Victoria L.
Google
Recommended by Dayton dancers, Nashville Palace turned out to be a surprisingly fun stop on our trip! We’re used to dance venues playing unfamiliar music when we travel, but on Thursday this DJ nailed it—his playlist included many of the same pop, hip hop, and country songs we dance to in Dayton and Columbus, Ohio. He rotated three line dances with three country swing songs, which kept things lively, though I wish he’d leaned more into line dancing like we do back home.
While country swing dominated the partner dancing, we managed to sneak in some West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, and Cha Cha—though not consistently. It was surprising that country swing was the only partner style featured. Sure, it’s flashy and fun, but it lacks structure—no step count, no shared rhythm. West Coast and Cha Cha are just as sexy, but they’re actual dances. It left me wondering: why not teach other partner styles like West Coast Swing, Waltz, Country Two Step, or Night Club Two Step?
Floor etiquette was another issue. Country swing dancers took up a lot of space and didn’t seem aware of others trying to Two Step around the edge. At one point, a “country swing hijack” happened—where dancers jumped in mid-song—and while it was entertaining to watch, it sidelined a lot of us who just wanted to dance.
The line dance instructor did a great job teaching a beginner-friendly routine, but be warned: this isn’t the place for casual dancers who only know the Electric Slide or Cupid Shuffle. Most of the line dancers were experienced, and you won’t be able to pick up routines on the fly.
On the plus side, seating was decent with bar stools lining the dance floor, and the music was loud enough to energize the room without being overwhelming.