About Rx

Hi there! The short version is: If you like West Coast Swing, you should come dance with us! Easy eh?

Check out our schedule for when we have dances.

COVID Questions

Check out our COVID safety details here.

What’s Rx?

It’s The Roundhouse Experiment (we call it “Rx” for short), we have 100% West Coast Swing dancing from 8pm to 11pm “every” Friday. We started in 2015 as an experiment to see if downtown Vancouver would be responsive to a weekly dance on Friday nights.

Our mostly unwritten mandate is to raise the skill level of the existing Vancouver West Coast Swing community.

We have a variety of DJs that play music you’re likely to hear at conventions as well a sprinkling of their own personal tastes. Some nights we have two DJs splitting the night into two. You’ll know when there’s a switch; the music will stop for a moment around 9:30pm and people will clap.

We also, on occasion, run experiments to see what interests dancers and just try new things! If you have an idea for an experiment, let us know!

We’re not affiliated with the Roundhouse Community Centre, we just have a dance there.

Is This Swing Dancing?

Yes! No! Maybe? It’s West Coast Swing; often also called Modern Swing.

Getting There

Rx is in the Dance Studio at the Roundhouse Community Center at 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver, BC in Yaletown. You can Skytrain via the Canada Line and get off at the stop literally named Yaletown-Roundhouse.

If you’re driving, there’s paid street parking all around the community center; also there’s paid underground parking whose entrance locks at 11pm, but you can exit at any time via the elevator.

There are two main entrances to the Roundhouse. Once you enter, walk along past the front desk, then turn left. You can’t miss us. Well, you can, it’s happened.

Dress Code

You must wear clothes. If you’re new to the dance, you’ll discover dancers dress very casually. That said, shorts and dresses (together or separate) may seem out of place.

If you have dance shoes, bring them! The dance studio has a real sprung dance floor. If you have multiple dance shoes, then bring ones you’re okay getting a bit dirty as the floor can sometimes be dusty.

If you get sweaty when dancing, bring a change of clothes.

Should I Come?

Absolutely. Probably?

While sometimes we run random experiments, as a rule Rx doesn’t have a beginner lesson before it. If you’re new to West Coast Swing, come earlier in the night as the music tends to be a little more beginner friendly. We know it’s a little bit scary to go somewhere new for dancing, but we don’t bite.

Age Restrictions

There’s no maximum or minimum age to come to Rx.

We don’t serve alcohol or anything like that. Music played can have adult themes and occasional swear words though.

If you need to bring your baby, please bring ear protection for them. Then also take a photo because babies wearing huge earphone things are super adorable.

If you’re bringing young non-dancing kids with you, they may be better off in the gym or kids area of the community center while the dance is going on. If they’re in the dance studio they may get tripled on and/or fed sugar if they’re running around. I mean, it’s a dance after all!

How much is it?

$13. We also have a “ten-dances-in-a-row” pass for $70 which is great for regular addicts. Having an active Rx pass comes with perks from time to time too.

We accept most cards, and cash. We now prefer cards (it makes our life easier). To keep things simple, we take USD at par. We don’t accept any other currencies, cheques, magic beans, crypto, etc.

We also have some volunteer positions.

Pointed All-Stars, contact us.

Etiquette, Rules, Etc

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

  1. Ask people to dance regardless if you’re a lead or follow. It’s more fun for everybody.
  2. No teaching on the dance floor. This also means no sneakily asking if you can “offer some tips” to someone!
  3. Rx organizers can help you if needed. We’re a group of both men and women. If something comes up, tell the DJ or front desk person that you’d like to talk to someone who “runs Rx”.
  4. Don’t open the windows. Ask an organizer (one broke a while ago and we’re shy).
  5. Don’t sit in front of the fans for more than a couple minutes. The air is for everyone (and you might be stinky)
  6. No entry past 9:45pm. The Roundhouse graciously locks the center up for us, and it’s frustrating for them if you try to sneak in later. Also, when see you sneak in you’ll be charged the full amount, and we’ll talk about you.
  7. Stealing: By consent only. If you augment a dance into a steal dance, remain with that group for the whole song. Generally max 3 people.
  8. Rx organizers reserve the right to ask anybody to leave without refund, at any time for any reason. Please don’t make us though.