Latin parties and clubs make reggaeton and ‘caliente’ rhythms invade São Paulo’s dance floors

It’s been 12 years since reggaeton burst onto dancefloors around the world with the hit “Gasolina”, by Daddy Yakee. Now, once again Latin music has become a new global wave, driven by the likes of Anitta, Puerto Rican Bad Bunny and J Balvin, who performed in Brazil earlier this month. And the rhythm doesn’t stop shaking the tracks of São Paulo.

For those who don’t dance and roll with just headphones, some clubs and parties in São Paulo use reggaeton, cumbia, bachata and other “calientes” sounds to dance the night away.

For those who are more traditional and want to listen to merengue and salsa, one option is to spend the night at Azucar. The Cuban club, opened in 2000, is one of the pioneers in Latin rhythms in the city. In addition to opening the dance floor to the public with DJs, the venue also offers free dance classes.

On the other hand, Súbete is a party created in early 2019 by Rafael Takano. At that time, it was held at Estúdio Bixiga, which was closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, the party became itinerant, with a setlist that abuses Latin trap, reggaeton and its neoperreo subgenre. “Our differential is this urban and contemporary scene”, says Takano, also known as DJ Telephone, who follows the reggaeton scene closely.

The party has already been hosted at Teatro Mars and Nos Trilhos. The next edition, this Friday (28), takes place at Cineclube Cortina. According to the DJ, the event attracts more people than just the Colombian and Bolivian community of São Paulo, but it is also sought after by the Brazilian LGBTQIA+ public.

As we are at the end of October, the celebrations of the Day of the Dead, a traditional Mexican festival celebrated on November 2, are also part of the city’s schedule. Rey Castro, for example, which carries the Latin tradition of São Paulo, promotes a themed party in the pre-holiday.

Find out more below and discover places to dance and roll to the sound of Latin rhythms.

Cuban Sugar Club

After closing its doors in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, the space reappeared earlier this year in one of the most popular streets in São Paulo, Aspicuelta, in Vila Madalena. There, no one stands still listening to rhythms like salsa, bachata, merengue and reggaeton. In addition, a band with Cuban members play at the venue, which is open from Wednesday to Sunday. Every Wednesday, Ladies Night takes place, with dance classes that mix oriental and Latin styles, Shakira-style. In the drinks list, the house bets on Caribbean drinks, such as mojito and daiquiri, worth R$36, and piña colada, which costs R$39. On Sunday (30), a Dia de Los Muertos themed party takes place. track.
R. Aspicuelta, 366, Vila Mariana, West Region, @azucarclubcubano. Wed. Saturday, from 19:00 to 20:00; Sun., from 14:00 to 22:00

bazuros

Bazuros is the name of the band formed last year that mixes cumbia influences with punk and other styles. With Peruvian chicha guitar and cumbia de villera keyboard, they bring in their repertoire original songs and covers by the Argentinian group Pibes Chorros. The group’s next performance is scheduled for November 4, with the participation of Miss Tacacá, DJ of tecnobrega from Pará.
Afrika Cultural Center – r. Major Diogo, 518, Bela Vista, central region, @bazuros. 4/11 at 8pm. From BRL 13

Rey Castro – Dia de Los Muertos Party

Despite the Rey Castro nightclub having closed after the pandemic, the former owners continue to promote parties with touches of Latin that have become a tradition in São Paulo. One of them is the commemoration of Dia de Los Muertos, which refers to the Mexican celebration that salutes the dead. The night, which reaches its tenth edition, also features a costume contest — the prize is accommodation in one of the Hard Rock Hotels brand units. The party takes over at Central, a space in a large house in Praça da Bandeira, with two lanes and a rooftop.
Center – pg. da Bandeira, 137, Bela Vista, central region, @reycastrosp. Day 1/11, from 20h to 6h. From BRL 70 to BRL 200 at ingresse.com

Subete!

Conceived by Rafael Takano, the party attracts a younger audience that likes to roll around to the sound of reggaeton, Latin trap and neoperreo. The party usually takes place once a month, at different addresses in the capital. In this October edition, the DJ says that the track will prioritize reggaeton. Another feature of the event is that a woman always plays at night.
Cineclub Cortina – r. Araújo, 62, República, central region, @subete_subete. Fri. (28), from 11pm to 5am. BRL 45 at sympla.com.br, BRL 50 at the door

old Pietro

The Velho Pietro Latin Center is housed in a townhouse built in 1928, with a preserved facade. With two dance floors, the house came up with the idea of ​​transporting the public to countries around the continent, abusing typical music from countries like Colombia, Cuba, Peru and Puerto Rico. At the venue, which opens its doors every Saturday, bachata, cumbia, salsa and reggaeton are shared on the speakers of the two tracks, along with Brazilian rhythms such as forró and sertanejo.
R. Treze de Maio, 192, Bela Vista, central region, tel. (11)97090-6658, @velhopietro. BRL 25