Friday Night Waltz has mostly waltzes in the dances and classes, along with polka, tango, swing, and salsa. People come from all over the Bay Area. People are friendly, The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Partners are not needed. We rotate rapidly in classes. Casual comfortable attire. All ages. To get on our email list, send request to email list: info@FridayNightWaltz.com Facebook page:

09.25 Yay! It's BNP Night!

Yes, Bohemian National Polka is being taught at FNW, for the first time this year! BNP is on the bucket list for all serious FNW, Gaskells and Stanford Viennese Ball dancers. It's the most widely known polka choreography in the world, danced by over a million dancers in dozens of countries. Here are 625 videos of BNP being danced in the U.S., France, Italy, China, Japan, the Philippines, Korea, Russia, Belgium, Brazil, Uruguay, Portugal, Corsica and Liechtenstein.

7:15-9:15 pm - Richard Powers and Tracey teach a special intermediate/advanced class in the Bohemian National Polka, with enough time for all of the details, including pivots. Whether learning it for the first time or catching reminders of the many details, here is your chance to have a full class in the BNP, taught by the choreographer himself.

Pre-requirement: Intermediate/advanced level means that all participants must already know how to do a rotary waltz, Viennese waltz, or polka. If you already waltz but are a newer waltzer, be sure to arrive for the start of the class at 7:15 pm. This class is definitely not for beginners, but there will be a beginner's waltz class at the same time, in a nearby room, so newcomers are welcome to take that class.

As you can see from the videos, BNP is a five-part choreography, where each part builds upon the previous steps. Students in the class hate it when they have to dance with someone who came to the class late, and doesn't know the first parts of the choreography, so no one will be allowed to join the class after 8pm, unless they already know BNP, and wish to assist those learning it for the first time. But arriving late after missing 30 minutes will still be too difficult for most people, so the first advice is best: be there at the beginning of the class, at 7:15 pm, ready for a fun challenge!

9:15 pm - Dance Party (note the new start time) will feature Richard's favorite dance music plus some premieres. Waltz, swing, tango, cross-step waltz, bachata, West Coast Swing, cha cha, BNP, salsa, Tokyo Polka, Lindy, NC2S, Romany Polka, hustle, Shim Sham, and more!

For those who don't know about Richard Powers, he is one of the world's foremost experts in social dance. He has taught dance in dozens of European cities, including 34 workshops in France (teaching in French) and 32 in Japan (teaching in Japanese). Richard is currently the full-time social dance instructor at Stanford University.

This Friday, September 25th

Doors open at 6:45.

Class starts at 7:15. Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.

$15 general. $10 for students with ID.

Cash, Check, Credit Card, Apple Pay. We do not accept Venmo. Tickets at the door.

No partner necessary. We rotate rapidly in class.

All Ages. Casual comfortable attire.

Masks are optional. Free Masks. Free bottles of water.

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First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto CA, upstairs Fellowship Hall.

Parking in rear parking lot. Many on-street parking spaces available.

Very large Webster/Cowper parking garage one block away.

http://www.fridaynightwaltz.com

10.02.2026 karn

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

$15 general. $10 for students with ID.
Cash, Check, Credit Card, Apple Pay. We do not accept Venmo. Tickets at the door.
No partner necessary. We rotate rapidly in class.
All Ages. Casual comfortable attire.
Masks are optional.
Free Masks. Free bottles of water.

First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto CA. at Byron, Upstairs Fellowship hall.
Parking in rear parking lot. Many on street parking spaces available.
Very large parking structure one block away. Webster/Cowper garage.

10.09.2026

Lucas is codjing with Jennifer

lucas headshot

Lucas Garron

Lucas Garron has been a popular dj for Friday Night Waltz for many years. Lucas has a vast library of waltz and polka music. Lucas is on the Stanford Viennese Ball Welcoming Dance committee. Lucas has been a participant at over 50 WCA ( World Cube Association) competitions .He is a Product Engineer by day | Mathematician, speedcuber, and dancer by night

Jennifer Jasperse

Jenni first discovered social dance through the University of Michigan Ballroom Dance Team in 2015. She stepped away during the pandemic, but returned to dancing in 2023 after moving to the Bay Area. As a classically trained pianist and violinist, Jenni originally met the waltz from the other side of the music stand — and her favorite waltzes are still the ones she played in orchestras.

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

10.16.2026 Richard Powers: Stanford Homecoming reunion. everyone welcome! with Angela Amarillas

Richard Powers is also djing tonight.a MUST GO dance!

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

10.23.2026

Akash Verma is djing tonight

akash Akash discovered ballroom dancing in the Bay Area in 2017 and has been dancing ever since. He's drawn to dances where he's drawn to the music, and loves to explore and share both. $15 general. $10 for students with ID.
Cash, Check, Credit Card, Apple Pay. We do not accept Venmo. Tickets at the door.
No partner necessary. We rotate rapidly in class.
All Ages. Casual comfortable attire.
Masks are optional.
Free Masks. Free bottles of water.

First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto CA. at Byron, Upstairs Fellowship hall.
Parking in rear parking lot. Many on street parking spaces available.
Very large parking structure one block away. Webster/Cowper garage.

10.30.2026 Halloween dance Jason is back djing,Peggy is teaching

Peggy is teaching 7:15 - 8:00, 8:00-9:00

Jason is djing 9 -11:45

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

11.06.2026

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

11.13.2026 Richard Powers. Romantic Music night. my favorite dance of the year.

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

11.20.2026 karn

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

11.27.2026 Closed Thanksgiving

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

12.04.2026 Sharon and Jordan are teaching tonight. Pie night!

Apple pie

Pumpkin pie

Cherry pie

German chocolate creme pie

Carrot pie

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

12.11.2026 Richard Powers Holiday Ball

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

12.18.2026

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

12.25.2026 Christmas. closed

7:00 Doors open
7:15 Classes start - Please arrive 15 minutes early to avoid the rush.
8:00 Intermediate class
9:00 DJ dance music
11:45 Doors close

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