Masque is just one dancing hot spot Dayton has to offer.
Photo by Judith Wolert-Maldonado

Sometimes there's nothing better than dancing the night away with your friends or with some friendly strangers. Head for one of these clubs to dance into the wee hours.

Hammerjax

• The basics: 111 E. Fourth St., Dayton, OH 45402. Call (937) 641-1114 or visit http://www.myspace.com/hammerjax
for info. Hours: Open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Cover: $5 for over 21 crowd; on Wednesdays 18 and up pay $5 with a college ID, $10 without.
• What they do: Wednesdays: College Night with DJs on the first and third floors and rock music on the second floor. Drink specials all night including $1 PBR. 18 and up, plus discounted cover with a college ID. $2 Fridays: Everything behind the bar is $2. 21 and up for guys, 18 and up for ladies. Saturdays: Groups of six or more get a complimentary bottle of SKYY vodka. Two minute drink specials all night. 21 and up for guys, 18 and up for ladies.
• Atmosphere: Three atmospheres for the price of one. The first floor is generally packed and dancing is the name of the game. Music runs the gauntlet from hip-hop to house to '80s pop. The second floor is more low key with pool tables, darts, and lots of seating. The third floor has a small dance floor but caters to a more sophisticated martini sipping crowd.
• Crowd: 18-year-old girls and the men who like to dance with them.
• You oughta know: The line to get in can be long, but the mandatory coat check takes longer. So if you can stand the cold for 15-20 minutes, you'll save yourself close to 30!

The Yellow Rose

• The basics: 852 Watertower Lane, West Carrollton, OH 45449. Call (937) 866-7765 or visit http://www.myspace.com/yellowrosenightclub for more info. Hours: 7 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Saturday. Cover: $3 over 21, $10 under 21.
• What they do: Wednesdays: Country music and line-dancing all night. Thursdays: Ladies night with drink specials and DJs spinning club mixes. Fridays and Saturdays: Country before midnight, top 40 and hip-hop after midnight
• Atmosphere: The mechanical bull, pool tables and line dancing might suggest this bar is all country, but the dance floor gets much more rowdy after midnight when the music switches to pop and hip-hop. There's plenty of non-dance floor space for those who prefer to sit and enjoy their drinks.
• Crowd: A little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll, and a little young to understand that reference. Line dancing draws a little bit more mature crowd that comes prepared in cowboy boots, jeans, and hats. Hip-hop crowd is younger and replaces the cowboy hats with baseball caps.

Sloopy's

• The basics: 613 E. Fifth St., Dayton, OH 45402. Call (937) 228-8060 for more info. Hours: 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday
• What they do: Wednesdays: Girls Night Out with 93 cent specials on girly drinks like cosmos and martinis, but also beer specials. Thursdays: Karaoke night. Fridays and Saturdays: DJs and dance music. Sundays: Indoor cornhole

Newcom's Tavern

• The basics: 418 E. Fifth St., Dayton, OH 45402. Call (937) 223-2470 for more info. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 8 p.m. to close. Friday: 6:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. and Saturday: 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
• What they do: Tuesdays: Karaoke night
• Atmosphere: A very relaxed atmosphere where an old-time tavern feel meets modern dance club. Downstairs a spacious bar and big wooden booths provide plenty of space for drinking and talking with friends. Upstairs the pop music dance party takes up the entire small dance floor.
• Crowd: Fairly diverse any night of the week. The young and attractive of Dayton are definitely here on the weekends, but the crowd is much more casual and a bit older during the week. Average girl on the dance floor is 20 something and dressed to impress. Average guy at the bar is under 40 and holding a bottleneck beer.

Cream

• The basics: 850 N. Main St., Dayton, OH 45405. Call (937) 461-7246 or visit http://www.myspace.com/creamdayton for more info. Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Saturday: 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., Open Sundays for special events only.
• What they do: Tuesdays: Butt-naked Tuesdays with adult entertainers. Wednesdays: Starting in March, Way Back Wednesdays will feature old school music. Thursdays: College night with DJ Chaos. Fridays: Latin Night.
• Atmosphere: Probably the only truly urban hip-hop club in the area. This place is pure dance club and brings in local and national rap acts.
• Crowd: Not as diverse as some of the other clubs that occasionally play hip-hop. Since it's 18 and up the crowd is pretty young.

Masque

• The basics: 34 N. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH 45402. Call (937) 228-2582 or visit http://www.clubmasque.com for more info. Hours: Monday: 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Tuesday-Thursday: 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Friday-Saturday: 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. (no alcohol served after 2:30 a.m.). Cover:Monday: $5; Tuesday-Wednesday: $2; Thursday: $2, free with college ID; Friday: $5 before 10 p.m., $10 under 21 and $7 over 21 after 10 p.m.; Saturday: $10 under 21 and $7 over 21.
• What they do: Mondays: Dinner and show tunes with hostess Daray Lorez. Tuesdays: Karaoke night. Wednesdays: Second floor dance floor open for Midweek Mayhem. Thursdays: College night with drink specials and no cover for those with college ID. Saturdays: Drag show with hostess Hope Sexton. Second level open for dancing.
• Atmosphere: Billed as a gay club, but if it weren't for the guys on the bar and drag show nights you may not know it. Downstairs atmosphere is more relaxed than the dancing going on upstairs, but both dance floors get packed on busy nights. Interior is trendy, but the whole place doesn't take itself too seriously.
• Crowd: Definitely not an exclusively gay club, the crowd is very diverse, relaxed and accepting of anyone and everyone. Guys and girls all look good, but no one gets too dressed up. Lots of people are looking to hookup, and do.
• You oughta know: If you go before 11 p.m. you may be the only one there.

Aquarius

• The basics: 135 E. Second St., Dayton, OH 45402. Call (937) 223-1723 or visit http://www.aquariusnightclub.com for more info. Hours: Open daily from 5 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
• What they do: Mondays: Miss Aquarius prelims are held every Monday with cash prizes and a chance to compete in Miss Aquarius 2008. Tuesdays: Talent night with cash prizes, plus Tequila Tuesday specials from 5-9 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays: Karaoke and no cover before 10 p.m. Thursdays: Industrial night upstairs, trivia, male strippers and music downstairs. Fridays: House, techno and jungle with DJ Seuss upstairs; drag review downstairs.
• Atmosphere: Gay club with pool tables and a game room in addition to a huge dance floor. Industrial night is new in 2008 and has become very popular.

Therapy Café

• The basics: 452 E. Third St., Dayton, OH 45402. Call (937) 461-4000 or visit http://www.therapy-cafe.com for more info. Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday: 4 p.m. to midnight; Thursday-Friday: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday: Closed except for poetry slam.
• What they do: Electro Tuesdays: DJ's spinning electronica and other dance tunes. Wednesdays: $5 Martini Madness. Thursdays: Karaoke night. Fridays: World Beat night featuring a different theme each week including salsa and belly dancing.
• Atmosphere: A small, stylish lounge with a cocktail bar and dance floor. The decor is ultra-trendy, complete with plastic chairs that are more fun to look at than sit on.
• Crowd: A more mature, trend-setting crowd that prefers eclectic dance beats and martinis to top 40 pop and PBR.

Compiled by Katie Wedell