Dance Cave

I actually came here for a concert that was over by 10 or so, and not for their regular weekend dj based dance parties.
One thing that’s neat, is that they have draught beer on tap. Sure, it’s not great beer brands but given that once you go downstairs to Lee’s Palace they don’t have draught beer, it’s a perk. The drinks were also reasonably priced so it has that going for it.
The room is large and cavernous, but the ventilation seems pretty strong as I could actually feel the AC and fans doing their work in a well under populated turnout of the event in question I attended. Sound was good, but again its hard to gauge how good it would be with a full house. The pitched ceilings seem like it would work in it’s favour though.
That said, much like Lee’s Palace below it, I don’t think much money has been put into the upkeep of the place. Although there are booths lining the wall opposite of the bar, most of the seats felt like they could be removed with an improper balancing of weight on the benches. Rickety feeling and potentially a hazard, but hey, that’s just the rock and roll style right?
I can’t speak to the vibe of the place… As it was pretty dead when I was here. I imagine thats why people come here is that its a good time… I’ll just shrug my shoulders, throw a 3 star review in the mix and keep moving on elsewhere.

Very fun dance spot. I like how you can request songs, very open and friendly environment. It’s pretty small but they do have seating on the side and it’s booth style which is nice. Very studenty/​young 20 somethings crowd I’d say. Music was a fun selection to dance to and drinks were a good deal for a club. Definitely a good go to spot now that the brunny closed

«Just Bangers» — Sandra

Fuck yes! Danced our faces off to a great mix of jams. Young crowd but the songs and vibe were mature and fun.

I love Dance Cave. I’ve had a great time every single time I’ve been there and I think all my friends would agree. But it’s true what the other commenters are saying, the bouncers are complete pricks. They’ve been assholes every single time I’ve been there (for example, giving me shit for being «too drunk» when I had 2 drinks). Once you get past them though, it’s really fun. Good music, cheap drinks, you can’t really go wrong.

I had high expectations before going there… sadly, anything didn’t go well, except for the few minutes I spent there listening to what it seemed to be a good selection of music. I cannot assure it is always that way and I will never be able to, since I am not going back there, ever! The main reason; the bouncers, they were absolutely rude and disrespectful with my mates and I, specially with one of the girls that came with us. They were two black blokes, one bold and the other one with long hair. They shouted at us to move far from the entrance, whilst it was raining. Then they tried to push my friend and they wouldn’t let her speak by shouting while putting their hands on her face.
I was absolutely shocked. First of all, because I’ve never seen anything like that happened here in Toronto, and the fact that they treated my friend as if she was a bloody wild animal. For that reason when we got in, we decided to leave 10 mins after, we would not spend our money in a place where the customer service is that rubbish!
I would not recommend this place to anyone, unless the manager and/​or the owner make some drastic changes to its staff, and the hiring process as well.

This place has such potential and yet…
There was absolutely nothing Brit about their Friday Brit Night. Towards the height of the night they started playing awful hip-​hop like Lil Jon. Aw skeet skeet skeet? Really?!

What happened?
Oh, right… I got old.
When I was 23 and had first moved to Toronto, my friend Jess and I spent almost every Thursday here drinking $ 8 pitchers of Waterloo Dark. We were the Dance Cave Queens accompanied by Michael Jackson guy, Pajama dude (who confessed to me one night that his real name is ‘Enzo’) and many other late night Toronto Freaks and Geeks.
The music was always amazing, the bouncers were complete twats and the drinks were über cheap. They even used to have those awesome circular booths that fit about 8 ppl. This was before douchey bottle service. Because you WANTED to get up and walk to the bar. How else were you supposed to hook up with a hot guy or get him to buy you drinks? And with drinks this price, you only had to come with $ 5 cover in your pocket to have fun.
Now, my Dance Cave Queen Days are done. At almost 40, I love to dance all night and drink my face off. But I’m likely to step on these little ones who are more sparkly than MJ dude’s glove. Like, I mean… ALL OVER! Sequined dresses and high heels. My sexiest outfit was a Supergirl Tee (which the dudes loved) and jeans with my cons.
The last time I went here was when I turned 35 and we had a blast, but I would probably be laughed and nicknamed ‘Nice Try, Grandma.’. So I’ll leave this place for the young ‘uns.
Have fun and party on, kids, because this place really is a legend!

This is one of my top 5 spot in the city for an amazing, cheap and fun night of dancing, mingling and maybe making out with some bearded weirdo.
Upstairs from Lee’s Palace. I love Lee’s and I find that I lot of people don’t know there’s a dance place upstairs. The floor upstairs is huge, the crowd is hipster/​university kids/​people with no money/​people who are already drunk (i feel like i should have hashtagged all of that…). Everyone is friendly unless you wear a dress and heels apparently. I came here once after a work Christmas party in fancy stilettos and a dress and was almost booed out. LEAVE ME ALONE! I’M SORRY THAT I SHOWERED THIS MORNING!!!
Beers are $ 5 on tap. Don’t know about the rest, but judge from the beer price — the place is cheap.
Cover is usually $ 5 unless you have a student card, then it’s free. Make sure it’s valid (duh?).
The bouncers are hit and miss. One of them is always super nice, the other one is a huge f-​ing dbag and i want to throw him down the stairs.
Music is usually a mix of pop/​top 40/​oldies/​indie.
Highly recommend this if you’re into dives and wearing your PJs at a club.

This is probably a really fun time out – if you are in college or younger.
I think my first time was my very first Saturday in Toronto back in 2007. I had no idea where to go, didn’t really know anyone yet and just saw the ad in NOW. The 2^nd was some years after that. I left really early once I realized that people kind of go here just to go here. It isn’t so much about the music or DJ. (And everyone was probably about 20 years younger).
No idea if there is a «scene» or not. Some of these clubs attract the same people week in and week out so you kind of get to join a community of sorts. I suspect that doesn’t happen here – it is a just the place you go when you want to dance around, get drunk and maybe hook up with somebody. You likely won’t meet another music geek who can rattle off Blur Japanese import catalougue numbers or engage in a discussion as to whether Ride is more shoegazer or more britpop.
The 2^nd night that I went was supposed to be all about britpop but had all kinds of other stuff being added in. In fact, I don’t recall hearing any of the classic Brit bands.
Recommended – if you are under 25 and just looking for a fun time without concern about the music.

LOVED THIS PLACE.
LOVED. IT.
I read the reviews, and I was a bit skeptical because I rarely ever go to straight people clubs anymore.
But I went here because Anastasiya recommended it.
WHAT A NIGHT.
This place is upstairs from Lees Palace, which is a big thing apparently (never heard of it before, but Im not a hipster, so)
The music was great, a lot of early 2000 and late 90’s flash backs, which was awesome! The music of my prime :)
The drinks were sooooooooooo cheap from what I remember!
THe people were fun and friendly, and I got to see a few characters as mentioned below (the pajama man!)
Only thing though, everyone looked like they were 19 or younger, so .
I’m just old.

Divey but fun. Cheap drinks but make sure nothing touches the floor.

Oh Dance Cave, the quintessential establishment of my 20s. Dance cave is where I met the love of my life (when I was 20 and we’re still together!), it’s where I wasted away too many nights with the best of company, it’s where I’ve made many friends and perhaps made one too many mistakes. Dance Cave is like high school, but the high school that movies are made of. After a while, you start to know everybody. And simply going to dance cave becomes a regular part of your existence. Dance Cave and people from Dance Cave are now intricately woven into the narrative that is my life.
Thus it goes without saying that Dance Cave was my life for years, but it trickled out as I got a little older. It’s full of a lot of college and university kids, which was awesome when I was in university, but now that I’m 27 Dance Cave doesn’t always leave me with those happy fuzzy feelings like it used to. That said, i’ve started going back there on ocassion again recently and I’ve been having an awesome time. I may not like some of the music as much as I used to, but that is because Dance Cave is quick to remind me this aint 2007 anymore, honey. Lots of youngins running around, doing their white girl dances, texting their friends from the dance floor, spilling their vodka crans on your shirt… Dance Cave is what it is and everyone has an opinion on it.
If this was five years ago I would have given DC 5/​5, but since I am older and wiser and know that there is more to life than getting wasted into oblivion to a soundtrack of 80s, alt rock and maybe a bit too much groovy stuff every weekend, ⁴⁄₅ it is… but only because nostalgia is a drink served strong.

The security here are very rude and unprofessional. Won’t ever go back because of that. Been twice and each time they were not doing there job properly. Besides the bad staff, the music is pretty good. It doesn’t get that busy from what I saw from the first time I was there.
Wish I could go back, but will have to go elsewhere since I don’t like the way I was treated at the front door.

Loved what Elaine just had said about the Dance Cave, as I can only say the same: «Oh Dance Cave». I gave my first visit there on Monday, as this is when they are playing 80’s mixed with some alternative. And it is FREE on Monday’s and Tursday’s.
Monday is perfect if you want the dance floor just to yourself and your friends, as just a handful of people are in, leaving lots of room for dancing, lots of booths in the washroom. There are several air cannons blowing air everywhere, so it is not getting stuffy.
Crowd was definitely 30+ with a group of twentysomething’s who seemed to have lots of fun. Music is not very loud, so you can sing along and talk to your friends. DJ Shannon was nice enough to give us a list of songs which she would play for us. Cool. We totally got it on and cleaned the dance floor and some of the stage, yeah, there is a stage also and lots of places to sit.
It is not a classy place, be aware, looks like a youth center and you know how they look, but what matters the most good music to make you dance, room to dance and clean washrooms. No full drink containers allowed… of course :)
Dance the night away at the Cave!!!

Oh Dance Cave. You are my dance home away from home.
I love coming here on Saturday nights because they play a great mix of 80s — contemporary alternative, dance, indie and rock hits. The crowd is fun and unpretentious, the atmosphere is casual and it’s not very expensive. You can usually find a seat at one of the banquets on the side, particularly if you’re okay with sharing the banquet with other people.
Crowd is generally people in their early 20s and the dance floor is crunchy and sticky with broken glass. There is a pretty low percentage of creeps at this place, compared to others. It’s a great casual place to drink and dance the night away.

Probably my favourite bar in the world. I’ve only been on a Friday because I heard that’s the best night. Too scared to go another night in fear that my favourite five star bar won’t be as good as I think it is. Music on a Friday is fantastic. An eclectic mix — from Eminem to Elvis to Wheatus to Ice Cube– the music is so much fun! I have found that they play a lot of similar tracks in the same order every Friday night but other than that it’s great. Usually the crowd is just a lot of fun and really friendly. You can dance as crazy as you want and no one stares. Drinks are cheap and free admittance for students with ID. One bouncer at the door can be a bit grouchy so just be nice. Seriously will be a lifer here.

First of all… could the name be any better? I don’t think so.
It’s just so simple, reminding me of the film, «Snakes on a Plane». Come here, the line is always shorter than that of Brunswick House and this is for no good reason when Dance Cave= #winner.
The dance space is not too cave-​like, but it is big. They need another bar, beer tub or something to help with the flow of traffic. The faster the people get their drinks, the more they can dance! The bartender was SO good though, knew the price of everything and did excellent math in her head. The DJ is very easily accessible, even in his booth. I was shocked and appalled when he refused to play my request!
Me: Hi! Can you play «Whip My Hair» by Willow Smith?
Him: No.
Me: Not even ironically?
Him: Never.
Ouch. I did like the music, and was still able to thoroughly enjoy and dance. I would have loved if the DJ took my request, if I remembered to bring out my Student ID that night and if the bathrooms weren’t so gross. Regardless, I still always have a sweet time here.

Why the hate? Show up already/​on your way to «unacceptably drunk», order a few more stiff drinks (the Amaretto Sours here are actually good) at the bar and spill half of them as you trundle your way to the packed dance floor. Then proceed to slosh drinks with college kids who don’t actually know any of the words to Blur’s «Song 2» because they were too busy learning that picking your nose (in public) is unacceptable and tackling cursive when the song first came out in 1997.
Nothing to do here except dance the night away. And yeah, the dude in PJs. What more is there to say about him, really, except WTF? He’s a Toronto fixture just like Zanta and the bible-​thumping, goitered dude at Yonge/​Dundas.

I feel like I shouldn’t like this place, but oddly enough I do.
The upper floor of lees palace, it’s sort of a cleaner version of the lower floor wth various kink and retro nights.
Interesting place that has ultra awesome bar staff who are always good for conversation and plenty of dance space– even though its the same bar as lee’s, you somehow get a cleaner nicer vibe up here.