One October morning, as Cera Meintzer sat on her couch basking in the sun streaming through her south-facing windows, inspiration struck.
“I remember that I felt warm and had this visual in my mind of women dancing," Meintzer recalls. "I saw club lights. I was a clubber when I went to UNC in Greeley, and I just saw this vague picture of women dancing, and I’m like, ‘Hmm! What’s that?’ I literally heard and saw the name Denver Dance Tribe and an idea started to unfold: a women's nightclub for those of us who really miss dancing and going out to have a space to be in where it's safe and there’s no pressure at all."
It was in that "light bulb" moment that the the concept of Dance Tribe took shape. The LLC is a women’s-only dance club founded by Meintzer to provide a welcoming, drama-free environment where women and nonbinary individuals sixteen and up can enjoy themed dance nights without the pressures of traditional nightlife. Events usually include a live DJ and a supportive community, allowing attendees to dance, connect and celebrate movement together.
"Dance Tribe is about expressiveness and having a safe space for all ages; both my eighteen-year-old daughter and my mom in her late sixties come," Meintzer says. "You can show up as you are, do some moves, enjoy some music you maybe haven't heard in a while and dance with your friends or strangers in the community. We’re an all-inclusive of anybody who wants space to dance."
The idea quickly gained momentum. Meintzer, who was part of a women’s networking group, shared a survey with its members to gauge interest. The response was overwhelmingly positive, so she hired a DJ, reserved a venue and Dance Tribe held its first event in February 2023 — an '80s and '90s dance party. With 35 attendees, the evening was a success, laying the foundation for something much bigger.
"Dancing is so ancient, and it used to be such a big part of cultures, and it still is in some, but in the United States, it is hard to find unless you are invited to a wedding or you are in your twenties and like the club dance scene," Meintzer explains. "It's sad because dancing is so mentally healthy for us. Dance Tribe is designed to fill that void by catering to those who want to get out and dance in community."
Since that first dance, the group has flourished, now boasting a mailing list of over 1,200 women. Dance Tribe operates on a ticket-based business model, with attendees purchasing tickets for each event, typically priced at $28 for adults and $14 for youth during all-ages events. This structure helps cover venue rental fees, DJ costs and other expenses while keeping the experience accessible.
What began as a small gathering has grown into a full-fledged movement, with monthly themed dance nights held primarily at Mint & Serif, a coffee shop with a bar in Lakewood.
"When I started, our venue was hopping around a lot, like we were often at Nurture on Federal," Meintzer says. "It took time to find the right space. I was looking for a space where it was private but also had a bar and finding places that met those requirements was challenging. Our first dance was in a yoga studio and our second one was at Uncle Tim's Cocktails."
Meintzer connected with the group's third space, Mint & Serif, via Peerspace, a website that connects clients with venues. "It's two women who own it, and the one woman who answered told me, ‘My partner just bought a ticket to one of your dances.’ And I was like, ‘What? That's crazy,’ so we automatically had a connection," Meintzer says. "They're a coffee shop, but they have a liquor license, which is perfect. They're not open at night, but they have great space."
Following the successful event in April 2023, Meintzer began hosting about half of the dances in that location. To find venues, she would cold call the locations she had researched to see if they met her needs, vision and budget.
"I've had a lot of yeses from women-owned businesses, which makes sense," she says. "I really love Mint & Serif and last year I just said, ‘What if we just partner and I just have the dances here?’ They're like, ‘We would love that,’ which saves me energy since I don't have to look for a new place each month."
Since November 2024, all Dance Tribe's gatherings have taken place at Mint & Serif on the second Saturday of each month. Meintzer believes Dance Tribe appeals to women because it provides something traditional clubs do not: an early evening, pressure-free environment in which they can dance freely without worrying about safety, dress code or unwanted attention.
"I created it for myself because I really missed going out and dancing," she says. "I was just sick of dancing in my living room. I wasn't going out to clubs because I didn't want to be out at something that starts at 11 p.m. I also wanted a place where I didn't have to deal with men because I'm married, and I just don't want to deal with them — there are a lot of other women who feel the same. If dancing is what you love, our group allows you to come out with your friends, get a night away from kids, and get home at a decent hour because we end at 10 p.m. and just still have a fun night."
One of the only initial challenges Meintzer faced, aside from finding venues, was clarifying to the public who the group was for.
"I knew when starting a women's only group that people were going to perceive that as being exclusionary," she says. "One of the things that I anticipated happening took place immediately. People were asking, ‘Well, if I'm nonbinary or transgender, can I come?’ and my answer was yes. I had some transgender women ask me if they could come, which they could, and then immediately put that on the website because I felt it needed to be there so people know."
Dance Tribe’s next event is for ladies sixteen years of age or older on Saturday, April 12, with a theme of Boy Bands vs. Girl Groups. Looking ahead, Meintzer hopes to expand the frequency of events. Right now, Dance Tribe hosts one dance a month, but she sees potential for more.
“A big goal is to have more opportunities for people to join by getting more dances on the calendar," Meintzer says. "I would be more than open to having it in other spaces outside of once a month if people wanted to do that. We get a lot of messages asking us to host more events in the south, but finding the right space has been tricky."
For those wanting to stay updated, the best way is through the mailing list, though events are also announced on its social media. While Dance Tribe provides a fun night out, Meintzer sees it as part of a larger movement to reclaim dance's place in our culture.
"We’ve lost dance as something that's available to us as a culture," Meintzer says. "I started dancing at the age of three in classes and I always say that I was never a very good dancer in a class because I like to do whatever I want. I don't want to follow the choreography. I'm like, ‘Well, I want to do this move,’ so free dancing is for me. It feels like home, and I think that's true for a lot of other women. It's my space and time. Dance Tribe is creating that space for women."
Dance Party: Boy Bands vs. Girl Groups, Saturday, April 12 at Mint & Serif, 1385 Carr Street, Lakewood. Event for women and nonbinary individuals sixteen years or older only. Tickets are $28. Learn more at denverdancetribe.com.
“I remember that I felt warm and had this visual in my mind of women dancing," Meintzer recalls. "I saw club lights. I was a clubber when I went to UNC in Greeley, and I just saw this vague picture of women dancing, and I’m like, ‘Hmm! What’s that?’ I literally heard and saw the name Denver Dance Tribe and an idea started to unfold: a women's nightclub for those of us who really miss dancing and going out to have a space to be in where it's safe and there’s no pressure at all."
It was in that "light bulb" moment that the the concept of Dance Tribe took shape. The LLC is a women’s-only dance club founded by Meintzer to provide a welcoming, drama-free environment where women and nonbinary individuals sixteen and up can enjoy themed dance nights without the pressures of traditional nightlife. Events usually include a live DJ and a supportive community, allowing attendees to dance, connect and celebrate movement together.
"Dance Tribe is about expressiveness and having a safe space for all ages; both my eighteen-year-old daughter and my mom in her late sixties come," Meintzer says. "You can show up as you are, do some moves, enjoy some music you maybe haven't heard in a while and dance with your friends or strangers in the community. We’re an all-inclusive of anybody who wants space to dance."
"We’ve lost dance as something that's available to us as a culture," Dance Tribe founder Cera Meintzer says. "Dance Tribe is creating that space for women."
Courtesy of Natalie Morrow at Good Morrow Photography
"Dancing is so ancient, and it used to be such a big part of cultures, and it still is in some, but in the United States, it is hard to find unless you are invited to a wedding or you are in your twenties and like the club dance scene," Meintzer explains. "It's sad because dancing is so mentally healthy for us. Dance Tribe is designed to fill that void by catering to those who want to get out and dance in community."
Since that first dance, the group has flourished, now boasting a mailing list of over 1,200 women. Dance Tribe operates on a ticket-based business model, with attendees purchasing tickets for each event, typically priced at $28 for adults and $14 for youth during all-ages events. This structure helps cover venue rental fees, DJ costs and other expenses while keeping the experience accessible.
What began as a small gathering has grown into a full-fledged movement, with monthly themed dance nights held primarily at Mint & Serif, a coffee shop with a bar in Lakewood.
"When I started, our venue was hopping around a lot, like we were often at Nurture on Federal," Meintzer says. "It took time to find the right space. I was looking for a space where it was private but also had a bar and finding places that met those requirements was challenging. Our first dance was in a yoga studio and our second one was at Uncle Tim's Cocktails."
Cera Meintzer founded Denver Dance Tribe, a women's-only dance club, with the goal of providing a welcoming, drama-free environment in which women and nonbinary individuals can enjoy themed dance nights without the pressures of traditional nightlife.
Courtesy of Natalie Morrow at Good Morrow Photography
Following the successful event in April 2023, Meintzer began hosting about half of the dances in that location. To find venues, she would cold call the locations she had researched to see if they met her needs, vision and budget.
"I've had a lot of yeses from women-owned businesses, which makes sense," she says. "I really love Mint & Serif and last year I just said, ‘What if we just partner and I just have the dances here?’ They're like, ‘We would love that,’ which saves me energy since I don't have to look for a new place each month."
Since November 2024, all Dance Tribe's gatherings have taken place at Mint & Serif on the second Saturday of each month. Meintzer believes Dance Tribe appeals to women because it provides something traditional clubs do not: an early evening, pressure-free environment in which they can dance freely without worrying about safety, dress code or unwanted attention.
"I created it for myself because I really missed going out and dancing," she says. "I was just sick of dancing in my living room. I wasn't going out to clubs because I didn't want to be out at something that starts at 11 p.m. I also wanted a place where I didn't have to deal with men because I'm married, and I just don't want to deal with them — there are a lot of other women who feel the same. If dancing is what you love, our group allows you to come out with your friends, get a night away from kids, and get home at a decent hour because we end at 10 p.m. and just still have a fun night."
One of the only initial challenges Meintzer faced, aside from finding venues, was clarifying to the public who the group was for.
"I knew when starting a women's only group that people were going to perceive that as being exclusionary," she says. "One of the things that I anticipated happening took place immediately. People were asking, ‘Well, if I'm nonbinary or transgender, can I come?’ and my answer was yes. I had some transgender women ask me if they could come, which they could, and then immediately put that on the website because I felt it needed to be there so people know."
Dance Tribe’s next event is for ladies sixteen years of age or older on Saturday, April 12, with a theme of Boy Bands vs. Girl Groups. Looking ahead, Meintzer hopes to expand the frequency of events. Right now, Dance Tribe hosts one dance a month, but she sees potential for more.
"We’re an all-inclusive of anybody who wants space to dance," says Denver Dance Tribe founder Cera Meintzer.
Courtesy of Natalie Morrow at Good Morrow Photography
For those wanting to stay updated, the best way is through the mailing list, though events are also announced on its social media. While Dance Tribe provides a fun night out, Meintzer sees it as part of a larger movement to reclaim dance's place in our culture.
"We’ve lost dance as something that's available to us as a culture," Meintzer says. "I started dancing at the age of three in classes and I always say that I was never a very good dancer in a class because I like to do whatever I want. I don't want to follow the choreography. I'm like, ‘Well, I want to do this move,’ so free dancing is for me. It feels like home, and I think that's true for a lot of other women. It's my space and time. Dance Tribe is creating that space for women."
Dance Party: Boy Bands vs. Girl Groups, Saturday, April 12 at Mint & Serif, 1385 Carr Street, Lakewood. Event for women and nonbinary individuals sixteen years or older only. Tickets are $28. Learn more at denverdancetribe.com.
