The Guvernment has finally finished its year of closing parties, but that doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of other places to dance this February. Sure, it's cold and depressing outside, but it will be spring sooner than you think, so help the time pass by getting hot and sweaty on the dance floor.

While it didn't make it on to the list this month, the ongoing winter monthly Sunday Afternoon Social parties is always a good bet for chilled out day time dancing, and a good winter replacement for the summer Promise Cherry Beach events. Last year's run proved that there are indeed a lot of people looking to get down on a Sunday afternoon at a downtown loft party.

Here are my picks for the best places to dance in Toronto this February.

Giraffage (February 6, the Hoxton)
Up-and-coming California DJ/producer Giraffage (aka Charlie Yin) has been making a name for himself for his tripped-out and unpredictable remixes of pop and R&B hits. His productions feature dreamy atmospherics rubbing up against tough beats, sprinkled with his quirky sense of humour, and his DJ sets pack even more unexpected surprises into the mix. 10 pm, $15.

Turning Point (February 7, the Garrison)
A Man Called Warwick welcomes special guest Frederik Lavik all the way from Finland, who will be bringing selections from his vast collection of rare East African music. There's nothing else in Toronto quite like Turning Point's "tropical funk" mixture of sounds, and the event always brings out a dedicated room of dancers each month. 10 pm, $15.

Bump N' Hustle (February 14, the Rivoli)
The Valentine's Day edition of the monthly Bump N' Hustle jam is also the long-running party's 19th anniversary bash. Not many parties last that long, but once you've caught their resident DJs Paul E Lopes and Mike Tull smoothly cutting up classic soul, hip-hop, disco, Latin, house, reggae, and Afrobeat you'll understand why the crowds keep coming back year after year. 10 pm, $10.

Chris Liebing (February 28, Coda)
German techno pioneer Chris Liebing was not only one of the key figures in building the underground scene there, but also one of the early enthusiasts for digital DJing, which helped pave the way for the new generation of laptop performers. Expect a dark and dirty night of pounding mind-melting techno, mixed aggressively. 10 pm, $30.

Nightmares On Wax (February 28, Wrongbar)

UK downtempo pioneer Nightmares On Wax (aka George Evelyn) is the longest serving artist on the Warp Records roster, and brings that level of experience to his wildly eclectic DJ mixes. Expect plenty of mellow jazz vibes, dubbed out textures, and slow rolling grooves. 10 pm, $15.

Photo of Giraffage