Daggy dancing
For the times you just want to sing ‘YMCA’ at the top of your lungs, these dancefloors specialise in guilty pleasure, old-school hits.
The Retro
Just behind the delightfully daggy glamour of Darling Harbour is the neon-tinged, two-floor dance arena of the Retro. Here you are certainly safe from judgement, joined by super-sloshed hens parties and able to indulge in a spot of the nutbush, or exercise your interpretive moves to the chorus of Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’. The DJs churn through all the pop hits at warp speed. The crowd is all ages and the place offers free entry if you arrive dressed to the week’s theme. 81 Sussex St, Sydney 2000. 02 9262 5491. www.theretro.com.au. Fri, Sat 8pm-3am. $0-$20.
Hudson Ballroom
Since its reinvention postGoodgod, the Ballroom has turned its back on trendy dance nights. It’s far more more people-pleasing now, preferring to fill the rooms with fun, tacky theme nights. Let loose to decade-specific blow-outs like the ’80s to ’00s house party nights, or shoegaze unreservedly at one of their expressive pop punk versus emo nights. Hudson Ballroom is also further tugging at the school disco nostalgia strings with Milo Martinis served at the bar. 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney 2000. 02 8084 0587. www.hudsonballroom.com. Fri, Sat 8pm-2am. Prices vary.
Flashback Nites at the Rocksia Hotel
Every first Saturday of the month the highway hotel comes alive with a packed party that boasts hits from the ’80s, ’90s and the Greco-pop canon. It’s like the final hours of a wedding reception in there. Get a vodka cranberry at arguably one of Sydney’s latest happy hours (9-10pm) and fist pump along. 299 Princes Hwy, Arncliffe 2205. 02 9567 8242. www.rocksiahotel.com.au. Sat 9pm. $25.
Palms
This Oxford Street haven is one of Sydney’s oldest gay clubs and, if you can get in, a paradise of pop bangers from the past and present. A dark rumpus room of swirling disco tunes colliding with Adele remixes, the dance floor here is about Priscilla anthems that don’t take a breath. Pry your shoes from the sticky carpet, wrap your chops around a cold tap beer and sashay away, but be mindful of Palms as a safe space relic. 124 Oxford St, Darlinghurst 2010. 02 9357 4166. Thu-Mon, 8pm-3am. Free.
Club Vibrations at the Polish Club
Another monthly suburban gem, this packed disco night in Ashfield includes light-up dancefloor à la Saturday Night Fever, with a song selection to match. Fill up on pierogi from the Polish Club restaurant then strut your stuff to Earth, Wind, and Fire while a hype man shouts encouragement from the stage. Dance battle someone to ‘Staying Alive’ while glitter and streamers rain down. 73-75 Norton St, Ashfield 2131. 02 9798 7469. www.polishclub.net.au. Sat 8pm-2am. $25.