The top themed dance parties in Toronto will let you travel back in time, take you back to the future, bring out your sexy side, or even transport you to a tropical paradise. Themed parties take dance-floor escapism to another level - guests can dress up, get into a character, and really let it all out on the dance floor.

Here are my picks for the top 10 concept dance parties in Toronto.

CrushTO
Run by the sexy folks at I'd Tap That, #CrushTO is one of the city's best queer and sex-positive dance parties. Each event takes on an elaborate theme and regulars love to indulge with kitschy costumes. Past event themes have included Under the Sea, Foxy Fiction, and XXXBOX. Events are all-inclusive: hetero, homo, queer, trans, kinky, kitschy, picky, and poly - so come as you are, or how you'd like to be.

Chronologic
The Goin' Steady DJs pull some audio time-lapse magic at their monthly party, Chronologic. Cornerstone hits and unexpected gems from the 1890's onward turn the party into a dance-floor delorean - start in the past and get back to the future.

Synthesexer
In just over a year and a half, Synthesexer has established itself as one of the funnest dance parties in the city. Anchored by DJ Little Kicks and regularly featuring ARP 2600 (from Silent Shout) and Digits (from Digits, and also Silent Shout), Synthesexer drops track after track of sexy, synth-driven electro. On the second Friday of the month at The Piston.

Beam Me Up
I go where disco. And disco goes down on the second Saturday of the month at The Piston with Beam Me Up. The resident DJs, A Digital Needle and Cyclist also host a monthly radio program on TRP, and work to bring international disco headliners to Toronto with special events throughout the year.

Turning Point
Turning Point attracts a dedicated crowd of serious dancers with a hypnotic blend of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms with rare-groove soul, calypso, rocksteady, and ska. Resident DJ A Man Called Warwick regularly brings out special guests spinning exclusively on vinyl. Lose yourself in a world of tropical rhythms, clave-hand-claps, and hanging lanterns every month at The Garrison.

Dirty Cupcake
Dirty Cupcake throws parties where guests can don their best leather, rubber, PVC and fetish gear then get down to industrial, goth, and dark retro. A previous event was an End-of-the-World Viking Cosplay Rave called Ragnarรถk.

No No Pony
Sexy rap and smooth RnB culminates in Ginuwine's "Pony" being played on the hour, every hour. It's what new year's eve should be - counting backwards to an awesome slow-jam instead of Auld Lange Syne. No No Pony is every month at The Shop at Parts & Labour.

Friday Night Live at the ROM
#FNLROM is a seasonal series of themed parties happening every spring and fall at the ROM. Each event features DJs, live performers, specialty food vendors, and an educational aspect related to an exhibit or theme. Past events have included Dinos, Dodos & Disco: Extinction; Africa Alive, and Indigenous NOW. The 2015 series is set to start in May.

Retro Parties
Toronto isn't short on retro fever. Regretro throws shameless retro diva jams monthly at the Henhouse. Girl and Boy: 90's Dance Party pops up monthly at Clinton's Tavern. Get Lo from the Bangs & Blush crew plays hits from the aught-diggities every Thursday at Clinton's.

50's + 60's
If you like your retro a little more age-ed check out these sock-hops, try these on: Shake A Tail has been causing a shimmy-shimmy-shake for 10 years, now every Saturday at Sneaky Dee's. Shindig goes all-vinyl on the last Friday of the month at The Piston. Shake Rattle & Roll appears every Saturday at Clinton's courtesy of Bangs & Blush.

BONUS

Acid Bath
Ghoulish ACID BATH is a transient tribute to '80s and '90s acid house. DETH Records label head SINS runs the party with new DJ guests each time, and they've crept from dingy Chinatown basements to Bambi's. Dancers' dress runs from gothic street style to '90s raver. DETH also have a bi-monthly show on TRP, if you want to get a taste of the music.

What did I miss? Leave your favourite themed dance party in the comments.

See also

The top 10 dance party promoters in Toronto

Photo of Bangs & Blush via Facebook