The Google Dance Returns To Silicon Valley @SMX West

The Google Dance is back.

Don’t know what the Google Dance is? It’s the nickname given to when Google’s search results dance around after an algorithm update. But it’s also the name of an annual gathering for search marketers that Google hosted at its Googleplex headquarters from 2002 through 2008.

Now the Google Dance is back. It’s happening again in conjunction with our SMX West search marketing conference that runs March 1 through March 3 in San Jose.

The History Of The Google Dance

For more background, you can read Danny Sullivan’s announcement about the return of the Google Dance and its connection to the search marketing industry.

Google also still hosts a collection of photos from the first Google Dance held in 2002, which includes pics of many Google execs in their younger days mixing among search marketers. Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page were even on hand to give away some swag at the early events.

You can find more photos from past Google Dances by year in the official Google archives: 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 (After that, Google didn’t keep its own official photo archives).

Google Dance 2016

The return of the Google Dance — which has come about through the efforts of webmaster trends analyst Gary Illyes and search quality analyst Nathan Johns — will happen on March 2, from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. PT, at the main Google campus. Transportation from the SMX conference venue in San Jose will be provided beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Attendance is open to the first 500 SMX West “All Access” pass holders registered (Sorry, one-day All Access passes aren’t eligible). If you’ve already purchased an SMX West All Access pass (or are a speaker), you’re automatically registered for check-in at the Google Dance. If you haven’t, you’ll automatically be registered until all 500 passes are gone. More details are also on the SMX networking page.

You can learn more about the show at the SMX West site, including seeing the full agenda. We’re looking forward to seeing many of our readers out there and at the Google Dance!