Club History



In October of 1960 two married ladies were having coffee in downtown Tacoma and made a decision to start a ballroom dance club. They put together a group of sixteen people and had their first dance at the Doric Hotel, located at 6th and Saint Helens in downtown Tacoma. In the following month of November they moved their unnamed dance club to the New Yorker, located on 6th Avenue, and danced there for the next thirteen years. This is where it got the name Manhattan Ballroom Dance Club.

A series of moves took place after that. The Club took up quarters at the Top of the Ocean in November of 1973 and stayed there until October of 1976 when a fire forced them to move.

The next stop was the old Elks Lodge on 565 Broadway Street. The Club dance at the Elks from November 1976 until June of 1980.

In July of 1980 another move was necessary and from July of 1980 through June of 1988 the Club danced at the Parkway Hall located on McKinley Avenue.

In July of 1988 another move had to be made, so the Club held its dances at Halo Hall located on Canyon Road. It operated there until June of 1990.

In 1990 the Club moved to its current location, the American Veterans Hall on South Tyler Street, and has been there until today!

The Club was started by sixteen original members. The charge to attend the first dance was $1.50 and you could buy a lifetime membership for $5.00. The admission today is $10.00 for members and $13 for non-members, which is still a bargin!



Note: This information provided by former Club President John D. Cassidy


The Manhattan Dance Club


for Those Who Love to Dance

Home Calendar Contacts Email Sign Up Etiquette History Map Links Login

 

5717 South Tyler Street, Tacoma

 

V5.0