We are going to the Gay Games in 2026!
The Gay Games will be held in June of 2026 in Valencia, Spain. It’s going to be a week-long festival of Olympic-style sports and games for LGBTQ+ people from all over the world. There will be music and cultural events, and lots to cheer for!
We are planning to participate in Dance Sport: ballroom dancing for all levels. We want you to be a part of this journey!
(You can dance, watch, volunteer, or cheer on your friends.)
In the works:
OQDS will host Winter and Spring Showcases in the Bay Area
There will be an Information Hub: A directory of studios and instructors training for the Games, information about travel, costumes, scholarships, and resources related to dance performance
OQDS will have a dedicated training program from January to June.
Whether or not you’re going to Spain, there will be many fun ways to participate in the journey locally.
Photo by Barak Yedidia
Dancing for All Levels
(From the Gay Games website)
The following events for Women’s, Men’s and mixed are offered:
International Standard (held as a graded event)
International Latin (held as a graded event)
International 10-Dance (may also be held as a graded event, with a minimum of two levels (will be confirmed later)
Showdance (show category for individual couples only)
Formation Team
The main focus of this sport is same-sex partner dancing in the International style.
However, if space and time allows, other configurations may be included, such as mixed couples, reverse-role couples, wheelchair dance or handidance (for people with visual, auditory, intellectual and / or motor disabilities) and/or other styles of dance categories, such as Country Western, New Vogue, American Style, Square Dancing, Line Dancing, Argentine Tango, Salsa, Discofox/Hustle, etc., for which any applicable competition rules will be clarified and published.
2 age categories are offered and defined by the sanctioning body (for example: Open 18+, and Senior 45+; Teams: No Age Categories).
4 classes or levels are offered for the multi-dance graded categories.
These categories have the following required dances:
Class “A” (top level)
Standard: Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Quickstep -or-
Latin: Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive
Class “B” (advanced level)
Standard: Waltz, Tango, Slow Foxtrot, Quickstep -or-
Latin: Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Jive
Class “C” (intermediate level)
Standard: Waltz, Tango, Quickstep -or-
Latin: Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive
Class “D” (beginner level)
Standard: Waltz, Tango, Quickstep -or-
Latin: Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive
A couple may enter multiple categories, but not multiple class levels.
A couple may always dance in a lower age category, if offered, in addition to its own age category.
A team may only enter one category.
Instructors & Studios
Do you know any instructors & studios in the Greater Bay Area training teams and couples to compete in the Gay Games? Tell us! Email: nancy@oaklandqueerdance.com.
Suzie Hardt, Hidden City Ballroom in Point Richmond & Suzie’s Studio in San Rafael
Instructor: Suzie Hardt
Studio: Hidden City Ballroom in Point Richmond & Suzie's Studio in San Rafael
Homebase: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Private lessons: Yes
Group classes available: Yes
Training couples in: Both Standard & Latin
Levels: All
Contact: suziestudio@gmail.com
Accepting new students
Citabria Phillips, Oakland Queer Dance Studio, Oakland / East Bay
Instructor: Citabria Phillips
Studio: Oakland Queer Dance Studio
Homebase: Oakland, East Bay
Private lessons: Yes
Group classes available: Yes. Wednesdays and some Tuesdays.
Training couples in: Standard
Levels: All
Contact: citabria@oaklandqueerdance.com
Accepting new students
Stephen & Debbie Cullip, Just Dance Ballroom, Oakland / East Bay
Instructors: Stephen Cullip, Twice United States Professional Ballroom Champion, & Debbie Cullip
Studio: Just Dance Ballroom
Homebase: Oakland, East Bay
Private lessons: Yes
Group classes available: Yes
Training couples in: Standard international ballroom
Group classes: Tuesday evenings
7:00 intermediate level
8:00 advanced class
Smooth & Ballroom Rounds
Sunday mornings 9:00 warm up
Rounds 9:30 - 11:00
Critics available upon request (no charge for rounds dancers)
Contact: Justdancedebbie@gmail.com, stephencullip@gmail.com
Accepting new students
Vanessa Thomson, Breakaway Ballroom LLC, East Bay - Oakland, Walnut Creek, Brentwood
Instructor: Vanessa Thomson
Studio: Breakaway Ballroom LLC
Homebase: East Bay
Private lessons: Yes
Group classes: in Brentwood only
Training couples in: Smooth, Rhythm, Country Western, WcSwing, social dances
Levels: All
Contact: info@breakawayballroom.com
Accepting new students on a limited basis
Emily Coles, Emily Coles Dance SF, San Francisco
Instructor: Emily Coles
Studio: Emily Coles Dance SF
Homebase: San Francisco (and possibly Marin, in the future)
Private lessons: Yes
Group classes: No (currently)
Training in: Standard and Latin
Levels: Beginner/Intermediate
Accepting new students in 2026, but NOT in 2025
Formation Teams
Formation teams perform original choreography displaying several styles of ballroom dance and creating beautiful configurations as a group.
Do you know any formation teams going to the Games that we can include in this list? Contact: nancy@oaklandqueerdance.com
Vima Vice Squad, San Francisco
Team Name: Vima Vice Squad
Gender: Mixed
Homebase: San Francisco
Contact: Rafael Domiguez jrafaeldominguez@gmail.com
Choreographer: Ava Apple
Costume Design: Photis Pishiaras
Practices: Every Saturday afternoon in San Francisco
Accepting new members for tryouts
V-26, East Bay / Point Richmond
Team Name: V-26 (may change)
Gender: Women, non-binary
Homebase: East Bay
Contact: Ellen Levitt
Choreographer: Michael Babineaux
Practices: Every Tuesday evening in Point Richmond
Accepting new members for tryouts
So you want to dance?
Interested in learning ballroom dance? We can help you find instructors and schools in your area.
FAQs
Is this activity gendered?
The international competition is gendered, and there is an emphasis on same-sex dance. There are categories for women, men, and mixed.
(However, our own local spring showcase will not be gendered.)
What gender can I compete as?
The Dancesport competition at the Gay Games are organized by IFSSDA. According to their rules, dancers may compete as the gender in which they live their lives. Here is the wording:
A.2.4.1 Gender
Couples shall consist of two women or two men dancing together (regardless of sexual orientation), regardless of nationality and/or residency. Organizers may also offer other categories that define a couple differently, such as ‘Reverse-Role’ or ‘Mixed’ or ’Open.’.
Everyone shall be welcomed to compete regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. A transgender person should dance in the category appropriate to the gender that he or she uses to live his or her life and should dance with a partner of the appropriate gender for the chosen category.
In the event that issues arise related to ascertaining the gender of a person, any continental rules of an existing ‘Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation/Association’ regarding gender definition may apply.
When is the competition?
The actual competition is from June 30 to July 3, 2025. According to the website, June 30 is a Training day, July 1 & 2 is the Competition, and July 3 is the Gala.
The entire Gay Games is from June 27 to July 4.
Is there financial aid?
NAEDA, formerly NASSPDA, may be offering grants of $150 to $750. Info is on the NASSPDA website. They are in the process of migrating info to their new website. Please check with your instructors to learn more.
Do you have more information about grants and scholarships? Please let us know!
Ask a question!
We are going to try to answer questions here so everyone can be in the know.