8 Great Dance Party Ideas for Your Next Gathering

Does the thought of even just 15 people in your home make you nervous and overwhelmed? When you’re limited on space, hosting a killer party or even a modest gathering of friends can seem impossible. But no matter where you live, you should always have a chance to celebrate and Peerspace makes parties a reality for everyone. It’s the Airbnb of event venues that can help hosts with budgets of every size find a stellar place to host a party. So even if you’re the proud owner of a studio apartment, dance party ideas are still in your cards.

There are spacious venues available for rent by the hour in towns and cities across the globe, with more being added all the time. Just search your location and use filters to narrow the results, like pools, fire pits, and rooftops, for example. Then, check each space’s listing to discover high-def photos, detailed descriptions by the local hosts, reviews from past renters, and upfront pricing. Ahead, we’ll include photos from real Peerspace venues that you can book today to match our dance party ideas. You know, just so you know what’s possible!

Once you’ve booked a place, just add music for an awesome dance party! And if your incredible venue choice just happens to lack for anything, contact the Concierge service. These events and logistics pros can source what you need, like catering, a DJ, bar staff, etc., and bring it to you at your venue. So what are you waiting for? Check out what type of dance party venues are near you on Peerspace and utilize these dance party ideas that will make your next gathering a blast.

1. Give your dance party a theme

Choosing a theme for your dance party will make the rest of the planning a breeze because a theme will be your party template. Great dance party themes are a decades theme (the 1920s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s are all easy options), a tribute night where you play all the best hits from one prolific artist (Britney night, Beyonce night, etc.) a regional music theme like Latin night, Broadway night, or even a classic dance movie theme (Step Up, Dirty Dancing, Footloose, and Saturday Night Fever).

Decorate your party space to match the theme, and curate a relevant playlist to go along with it. Learn a dance from a popular music video or movie for bonus host points and surprise your guests!

2. Light up the room

Set the ambiance for your dance party with some dazzling light design. Disco balls, colored lights, and projections can turn any dark room into a fun nightclub. You can find affordable lights and projectors at a department or home improvement store, or you can rent some lighting from an event rental company.

Just be considerate and ask your guests if any of them are bothered by strobe lights or other effects before going too crazy with your lighting design. And when you book a Peerspace venue, ask the host about the lighting options ahead of time. There’s always the Concierge service to help you line up lighting and other gear. Though in all honesty, the Peerspace venue you choose place already be fully equipped with everything you need!

3. Hire a professional DJ

It’s not a dance party without music, of course. But the source of the music makes all the difference. Give your dance party an upgrade! Instead of a simple Spotify playlist, consider hiring a DJ. Talent and event vendor directories like Gigsalad or The Bash can help you find a music master who can get everyone moving and grooving. Don’t have the time to browse a talent directory? This again is a place where the Concierge service can step in and do the heavy lifting for you! Ask your guests to come prepared with song requests in mind so that everyone can have a good time dancing to music they know.

4. Make a public playlist

For a party with a smaller budget in a smaller space, your personal playlist of the best dance hits will do just fine in place of a professional DJ. Make it a collaborative event by asking everyone in the invites to contribute to a public playlist. That way, everyone will get a chance to hear their favorites. You can include the link in the Facebook event for the dance party or send the link in email invites.

5. Rent a place with a dance floor on Peerspace

No room in your house for everyone to get down without knocking over a lamp? No worries! Peerspace can help you find the perfect venue for your dance party with plenty of open floor space, like ballrooms, mansions, warehouses, and even nightclubs and lounges. You can even rent actual dance studios on Peerspace for a super-official dance party. Some venues even come equipped with audio-visual equipment, photo-ready lighting, and pianos!

Simply head to Peerspace, enter your location, and start browsing. You’re sure to find tons of incredible spaces you want to book! Narrow down the search by browsing amenities, features, and photos.

6. Dress up in costumes

Invite everyone to come to the party in themed costumes! Just remind your guests to make sure they can still move well in their attire of choice. Some great dance party ideas for costumes include superheroes, space, Star Wars, The Wiggles, or decades (see themes section of this list). Be sure to take loads of pictures of your costumed guests. And for an extra fun touch, host a costume contest at the party! Keep the prize within the theme, such as passes to Zumba gym classes, a record with some good dance music, or tickets to a couple’s dance class.

7. Host a dance marathon fundraiser

Gather lots of friends, pick a worthy cause, and dance the night away to raise funds! Universities and schools across the nation host dance marathons for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. You can adapt that fundraising model for any cause. Learn more about the movement here.

This dance party idea requires a lot more planning in advance than the rest of the ideas, but when you put the time in, you can create a fun, meaningful event that truly makes an impact. At the actual event, make sure to supply plenty of drinks to keep everyone hydrated. Display information about the cause you are fundraising for, so dancers will know where their sponsors’ donations are going. Create a special hashtag for the event and take lots of photos to share on social media, and tag the nonprofit organization in them. A dance party with a purpose can help drum up more support and donations, after all!

8. Party with an open bar

Everyone knows alcohol is the best dance fuel. So supply your dance party guests with unlimited drinks. As long as you hire a licensed bartender through Gigsalad or another event vendor booking site, most Peerspace venues will allow alcohol to be served on the premises. Some Peerspace party places may even offer their own drink services as an add-on option. If not, contact the Concierge service for assistance booking local vendors. Just make sure the party space is safe for those who may get a little tipsy.

Bonus idea: take it to the roof!

Why not enjoy your dance party in the fresh air, under the stars? On Peerspace, you can find the perfect dance party venue that doubles as a rooftop venue. You can find locations with rooftop bars and DJ booths as well, so don’t worry about missing out on those dance party aspects. Many also include food and drink service and plenty of lounge seating. A rooftop dance party idea is a wonderful way to keep your guests safe while ensuring they still have a magical, moonlit time!

Dance party ideas come to life with Peerspace

Take the dance party out of the nightclub and bring it to your next gathering. It’s easy to do when you have Peerspace by your side. Between the incredible venues you can book for as many hours as you like and the services of the Concierge, you can book the party of the century and barely lift a finger in the process. No matter what music you and your friends like to move to, you can create a rocking dance party where everyone will have a blast. These dance party ideas will give you all the inspiration you need to host the perfect shindig.

Find unique dance party venues on Peerspace