HAPPENING JAN 2026 | Typical Tropical has outlined its programme for January 2026, with a club night, intensive beginners’ courses and a free Latin café. Dancers in Rotterdam can start the new year with salsa and bachata parties, structured lessons and a midweek social evening on the Rijnhaven.
Typical Tropical will open 2026 with three main activities in Rotterdam: the LatinXpress New Year edition at Podium Grounds, accelerated beginners’ courses in salsa and bachata, and a free Latin café evening at Café Dox in the Nieuwe Luxor Theater. The focus is on giving both new and experienced dancers a way to return to the floor after the holidays.
Across the month, the organisation combines a large club night with small-group teaching and an accessible social event. This mix allows complete beginners to learn the basics while more experienced dancers can simply come to practise and meet others from the local scene.
LatinXpress - New Year Edition at Podium Grounds
On Friday 2 January, LatinXpress returns to Podium Grounds for a New Year edition. The event is scheduled as a one-off on the first Friday of the month, with two separate rooms so visitors can choose between salsa and bachata throughout the night.
The salsa room will feature sets by DJs Virgil and Rojo, while the bachata room is programmed with DJs Rachella and Pequeno. Doors open at 22.00 and the party runs until 03.30. Catering is provided by Warung Mystique, RH Fotografie documents the evening and drinks can be paid by cash or card.
Presale tickets are available in several price tiers at €10, €12,50, €15 and €18,50 via the Typical Tropical website. At the door, entry costs €17,50 in cash or €18,50 by card. There is a paid cloakroom at €1 per item, toilets are free of charge and parking around Grounds is free after 23.00 for those arriving by car.
LatinXpress (LatinXpress) is aimed at social dancers who want to spend a full evening on the floor in a familiar Rotterdam venue. Further details, including a route map, can be found on the Typical Tropical agenda page.
Intensive Salsa and Bachata beginners courses
On Friday 9 and Sunday 11 January, Typical Tropical starts a set of accelerated beginners’ courses in salsa and bachata. These courses consist of four lessons of two hours each, covering the same material that would usually be spread across a ten-week block.
The format is designed for people who prefer to learn in a short and focused period. By the end of the four sessions, participants are expected to have reached a level where they can move on to a higher group or feel comfortable joining social dance evenings in the city.
Lessons take place at Typical Tropical Studios on Schiekade 830 in Rotterdam. The price is €110 per person or €210 per couple for the full course of four classes. Registration is handled online through the Typical Tropical website, where the agenda also lists other workshops and future course rounds.
The accelerated structure may suit those whose schedules do not allow for a weekly ten-week commitment, or who want to make a concentrated start before continuing in a regular group later in the season.
Free Latincafé Dox at Café Dox
On Wednesday 21 January, Typical Tropical and the Nieuwe Luxor Theater present the monthly LatinCafé Dox (Latincafé Dox). This free evening takes place at Café Dox on the Antoine Platekade, with DJ Gilly selecting salsa, bachata and occasional merengue or kizomba tracks.
The event runs from 20.30 to 00.30 and is open to everyone, from beginners to regular social dancers. Visitors are invited to indicate their attendance on Facebook, although this is not required for entry. The atmosphere at Café Dox is informal, with space to dance as well as to sit and talk.
Parking around the Rijnhaven is free after 23.00, with paid options available in nearby car parks earlier in the evening. For many dancers, the Latin café functions as a midweek meeting point where they can apply what they learn in class in a low-threshold setting.
How to get to Podium Grounds
Podium Grounds is located at Pieter de Hoochweg 125 in Rotterdam, close to the Marconiplein area on the western side of the city. The venue sits in a mixed residential and cultural district, within walking distance of other creative spaces and the metro and tram stops around Marconiplein.
Visitors can reach Grounds by metro and tram via Marconiplein station, and by bike from the city centre in around fifteen minutes. There is on-street parking in the surrounding streets, which becomes free after 23.00 for those arriving later at night.
How to get to Typical Tropical Studios
Typical Tropical Studios are based at Schiekade 830, on the northern edge of the city centre near the Hofplein area and the railway tracks leading out of Rotterdam Centraal. The location is part of a stretch of creative workspaces and small businesses along the Schiekade.
The studios can be reached on foot or by bike from Rotterdam Centraal in a short time, and by tram via stops on the Schiekade and nearby Noordsingel. Drivers can use paid parking in the surrounding streets, taking into account local parking regulations and hours.
How to get to Café Dox
Café Dox is situated at Antoine Platekade 9, inside the Nieuwe Luxor Theater on the Kop van Zuid, directly by the Rijnhaven. The area combines theatres, offices, residential towers and waterfront promenades, with views towards the Erasmus Bridge and the inner city.
The location is accessible by tram and bus via Wilhelminaplein, which also connects to the metro network. From the city centre, visitors can cross the Erasmus Bridge on foot, by bike or by tram, and continue along the quay to the theatre entrance. Parking is available in nearby multi-storey car parks and becomes free in certain street sections after 23.00.
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