Catch the Prevailers Rock & Roll Ballroom Band!

Saturday, August 29, 2026

7 pm – East Coast Swing lesson

8-11 pm Open Dancing

$20 Advance purchase Online; $25 at the door

Purchase tickets here

Great Dance last Saturday August 29!
Hear and dance with them again December 5, 2026 

John Barker & Tea Dance Partner Marianela Navarro

The Ballroom community has lost a legend.  John Barker passed away on Monday evening, July 6, 2026.  He had been hospitalized for more than two weeks while being treated for injuries from a fall.  His wife Noni, daughter Lauren, and son David surrounded him with comfort, peace and love.

We extend our sincerest sympathy to John’s family, his long-time dance partner Kate Perrie, and all of his friends in the Goddard Dance Club and Hollywood Ballroom.  He will be missed every dance.

A Celebration of Life in John’s honor is being planned in a few months, probably November.  We will share details when they are available.

Dear Hollywood Ballroom Dancers,

Sunday evening, June 14, 2026 – 6:00-8:00 pm

There’s an event going on at the liquor store across from the ballroom that will probably make parking a bit more crowded than normal.

However, there is still plenty of parking, you just might have to walk a little farther.

We recommend you try parking in the area of Zip’s Drycleaners, or behind the ballroom, or in the shopping parking lot near where the grocery store was.

It should all be over between 7:30-8 pm.

Just giving you an advance warning!

Claire Carabello, Richard Zierdt

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Hollywood Ballroom proudly welcomes

The Blue Moon Big Band

Featuring vocalists Teresa Leonard and

Helen Hayes Award winner Matt Hirsh

7-8 pm – Rumba Lesson with Michael Rye

Purchase Tickets Here!

*********************************************

Winter Weather Update –Saturday, February 21, 2026

The Sunday evening Ballroom Dance has

been cancelled due to forecasted storm.

Please join us again next Sunday March 1. 

****************************************

Valentine’s Day Ballroom Dance !
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Featuring
Blue Moon Big Band !
8 pm – 11 pm
Intermediate Rumba Lesson with Michael Rye
Beginner lesson with Roddy Monaghan
7 pm – 8 pm
$30 pp at the door Only

Please RSVP by email to info@hollywoodballroomdc.com

if you plan to attend the Memorial Reception at Hollywood Ballroom on

Tuesday, October 14 at 12:00 noon.

Complete information about Memorial arrangements is available here. 

Gary Varano

Gary Varano

We are very sad to report the passing of Gary Varano on September 16, 2025.  His 84th birthday was a few weeks ago, on August 17, which happened to be his last DJ gig at Hollywood Ballroom. 

Gary Varano had a significant impact on the DC area’s ballroom dancing scene, and was Hollywood Ballroom’s resident DJ, almost exclusively, in recent years.   He was all things music – DJ. musician, singer, and dancer.  He loved it all.  He also loved playing pool (but this is about his musical side.)  He had amassed a huge library of danceable music.  He could be counted upon to fulfill special requests within minutes. 

He delighted in announcing his tunes, usually offering multiple choices of ballroom dances one could select for them.  Jazz occupied a special place in Gary’s heart.  He sang and played guitar in a band back in the day. Even if he wasn’t DJing, he usually made an appearance on the dance floor at Hollywood Ballroom.

We offer sincere condolences to Gary’s family and friends who will miss him every day.  Gary’s obituary can be found here.  Letters of sympathy can be mailed to the Varano Family, c/o Hollywood Ballroom, 2126 Industrial Pkwy., Silver Spring MD 20904.

Memorial Arrangements – Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Holy Redeemer Church – 10 AM Memorial Service

9705 Summit Ave., Kensington MD  20895

Hollywood Ballroom – 12 Noon  Family’s Reception

Please RSVP if you plan to attend the reception by emailing

info@hollywoodballroomdc.com

2126 Industrial Pkwy, Silver Spring MD  20904

Here are a few photos of Gary at the Ballroom and on the dance floor.

Rosalie and Russ Hunt

Rosalie Hunt has passed away.  She and her husband Russ were long-time dancers at Hollywood Ballroom.

Full of energy, quick to smile, they dazzled us with their dancing.

We express sincere condolences to her family.

2/24/2025

New Year’s Eve at

Hollywood Ballroom!

Sold Out!

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Doors open 7 pm  | Dance until 2 am

Buffet Service 8 pm

Open Bar and Wine all evening

Our event has sold out!

Catering By Putting On The Ritz, featuring 3 entrees including

Hand-Carved Prime Rib of Beef, served with au jus & horseradish

Herb crusted Salmon drizzled with lemon caper sauce

3-Cheese Vegetarian Lasagna with Vodka Cream Sauce

Flambé Desserts

Steve Ferrara, DJ

The Magic of Tim Hall

The Magic of Ben Corey

Sparkling Wines & Fireworks at Midnight

Dress suggestions:  Fancy Party | Tuxedos Welcome

Limited admission to maximize Dance Space

Dance Hosts, Singles Section

Tickets are Non-refundable

www.HollywoodBallroom.com – 301-326-1181

— Full menu below —

Hollywood Ballroom Dance Center

New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance 2024

The Evening’s Menu

Delicious Appetizers passed to guests

Served at Table, Traditional homemade Parker House Rolls

Tossed Salad “Ritz” Style, Ranch & Balsamic Vinaigrette

Served at Buffet (Tables will be called by number)

Hand carved Prime Rib of Beef, served with au jus & horseradish

Herb crusted Salmon, drizzled with lemon caper sauce

3-Cheese Vegetarian Lasagna with Vodka Cream Sauce

Double stuffed baked potatoes

Grilled Asparagus Spears

Dessert flambé Station

Traditional Bananas Foster, flambeed with banana liqueur and served over vanilla ice cream

Peaches on Fire, Peaches flambeed with peach liqueur and served over homemade cobbler

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Doors open 7 pm  | Dance until 2 am

Buffet Service 8 pm

Open Bar and Wine all evening

Our event has sold out!

Small surcharge for Credit Cards, Non-refundable tickets

Catering By Putting On The Ritz, featuring 3 entrees including

Hand-Carved Prime Rib of Beef, Flambé Desserts, and much more

We’re sorry, but the New Year’s Eve dance

has sold out. 

We thank you for your interest!

Hollywood Ballroom has lost a long-time dancer and friend.  Gloria Miller passed away on September 5, 2024, surrounded by her loving family, following a period of illness.

Gloria was a “regular” at Hollywood Ballroom going back to the 1990’s when Bobbie Fries owned the ballroom.  She volunteered for planning special events such as National Ballroom Week, holiday parties, etc.  She and her many friends had their own regular table and spent countless happy hours dancing and socializing.

Most recently as of late 2022, she was a regular Tea Dance volunteer, preparing refreshments and collecting admissions, and, of course, dancing.  We will especially miss her quick wit, friendly conversation, and her East Coast Swing Leads.  Rest in peace, Gloria.  We will miss you.

Funeral arrangements detailed here. 

Here is a nice photo of Gloria at a family reunion.

Join Michael Rye for the Foxtrot.

Covering technique, styling, patterns.

Commencing Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

Classes are 90 minutes long

4 week series

7:00-8:30 pm

Cost is $100 per person

or $30 drop in

For information

Hollywood Ballroom 301-326-1181

Michael Rye 703-851-5357.

Hollywood Ballroom plans to obtain an AED in the near future.  AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator.  Having this on hand in a medical emergency could save a life.  We’ll have training for staff members, and will work with the many customers of ours who are either MDs or nurses to ensure this important equipment could be put to immediate use when needed.

Donations toward the cost of the equipment would be very welcome, and will be dollar-matched via personal donation by an unidentified friend of the ballroom.  Donations can be made at the Admissions Desk or by check payable to “Hollywood Ballroom” mailed to

Hollywood Ballroom
2126 Industrial Blvd
Silver Spring, MD  20904

Hollywood Ballroom’s New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance and Celebration for 2023!

Purchase Tickets Online

 Great Ballroom Music all night long!
• Dancing from 7 pm to 2 am
• Your favorite Ballroom songs, courtesy of our resident DJ, Gary Varano
• Fabulous dancing by all of our graceful and talented customers, dressed in their finest holiday dancing attire!
• tables for couples, singles, and arrangements to accommodate groups

 Tempting and delicious appetizers served during the dance!
• A tantalizing array of Appetizers, Sips & Bites.

 A wonderful salad to start the buffet!
• A delightful Avocado salad with mango salsa.

  Delectable and savory entrées!
• Braised Boneless Beef Short Ribs with mashed potatoes & a jus
• Oven Roasted Salmon with sweet potato hash, maple glaze
• Mushroom Farfalle with baby spinach, oven dried tomatoes, cream sauce, goat cheese, a vegetarian option

 Desserts with a flare!
• An interactive Flambé station offering a choice of
Bananas Foster,
Cherry Jubilee,
or Apples Flambé,
accompanied by vanilla ice cream.

 Exceptional caterers for this very fine meal!
• Catering by the acclaimed chefs of Cured 18th & 21st, Columbia, MD.

 An open bar all evening!
• With selected offerings of wine and spirits at our tended bar
• With red and white wine selections for dinner

 Dazzling midnight festivities!
• With plenty of “oohs and aahs!”
• With a midnight toast of champagne or sparking beverages!
• With TV coverage of the Times Square ball drop!
• With noisy and sparkly merriment and fun!

 We’ll probably have a few more entertaining surprises!
• It’s New Year’s Eve, and it’s Hollywood Ballroom’s favorite event of the year!

 Celebrate the New Year at Hollywood Ballroom
2126 Industrial Parkway, Silver Spring, MD 20904

The Details:

As always, buying early is the way to save on ticket prices. Save as much as 37% by purchasing your tickets before midnight, November 30, 2023! Purchase tickets at the front desk or online.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE
BIG SAVINGS BEFORE MIDNIGHT NOVEMBER 30, 2023!

Tickets will be refundable until December 4 because we understand circumstances get in the way at times.  After December 4, we’ll work with customers who cannot attend to sell their tickets to other customers.

Ticket prices:
$125 Early Bird Best until midnight Monday, November 30
$145 Plan Ahead from November 28 to Monday, December 25
$175 Last Minute from December 26 to December 30
$200 If Available on December 31

A small surcharge applies to credit card sales.

Please start making plans now!  Call your friends and plan a table together.  If you have any questions we can help with, speak to us or send an email to: Info@HollywoodBallroomDC.com.