

Watching and dancing yourself lead to different kinds of encounters

Stage

Observe movement closely

A good place to start if you want to experience it first.

At a performance, you can follow how dancers use space, tempo and spontaneous impulses. In Frankfurt am Main, the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company presents works whose choreography emerges live through improvisation at every performance.

Join in

Explore movement together

A great way to get started if you want to get active yourself.

A course or hands-on activity gives you the opportunity to try out moves and ask questions. When choosing, clear information about the level, format, and whether you may switch partners can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. A dance class teaches steps and fundamentals, while social dancing is all about dancing together. In class, you usually practise with instruction and a group; at an open dance event, you dance with different partners depending on the format.

Dance classes in Frankfurt am Main

Compare current classes and dates in Frankfurt am Main and choose the starting point that suits your goal.

Your next dance connection starts with one step

On udansa, you can find dance partners and classes in Frankfurt am Main that match your level and what you’d like to try. Compare the options and meet up to get started.

Your next dance connection starts with one step