An original afternoon of chocolate and dancing: to go back in time and relive the festive atmosphere of the Carnivals of the past...

Housed in the small covered square of the exclusive Splendid Venice Hotel, this charming Cioccolata Danzante combines tastings and dance lessons: in 2023, guests can enjoy a hot chocolate and try typical Venetian cakes, while an experienced dance instructor and his partners will show you the traditional dances of the Venice Carnival!

Looking at the dances you will learn the basic steps of the fun Carnival group dances… To then try to replicate them followed by the teacher!

A trio of classical musicians will play live music offering the perfect accompaniment to the dances.

The most popular traditional dances include: the Waltz, a simple folk dance that has won the most important courts of Europe thanks to its sweet and fluent movement; the Polka, which originates from Bohemian folk dances of the early 19th century, is a couple fast dance; the Minuet, beloved by the court of Louis XIV, that includes a series of slipped small steps aimed at recreating the shape of an 8, an S or Z; the Farandola, a fun group dance of peasant origin in which participants hold hands and follow the leader who weaves imaginative, serpentine shapes and changes of direction; the Contraddanza, which takes a few steps from the Minuet and is danced in two rows facing each other.

To participate in the Cioccolata Danzante a historical costume is required. If you wish to rent a historical costume in Venice we advise you to entrust the historical Atelier Tiepolo that will be based at the renowned Hotel Daniel, just a few steps from St Mark’s Square for the duration of the Carnival 2023.

Minuet, Contraddanza, Polka, Waltz and the Farandola... The historical Campiello Splendid Venice Hotel will be transformed into an attractive ballroom for you to relive, even if only for a few hours, the magic atmosphere of the legendary Carnival of Venice dating back to the 18th century.

Dress code: historical costume (costumes must be the traditional Venetian costumes from the 1600s-1800s).