A Balboa Experience We’ll Never Forget
September 4–7, 2026 — Gananoque, Ontario
Four days at the Gananoque Inn & Spa. Hundreds of dances, laughs, songs, hugs, and unforgettable moments.
Balboa On The River 2026 brought dancers together from near and far for a long weekend where Balboa, live music, friendship, and the magic of the 1000 Islands all came together.
Four Days of Balboa
From morning and afternoon classes with our international instructors, Mel & Jo from London and Yuliya & Aaron from Frankfurt, to tasters with inspiring participants, Sophie, Alcina, Alyssa, Lizou, Charlie, Alisha, there was always something to learn, try, or dance! And when the classes were over… the real fun was just beginning.
Three Nights of Live Music & Dancing
Three unforgettable evenings filled with live swing bands Michael Srey Legacy Band & West End Riverboat Band and, DJs, Lizou, Felix & Mel, and that special BOTR energy. The kind of nights where you tell yourself you’ll dance “just one more song”, and suddenly it’s 2 a.m.
Dancing on the St. Lawrence River
And then there was the crown jewel…
We stepped aboard the Islands Belle for our dance cruise through the magnificent 1000 Islands, surrounded by beautiful scenery, historic castles and magnificent houses, sunshine, and the sound of a live band. Dancing on a boat, surrounded by the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands, definitely not your average Balboa weekend!
Monday Magic
And then, as the boat drifted through the breathtaking 1000 Islands, something truly magical happened.
Led by Alcina, our very own participant choir began to sing. Surrounded by the river, the islands, the music, and all of our friends, their voices filled the boat with something impossible to describe, so beautiful, so heartfelt that it brought tears to our eyes.
After the cruise, the dancing continued at the Spire with our DJs Mel & Felix.
Competitions, Games & Water Adventures
There were games, group activities, singing, kayaking, tasters, and plenty of opportunities to get out of the ballroom and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. And of course, we had our friendly competitions! It was all about having fun, from the amateur Mix & Match to the Strictly, complete with a playful surprise competition that had everyone laughing and cheering!
One Big Balboa Family
Perhaps the best part of BOTR was the community. With everyone staying, dancing, eating, and celebrating together, the Gananoque Inn & Spa became our own little Balboa village for the weekend.
We shared breakfasts, lunches, dinners, stories, laughs, and countless dances. We met new friends, reconnected with old ones, and discovered just how quickly a group of dancers can become a community.
Balboa On The River was more than a dance event.
Until the next dance on the river… Relive the memories in our Photo Gallery! Videos will be posted soon…